Coast Guard to Board Each Foreign Ship

[Khephra]

The Coast Guard will board every foreign-flagged vessel that sails into a U.S. port beginning Thursday to check whether it is complying with rules aimed at foiling terrorists.

A maritime treaty signed by about 150 countries requires each ship to have a security officer, alarm system, automatic identification system, access restrictions to the engine room and bridge, and a method of checking IDs of people who board. Each ship must have a certificate signed by the country that flags it saying it is in compliance with the treaty.

Rear Adm. Larry Hereth said that 700 Coast Guardsmen, including about 500 reservists, will be part of the effort to board all ships as they enter the ports.

``We're going to take a pretty hard line,'' said Hereth, the Coast Guard's director of port security.

more......................

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Port-Security.html

[HooptieWagon]

1. Good

and maybe US Customs will start inspecting far more than the 5% of shipping containers that arrive in port. Send the bill to the importers - maybe then they will consider buying US made goods.

[burrowowl]

2. With what manpower?

Even U$ ships are registred under Panama, Liberia, etc. to avoid taxes and stricter maintenance.
Lots of ship holding patterns I suppose.

[Bonobo]

3. Isn't announcing it kind of self-defeating? eom