Coast Guard tipping ships about searches: NYT

[norml]

Coast Guard tipping ships about searches: NYT
Sat May 20, 2006 12:41am ET


NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Coast Guard has been tipping off some large commercial ships about security searches that had formerly been conducted without warning, The New York Times reported on Saturday.

Citing high-ranking Coast Guard officials, the Times said that intense pressure from shipping companies concerned about the cost of delays had led commanders in some ports to provide up to 24 hours notice of searches, which began after the 9/11 attacks as part of the service's new anti-terrorism mission.

"We're trying to facilitate commerce and keep the port secure" and sometimes the two conflict," the Times quoted Capt. Paul Wiedenhoeft, who is in charge of the port complex at Los Angeles and Long Beach as saying. "When possible, we're trying to give shippers as much notice as we can," he told the paper.

The result has been considerable confusion and debate within the Coast Guard, the Times said, with commanders in some ports acknowledging that they provided up to 24 hours notice while others said the practice undermined the inspections. And there was even disagreement about the best approach within the command at some ports, it said.

For example, the port captain in San Francisco, Capt. William Uberti, said shippers and carriers were "not supposed to have a clue" about possible random boardings, but his security chief said the command gave companies notice, the Times reported.


snip


http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2006-05-20T044144Z_01_N20301942_RTRUKOC_0_US-TRANSPORT-COASTGUARD.xml

[freethought]

1. In light of this news I would like to give my sincere congrats

to Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff (a.k.a. "Skeletor") for doing such a great job.
F-----G LOSER!!!!!
:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm:

This can't possibly get worse. Oh wait, we still have two and a half years left of this idiot.

[saigon68]

5. a.k.a. "Skeletor" Yes a very thin stoopid Lap Dog

He's as scary as a 90 pound Islamic with a box cutter

[CPMaz]

2. Conflict? What conflict?

"We're trying to facilitate commerce and keep the port secure" and sometimes the two conflict..."

Ummm....speaking as a tax-payer, citizen, and voter, I have to say:

CHECK THE D@MN BOATS AND DON'T TELL THEM WHEN THE INSPECTIONS ARE COMING!

Corporate convenience does NOT take priority over public safety.

(Yeah, I know - with an attitude like that, I'll never be welcome in the Republican Party. Boo hoo.)

[Mika]

6. Surely you don't want to slow the Walmart shipments from China?

Good god CPMaz, actually stopping all ships for security inspections would slow the well streamlined gutting, and refilling with Chinese crap, of America.

Wouldn't be prudent.

:sarcasm:

[Coastie for Truth]

3. The mind set of the CG Sector Commanders

is still on the "environmental enforcement" (pumping out septic tanks and oily bilges) and "safety enforcement" (life saving devices, electric grounding, life boats, haz mat) surprise inspections - where the goal was compliance rather then fines.

Alexander Hamilton may had started a law enforcement "Revenue Cutter Service" but the "socialization to the norm" is to the "Life Saving Service." They think like fire fighters rather then cops.

Katrina (and "Howling Gales" generally) was a high point -- not inspecting containers.

[DoYouEverWonder]

4. Gee how curtious

Maybe we should adopt this practice on the local level. Cops could call ahead before a drug bust, just so the suspects can get their ducks in a row. Or maybe the Child Protection folks should give 24 hours notice before they do a home visit? You know, this idea could really take off.

:sarcasm:

[Coastie for Truth]

7. You can't just dump containers in hold

"overboard" the way you can flush drugs down the toilet.

It is "non-trivial" to off load containers without those container port mega cranes.

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Shown below are the "small" containers

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I know you may heve seen "smaller" containers. Those "small" containers are for domestic use - a "load it yourself" moving service for furniture. Most ships today do not have cranes that can handle the trans-oceanic containers.

The old WW2 Liberties and Victories could handle palettized cargo (that's what I was trained on) - but the new container ships do not even have cranes. (Too expensive, too much weight and too much weight above the "center of bouyancy")


And when you get down in the hold of a ship the containers are packed tight.

Once the ship leaves the outport - those containers aren't going anywhere outside the ship until they are off-loaded at the container port.