Gunboat guards suspicious ship in Longview (WA)

KATU News (Portland, OR) ^ | December 10, 2003 | staff

[diamondjoe]

The Coast Guard intercepted and boarded the ship, 'Athena' off the coast, then escorted it upriver to be docked.

Since it docked at the Port of Longview Friday, it's been under constant surveillance from a Coast Guard Gunboat with Coast Guard and customs agents watching from shore.

Just down river from the ship, fishermen Mike Young and Gerald Senesac reel in their catch and wonder why the cargo ship is being guarded.

"With guns ready, there's got to be something different than what the government's saying," says Senesac.

KATU's Dan Tilkin learned a few details about the ship:

Before the Athena came to Longview, it traveled through New Zealand and South Korea where it was searched by both countries.

According to a South Korean newspaper, the South Korean government was given unconfirmed tips, perhaps from the U.S. military that al-Qaida operatives disguised as sailors might be on the Athena. But the reports say "nothing or no one suspicious was found."

Even though nothing was found, South Korean forces watched the ship closely until it left the country.

Now the U.S. Coast Guard is doing the same, with the ship's crew forbidden to go ashore.

"It's a long standing policy of the Coast Guard that I can't comment on any intelligence or law enforcement information such as that," said Lt. Andre Billeaudeaux, Coast Guard.

Responses from the Coast Guard leave the public and two Longview fishermen to wonder what's going on.

"I have no idea," says Senesac. "The government ain't gonna tell you."

The Athena is scheduled to leave Friday with a cargo of product that helps create aluminum.

It's bound for Mozambique, Africa and the Coast Guard says it will keep a close on the ship until it's gone.

[Travis McGee]

It's part of a very high level game of cat and mouse! The consequences of an error could be a wrecked port or city...

Archy makes a great point a few posts down.

[Sacajaweau]

Good point! When's the last time you heard of a ship tipping over while loading(In NY bedsides). Now wondering about the 3 guys that got trapped in the hold and the various sailors on that ship.

[Oorang]

Thanks for the link. LayoutGuru2 was kind enough to drive to Longview and take some photos of the ship that are posted on this thread: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1035921/posts

[LayoutGuru2]

Yes, this picture is of the Athena when it was brand-spankin-new back in '95. I wasn't sure if it was the same ship when I first saw it, but if you examine the photos I took you'll see that it is a match. Looks like they haven't bothered to apply a new coat of paint since she was launched.

Search of ship finds nothing abnormal
			Posted by LayoutGuru2 to Oorang On News/Activism 12/10/2003 2:20:03 AM PST #20 of 36 Here a few shots of the Athena taken yesterday afternoon. It was parked in front of the Transit Shed at Berth #6. PetroBulk's info on the Athena Port of Longview Washington - Sitemap The ship shown in the following .pdf file is docked at Berth #5 Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies

[Shermy]

I think you'll be interested in posts & pics on this thread.