Fake Coast Guard boat puts chemical plant security teams on alert

AP ^ | 11-2-01 | GAVIN McCORMICK

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Several area chemical plants have been warned to take extra precautions after a boat masquerading as a Coast Guard vessel was spotted on the Kanawha River.

"They should do whatever is necessary to protect the facility if the boat approaches at high speed," said Lt. Renee Kern, chief of port operations for the Coast Guard's Huntington office.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Whacky stuff...

[AppyPappy]

Could have been a vigilante who fancied himself a soldier.

[ThirdMate]

Bizzare.

[jgrubbs]

I didn't know that W.Va. had a coast.

[jimtorr]

There are seaports in West Virginia? My picture of W. Virginia is one of mountains and small rivers, like the Shenendoa river and valley. Is this on the Ohio, perhaps?

[Alas Babylon!]

Where's A+Bert been lately?

[Dog]

Over here!

[rebdov]

Wait a minute. ISn't the Coast Guard searching for the boat? They want the chemical plants to shoot? What are they doing, fishing drunks out of the water?

[glock rocks]

aren't there quite a few locks on the Kanawha? seems a bad guy would
have to park somewhat close to be causing mischief...

[texas_jack_hurt]

Listen, the Kanawha River is the main waterway in West Virginia and it flows northwest to the Ohio River from the junction of the Gauley and New rivers. The Kanawha is navigable for about 100 miles (160 kilometers), almost its entire length. There are many "targets" of infrastructure from chemical plants to just obstructing shipping along the waterway. West Virginia is indeed very mountainous and trucking is limited because of this. The waterway moves the bulk of the product produced in the state second only to trains. Just as an aside, the day after NY911, a media "non-event" ocurred in Texas when a tug boat rammed 5 barges into the only bridge connecting South Padre Island to the mainland of Texas and took out a section in broad daylight. Now I don't know whether there is/was a connection to the events of 9-11 but I do know that you can't get any news about this even in Texas and it was hushed up quickly (down played). Picture this: a target(s) is (are) attacked by barges loaded with explosive to take out a railroad bridge spanning a major waterway OR a power boat loaded and driven into a ship loading chemicals OR boarding a larger vessel and using it to attack "targets". We must be alert and determined. From Texas which is in the Land of the Brave and the Home of the Free

[Jay W]

Fake Coast Guard boat puts chemical plant security teams on alert

Sink it! This is no time to be fooling around, by anyone.

[mountaineer]

The rivers, especially the Ohio and Kanawha, are crucial to W.Va. and the movement of its products, especially coal. (Picture barges, piled high with coal, being guided down the river by tug boats). The Kanawha, which passes through the capital city of Charleston, runs into the Ohio River. The chemical plants near Charleston definitely are at risk of terrorist attack. The health and environmental effects could be substantial, especially if anything got into the water supply.

[Ditto]

There are seaports in West Virginia?

The Coast Guard patrols all navigable waters in the US --- rivers included. (And they will give speeding tickets too.)

[white rose]

"We left the decision entirely up to them whether to move vessels in the way, or to shoot, or to use a crane, or whatever," Kern said.

I like the sound of "or whatever," myself...

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Well while it is NOT being in the military this is what I'll be doing.
The Navy and Oregon National Guard said 53 is too old to be in.
I'll be in Coast Guard Auxiliary District 13, Division 5 Flotilla 51 COOS BAY, OREGON

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[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

ping

[shezza]

WV Ping!

[El Gato]

ISn't the Coast Guard searching for the boat? They want the chemical plants to shoot?

Of course they are, but since it's a small boat, most of the time it's not in the water or even on the road, to be found. What would you have the plant operators do, just watch a potential kamikazi (Remember the Cole), just cruise right on in? The fact that this boat has been seen mulitiple times on mulitiple rivers, indicates that it is being moved on a trailer or somesuch, between incidents. Covered I'm sure.

[El Gato]

a media "non-event" ocurred in Texas when a tug boat rammed 5 barges into the only bridge connecting South Padre Island to the mainland of Texas and took out a section in broad daylight.

I think that was at night. At least the pictures I saw the next day of the sherrif, Coast Guard and others looking for bodies was a night shot.

[jimtorr]

This is what's great about FR. There's always somebody around who knows the geography of whatever area is being discussed. Thanks.