Discussion of Possible Security Measures for BCFS

[Retrovision]

Could we sometime soon see a document like this, albeit likely involving rules that are far less strict, regarding domestic (/international) ferry travel, published by the government, in light of the recent Cross-Atlantic terror threat?

www.tc.gc.ca/mediaroom/releases/nat/2006/06-gc010e.htm

[Political Incorrectness]

Possibly for major routes, they may do random screening of vehicles by bomb sniffing dogs, however, I doubt airport style security would be necessary no less feasable.

[Splash]

Bottom Line BC Ferries needs to step-up their security (do they even have any now?). After the London bombings last year several sources noted that if Canada was to be attacked, BC Ferries would be a wonderful target. I mean, what's to stop someone from loading up a trailer full of explosives and driving it on the ferry? Nothing! Another scenario would be someone with a gun who goes on a shooting rampage. Would there be anyone to stop him/her? Just imagine yourself, all you could do is hide. I really don't know what it's going to take for BC Ferries to realize they need a security presence, and frankly knowing the rate at how things get done at BC Ferries, do I really want to know?

[Political Incorrectness]

I think they should do it under BCFC cause the government should be able to provide security. You can do it here in the US too, but there are bomb sniffing dogs. The big problem is when there is a threat, how do you react to it. If you react to it in the fashion we do, it would create a big problem. I think that BCF should get bomb sniffing dogs to sniff the cars in the holding lanes.

[kylefossett]

there has been and continues to be training involving the rcmp emergency response teams and other agencies that among other things have them boarding a v-class vessel in the strait of georgia from a rigid hull inflatable boat. there are security runs being done without us knowing. they are usually done when a vessel is not on a revenue run and away from the main travel areas of other ferries to keep the public from becoming alarmed

[Alex]

Yeah, and they should also strip search everyone who goes on every ferry, and every route. Also, every peice of baggage should be scanned with an x-ray machine. Every truck should be required to yield to a thorough examination of all contents.

Sound a little crazy? Thats because it is. You know what would make this world completely safe? If no one was allowed to congregate with more than one other person at a time. Or, if everyone had a device implanted in them that recorded everything they do, say, or think. Cameras on every corner, in every room, in every car. Massive databases and computers sifting through mountains of data to look for patterns in deviant or unacceptable behaviour.

Now, to be serious. Is there any REASONABLE thing that BC Ferries can do to prevent this mystical possible threat that might sort of be on the horizon, I guess? Not without severely impeding the flow of traffic on major routes, and not without major inconveniences and breaches of privacy of people. There's a line that I think we're coming dangerously close to crossing these days. I'd rather live with the off-chance of being blown up by some terrorists, than having to prove at every point that I'm not a criminal. I don't want to see armed guards at any point in my life.

The hysteria these days is sickening.

[Splash]

A visable security presence would be a start. Say 2 security guards on each major vessel; That's not alot to demand.

[kylefossett]

and what is a security guard going to do. if i have a gun or a bomb what are they going to do to stop me from going wild with it. in the province of bc a security guard has almost no power, if they tell you not to do something and you say no to them or don't listen then they have to call in a police officer

[Political Incorrectness]

You keep police presence aboard so that the traveling public feels safer. I do agree that luggage should be screened and that is as far as I would go when it comes to personal belongings. Bomb sniffing dogs is as far as I would go when it comes to screening vehicles. Going beyond that and Tsawwassen maybe out in the U.S.

[Koastal Karl]

So much for photo taking then on the ferries!

[Balfour]

alex said:

Now, to be serious. Is there any REASONABLE thing that BC Ferries can do to prevent this mystical possible threat that might sort of be on the horizon, I guess? Not without severely impeding the flow of traffic on major routes, and not without major inconveniences and breaches of privacy of people. There's a line that I think we're coming dangerously close to crossing these days. I'd rather live with the off-chance of being blown up by some terrorists, than having to prove at every point that I'm not a criminal. I don't want to see armed guards at any point in my life.

The hysteria these days is sickening.

The last time I checked a vast majority of the our population were not criminals. I don't like to feel like a criminal and it's bad enough the airports are like that, and I don't want that spreading to our ferry travel.

Most of these terrorist attacks/plots have been on things that have international signicance, not on regional travel in low density regions like the South Coast of BC (that is compared to the world). We've already had Canadian authorities stop 1 plot, and the UK authorities stop another just yesterday.

I think what is needed is an RCMP boat patrolling along major routes, and be available in case something arises on board, as well as an RCMP officer onboard on select trips.

BCF does need to be a bit more ready than they are now, but they should not go over the top with USA style security that demoralizing for commuters and vacationers.

[Koastal Karl]

I agree!

[Political Incorrectness]

You have to put in some measures and make the travelling public safe when travelling. USA style is having patrol boats. However, taking photos should be considered over the line.

[Retrovision]

Splash said:

Bottom Line BC Ferries needs to step-up their security (do they even have any now?).

[glow=blue,1400]Thank you, 'Splash'![/glow]



...Someone had to say it

[In Washington]

Washington State Ferries (WSF) has been identified by Federal Agencies as having a fairly high possibilty of being targeted by terrorists. The US Coast Guard has mandated what measures WSF must use to provide a level of security that will protect it's users and staff.

WSF is not the maker of these policies and procedures as BC Ferries would likely not be either. In the US, the Coast Guard is the authority governing all maritime activities. To operate any vessel on navigable waters you must follow their rules. I assume BC Ferries falls under the same type of system.

BC Ferries and the traveling public will not have much to say if the risk is great enough to warrant higher levels of security. While you may all think of yourselves as Liberal heros, ask people in New York during 9/11 how they feel about security now. I would guess they say "give us as much as you can".

I feel safer knowing that my truck might get sniffed and that a potential miscreant might be deterred by seeing that dog on the dock. My civil rights don't ache at all from this effort.

Wow.. off of my soapbox I step

[In Washington]

I agree with Cascade. My opinion is that both WSF's and BCF's biggest threat comes from a suicide boat like the incident with the USS Cole. While they may not take many lives, if any, it is the attention (read martydom) they achieve by doing this.

If a ferry was attacked in any way, I believe it would stop sailings for more than one day though.

In Washington I would expect to see WSF be completely shut down until the USCG could be assured that no further threat existed much like the grounding of all air travel after 9/11. Then runs would probably be slowly put back online.

[kylefossett]

hey maybe Al Qaeda was responsible for the sinking of the Queen of the North. Now you all have me nervous to go aboard a BC Ferry. I am going to be looking at every non-caucasian passenger and think that they are a terrorist.

There are security measures aboard BC Ferries and at the terminals. One of the reason a security measure works is because the public does not have a good knowledge of it. If the bad guy knew that there was a certain security feature they would just find a way around it. You do not have to worry the good old Queen of Vancouver is not just a plain old sitting duck in active pass.

[Political Incorrectness]

Cascade, if you have ever looked at the word terrorist, there is a word called terror and these terrorists want to create fear and kill people just because they want power. They believe that power gets honour, the sad truth is that is not the case.

[islander12]

I think this whole terror of terrorism thing is getting out of hand. As it stands your chances of dying because your ferry is sinking are much higher than Osama getting you. Relax, take a deep breath, and stop watching CNN.

[BrianWilliams]

"Relax, take a deep breath, and stop watching CNN."

Or worse, Fox News.

A very eloquent, veteran Brit reporter was interviewed this morning (11 August) by CBC Radio. He supported Europe, UK and America's tighter measures - for now - but was right in saying that the terrorists had scored a victory.

He didn't deny the plot was real - but even in failure, a few fanatics crippled world travel. And their longer effect is almost as horrible. After September 11, 2001, short-haul flights in North America went from 5-min check-ins to a half-hour.

People are now faced with waiting maybe an hour for a 30-minute hop to Williams Lake. Take off your shoes, stow lipstick, cell phones and pocket calculators in checked luggage.

Jeez! Most folks flying around western Canada for a short visit didn't check anything. Unless you're moving house, a small bag and one more, with a *wink* to the crew, would be carried in the cabin.

The medieval b*stards have won. Ancient theocratic, political grudges nursed in deserts halfway around the world are hurting ordinary British Columbians, travelling in our own green peaceful province. Ughh.

[Political Incorrectness]

Brian, if you fly to Britian, then you have to give up those cell phones. My dad has found in the blogosphere about all the terrorists that have been involved in major attacks come from one specific background. So then why dont we go after them? Of course the weeding out of one background is wrong and they play politics thinking should we just prevent these things from happening by not trusting our own? Or do we weed out these people of the one background.

[kylefossett]

Sorry Dan but they are not all muslim people who are blowing stuff up in the name of terrorism. Timothy Mcveigh, and the Air India bombers, were is there muslim up bringing?

[Political Incorrectness]

Some of these homegrown terrorists did have links to al-queida and the al-queida link was to a certain muslim background.

[Islander12]

Well I think there should be armed security officers on each sailing(even the mill bay), x-ray scanning machines for every vehicle going onto a ferry, metal detectors and security guards at each terminal for every walk on passenger, "random" security checks at each terminal and on the ships, and check ins 1 hr prior to each sailing. lol...

[Koastal Karl]

No way. I dont think they should be onboard but maybe having security guards at each major terminal or something like that, scanning cars, ect and walk ons, but still why would anyone want to attack the BC Ferries. I could see WSF cause well it's the US but BC. If that happened it would just be like airline travel which is begining to be a hassel and we dont want that.