US seaports warned to beware of terrorist divers
Although there is no evidence of any such attack is in the works, "there is a body of information showing the desire (of terrorists) to obtain such capability," said the bulletin, issued Friday to the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles and obtained Saturday by The Orange County Register.
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The Coast Guard has issued six similar bulletins to the nation's 361 ports since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. But this is the first to detail possible attacks by scuba divers, Chief Warrant Officer Lance Jones said in Los Angeles.
The bulletin, developed with the FBI, was sent to so-called "stakeholders" associated with the ports, including marine shops and operators of maritime-related facilities.
"One thing that 9-11 taught us is that (this type of information) should not just be given to law-enforcement agencies," Jones said.
Together, the Long Beach and L.A. ports account for about 45 percent of all container cargo entering the country, making security a big challenge.
There have been "a number" of suspicious activities over the past few months that indicate terrorists have been planning possible acts using scuba divers, the bulletin said.
No details were provided, such as where the suspicious activity was observed.
"Suspicious individuals" also have been spotted conducting surveillance of port facilities, cruise-ship docks, naval bases, dams, bridges and power facilities, the bulletin said.
Jones said the latest alert isn't expected to affect security because the maritime industry has beefed up surveillance in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks.
For example, the 2002 Maritime Transportation Security Act established an elaborate screening process for all ships entering U.S. ports.
And in July, the Department of Homeland Security issued regulations to make screening of baggage, cargo and passengers even more stringent.
The scuba-diving bulletin detailed what port officials should look for and steps to minimize the risk of a terrorist attack.
One sign that a person might be planning a sea-based attack is if he or she asks to enroll in specialty scuba training or makes "odd inquiries that are inconsistent with recreational diving," the bulletin said.
Another warning sign could be training routinely conducted between the same two or three people or training conducted in remote or atypical locations or restricted areas.
Five signs of a possible attack being planned are:
Groups of people, especially those with no visible means of support, sharing a common address near the water.
A person trying to take diving gear on an airplane without the required forms.
A person using cash to buy a boat or watercraft from a private individual.
Explanations about visa status that don't make sense.
A suspicious person who tries to get a job at a diving equipment dealer or rental shop.
The bulletin advised ships in port to periodically rotate their propellers at a high speed and turn their rudders, since terrorists try to incapacitate vessels by targeting those underwater parts.
Maritime officials also should post guards on potential targets, look for bubbles coming up from diving equipment and install lighting above and below the water, the bulletin said.
The alert did not cause a change in the color-coded Homeland Security Advisory System, which Saturday remained at the mid-level yellow, signifying a significant risk of a terrorist attack.