Fake Coast Guard Boat

AP ^ | Friday, Nov. 2, 2001; 4:15 p.m. EST | Gavin McCormick

[father_elijah]

CHARLESTON, W.Va. –– 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.

"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.

Coast Guard officials warned the area's five largest chemical and energy plants on Oct. 5 that the boat had been spotted near Charleston. Kern didn't identify the plants.

Of the more than 30 chemicals that federal authorities say have the potential for mass destruction when they are in large containers, 28 are manufactured in West Virginia.

The phony Coast Guard boat was spotted at least four times on the Kanawha River from Oct. 5 to Oct. 20, moving at high speeds or "lurking around power plants and chemical facilities," Kern said.

A state trooper saw the boat on a trailer on Oct. 18 but did not know then the boat was suspicious.

In an Oct. 11 letter sent to 48 area chemical and energy plants, Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Steven Wischmann of Huntington described the rogue boat as a light gray 20-footer with "US COAST GUARD" written on the side and a bar of lights atop the cabin.

The boat had no Coast Guard number painted on its side and no Coast Guard flag.

A boat matching a similar description was seen in late September on the Ohio River near Cincinnati, said Lt. Cmdr. Paul Mehler, executive officer of the Coast Guard office in Louisville.

Officials at the Coast Guard's Atlantic Area command office in Portsmouth, Va., said a small number of sightings of phony Coast Guard vessels have been reported since Sept. 11. All reports other than the boat seen on the Kanawha and Ohio rivers proved to be unsubstantiated.

Kern declined to give an exact description of the boat's lone male occupant. She said he fit the description of a "Joe average American."

"We don't know if the boat meant to scope this area and then move on to the next, or if it was doing something else illegal," Kern said. "Maybe it was someone not taking their medicine who thought they would be doing the government a favor."

© Copyright 2001 The Associated Press

[bubbafree]

Bseides the chem plants, it sounds like a tactic to blow bridges.

[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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[patent]

Bump.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

ping

[Lazamataz]

If someone were to right GOAST CARD on the side of his boat -- misspelled on purpose -- would that be wrong?

If so, do you have any primer paint I could borrow?

[Sender]

WV does have a lot of very dangerous chemicals right alongside the rivers. I used to live in Charleston. Remember the tragedy at Union Carbide in Bhopal India a few years ago? The only other place that deadly chemical is stored in bulk is in WV. Many *huge* tanks of ammonia, pesticides, acids, endless rows of rail tank cars, etc. If one of those tanks went, it certainly would be a disaster for anyone living nearby or downwind, not to mention the damage caused by a massive spill into the river...

[Travis McGee]

I vote for "shoot". Preferably with a 50 caliber BMG.

[maestro]

RIGHT!!....While we watch suspension bridges, they blow everything else up on the "waterways".
(waterways=passageways=bridges of another kind)
:-(

[4wvueers]

Be nice! There's alot of Patriotism here in W.V.! Nearly every home flies Ole Glory & red, white and blue ribbons are found "everywhere" in our state. There are Goobers running around in every state. This threat is a concern to people who live in W.V. and we/WViginian's all know about this particular plant they are referring to. Make no mistake, it IS large enough to take out half the population on the East Coast.

[BlackbirdSST]

Thank Sen Byrd for that porker! Our rivers are better suited to rafting and fishing! Not sure why the CG is here. Blackbird.

[BlackbirdSST]

Barney Fife is in charge of all boarding parties? Blackbird.

[stlrocket]

I came across this "Clinton Coast Guard Vessel" Klintoon Coast Guard

[El Gato]

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,"

You suppose those companies still have any of their "labor relations", Thompsons or BARs left? Although in this case Ma-Duece (.50 cal machine gun) would seem more appropriate.

[MizSterious]

bump!

[jackbill]

I saw this on a previous thread and still can't figure out why, if it's "impersonating" a law enforcement vessel, the Coast Guard hasn't just boarded it and arrested the pilot. This story is not making any sense.

Members of the Coast Guard are government employees. Are you comfortable putting your life in the hands of government employees?

And, before I get flamed, I'm not talking about the military.

[exnavy]

Excuse me, up here on Lake Michigan ALL our Coast Guard boats have fuel, and use it.

[FITZ]

Members of the Coast Guard are government employees. Are you comfortable putting your life in the hands of government employees?

Especially not when the enemy can just as easily become a government employee as anyone.

[fone]

Thanks for the *ping* Sabertooth.

RevNan I thought you'd like to see this news from your home state.

[Snow Bunny]

Thank you so much.

[Arkinsaw]

You say all your Coast Guard boats on Lake Michigan have fuel and use it? They must be siphoning cars at night.

During the latter part of the Clinton administration the Coast Guard had to beach some boats due to lack of fuel.

I am certain the problem has gotten better under Bush but here is some recent stuff about the situation.

Our Coast Guard is one of our most important elements of Homeland Defense, extremely important. They need more funding, more personnel, and more cutters, and yes more fuel.

----------------------------------------------------------
U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure U.S. Rep. Don Young, Chairman

Contact: Steve Hansen (Communications Director) (202) 225-7749
Justin Harclerode (Communications & Outreach Assistant) (202) 226-8767

To: National Desk/Transportation Reporter
March 8, 2001

U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Calls For Emergency Funding To Combat Reductions In Operations;

Committee Leadership Supports Emergency Supplemental Funding

Washington, DC - The Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard today called for emergency supplemental funding to cover a shortfall that has led to a reduction in Coast Guard operations.

Admiral James M. Loy testified before the House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation that the shortfall of approximately $91 million for fiscal year 2001 has resulted in a 10 percent reduction in Coast Guard operations. Loy added that if the shortfall is not covered by emergency funding, a 30 percent reduction in operations for the third and fourth quarters of the year could result. This could affect drug and migrant interdiction activities, and fisheries law enforcement, as well as adversely affect search and rescue response times because of reduced presence.

The shortfall is a result of several factors. After the passage of last year?s Transportation Appropriations bill, which annually funds the Coast Guard, legislation passed that expanded entitlements for members of the Armed Services. The Coast Guard has also had to account for a Department of Defense adjustment for fuel contract prices, generally rising fuel costs, and a critical need for aviation spare parts.

Transportation Committee Chairman Don Young (R-Alaska) and Coast Guard Subcommittee Chairman Frank Lobiondo (R-NJ) have written to Transportation Secretary Norm Mineta and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld asking that the Coast Guard be included in a Department of Defense supplemental funding bill for this fiscal year.

Chairman LoBiondo To Work For Passage Of Coast Guard Supplemental Funds

?After years of deferring equipment maintenance, operating aging equipment, and dealing with retention challenges, the Coast Guard has reached the end of the line,? said Subcommittee Chairman LoBiondo. ?Like the other military services, a shortfall this year in Department of Defense personnel entitlements and rising fuel costs may force the Coast Guard to cut back critical missions.

?I will be calling on the other members of our subcommittee and the Coast Guard Caucus to support our efforts when the Defense Department supplemental is considered by Congress,? LoBiondo said. ?All Americans have an interest in making sure that the Coast Guard is prepared to support our country?s defense and respond to national emergencies.?

Coast Guard Needs Funding To Fulfill Vital Mission ? Vice Chairman Simmons

?As someone who represents the Coast Guard Academy, I am well aware of the vital importance of the Coast Guard to our community,? said Subcommittee Vice Chairman Rob Simmons (R-CT). ?These dedicated men and women are on the front line in saving the lives of boaters and commercial fishermen, defending our borders from drug smugglers, and cleaning up oil spills, so it's extremely important that we push for supplemental funding as soon as practicable.?

Funding Problem Needs To Be Corrected ? Committee Chairman Young

?The Coast Guard?s mission must be fully supported here in Washington,? said Committee Chairman Don Young. ?In three out of the last four years, the Coast Guard has needed supplemental funding. This problem needs to be corrected by providing all the necessary funding at the beginning of each fiscal year.

?I?m encouraged that President Bush has proposed an increase in the Coast Guard?s operational budget. His commitment to the Coast Guard should be commended.

?I?m also confident that Chairman LoBiondo, Vice Chairman Simmons, and I can work with the Administration to make sure the Coast Guard gets the funding it needs to conduct its vital missions.?