[Long Cut]

Actually, being in the Navy myself, I can assure you that security forces afloat are quite a bit better prepared.

As for the number of boats around, any getting within the ship's "safe zone" without proper clearance (and only a harbor tug would have this...not a raft or rowboat) would find its day solidly ruined.

[WhiteyAppleseed]

Glad to hear it. I was on the Hepburn (and the McCain DDG-36--carried the national ensign during the decommissioning, color guard). We were getting ready to leave Hunter's Point in '78 when a tug backed into us. The tug had moved the Fanning from the quay wall in front of us--why--I don't know. "Flooding, flooding, flooding in the boiler room" took on new meaning. The five foot dent was repaired quickly, unlike the 19 month yard period.

[WhiteyAppleseed]

My station when we would get underway was on the bridge. Going in and out of port exposes a vessel to all sorts of boats, some fast, some slow, big, small, low-flying aircraft, etc. Seems like it would be difficult, in reality, to protect against a determined effort.