Residents reject searches at ferry

Published 3:00 pm Saturday, August 9, 2003

South Whidbey residents have added their two cents to a proposal calling for airport-style security at Washington State Ferries terminals, and specifically on the Clinton-Mukilteo route.

Commenting on proposed, but as-yet undetermined vessel security regulations, Whidbey Island residents along with other ferry riders, sent nearly 200 e-mails to the Coast Guard last month. The responses all expressed concern and urged the Coast Guard to use caution in developing new security measures.

Most urged the Coast Guard to abandon the idea of auto and passenger searches, saying that doing so would lead to gridlock and stifle island economies.

Several who commented also viewed such searches as a form of government harassment that would have no benefit.

“We do not believe that a major harassment of all ferry riders wouldn’t alter any serious terrorist from his plan. The ferry system is barely able to handle the present traffic now, any additional delays would render the whole system nearly useless. We are concerned that the current airport security program does little but harass the traveling public and has nearly put the airlines out of business,” wrote William J. Sanders, Clinton.

The Coast Guard accepted comments on proposed ferry security rules through through July 31 and held hearings in Washington, D.C. to gather comments from Washington State Ferries and other marine company officials.

The Homeland Security Department released interim rules July 1, 2002, that require 10,000 ships, 5,000 coastal facilities and the nation’s 361 ports to draft and implement security plans.

State ferry officials plan to complete their own security plan for submittal to the Coast Guard by the end of this year, according to WSF spokeswoman Pat Patterson.

The Coast Guard is calling for implementation of any security plan by July 1, 2004.

Patterson said ferry officials will be sitting down with the Coast Guard this fall to hammer out a final plan that is acceptable to both.

“Come July 1, 2004, I don’t think riders will see anything different than they do now on the ferries,” she said.

During hearings last month on the proposed regulations, ferry officials cited the financial hardship new rules would place on them.

“We pointed out our state budget problems, and that we would expect federal funds to implement any new requirements,” Patterson said.

The Coast Guard says ports, ships, coastal facilities and offshore oil drilling units will have to spend $7.3 billion over the next 10 years on equipment, personnel and training.

Under the security rules enacted after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, people waiting to board ferries and other passenger ships can be subjected to body and baggage screening like that used in airports. These rules are in effect now, but based on comments gathered this summer may be amended in October.

One comment sent to the Coast Guard that could fuel a change comes from Freeland resident Anthony Vicari

“… residents of Whidbey Island would be treated like criminals by singling only them out as potential “terrorists” and the economy of Whidbey Island would suffer tremendously as goods and services would cease coming to the island via Washington State Ferries. These proposed rule changes should have taken into consideration the fact that Washington State Ferries is a state highway and people depend on the ferries for their livelihood.”

Coast Guard officials have said all along that searches would happen only in times of high alert — orange or higher — and only on ships deemed most vulnerable. But searches and screening would be stepped up as terror levels were raised.

Patterson agreed saying searches are a definite possibility but only under the highest alert level.

“But if an attack were imminent, I believe ferry ridership would be way down, Patterson said.

In spite of the possibility of terror attack most people who wrote comments to the Coast Guard said there are better alternatives than slowing the system down.

“There has to be some better ways to combat this problem. The American public will not tolerate for long the near police state program in which we seem to be headed,” said William J. Sanders.

Langley’s Sarah P. Halsey wrote “the terrorists will have won if ferry service is significantly altered.”