Canadian Ferries Considering Tougher Security

Jul 31, 2007 4:18 PM

           

A recent bomb threat at British Columbia's Ferry recent bomb threat will mean extra closed-circuit cameras and more secure fences, but may not involve some other security measures.

The ferry corporation moves an average of 60,000 people a day and is waiting for Transport Canada to determine whether the country's domestic ferry services should face tougher security regulations.

That could lead to X-ray baggage screening or systematic vehicle searches, however a spokeswoman for the provincial ferry corporation warned such changes would cause significant delays.

"We want to weigh the risk," says Deborah Marshall, a spokeswoman for B.C. Ferries. "If we did that kind of activity, we wouldn't have 16 sailings a day on our Tsawwassen run," she told the Canadian Press, referring to a major route that connects Vancouver and Victoria for up to 28,000 passengers daily.

B.C. Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon said the incident underscores his concern that the province's transportation system is vulnerable to attack.

"I'm concerned we are not looking at this holistically," Falcon says. The minister launched an internal government review a year ago to ensure that B.C.'s transportation links - from public transit to ferries to the airports - are coordinated on security issues. "I feel much more comfortable in how we would react now, but I still think we have a ways to go," he told the Canadian Press.

The bomb threat, eventually determined to be a hoax, was made through a 911 call from a shopping mall in Coquitlam. According to B.C. Ferries chief operating officer David Hahn, the man on the line spoke with a Middle Eastern accent.

Transport Canada will hold consultations this fall to determine whether domestic ferry services should face the same security regulations as international ships.

The Canadian government is providing funds to help pay for improved physical security measures such as better dockside fences and surveillance, Transport Canada spokeswoman Julia Ukrintz told the Canadian Press. B.C. Ferries has already obtained $3.9 million to pay for upgrades.

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