LOS ANGELES, California (2 Feb 2005) -- The Coast Guard is seeking to protect the nation's ports from terrorist attacks by scuba divers with a sonar system so powerful it can distinguish swimmers from dolphins, officials said Tuesday. The security device, set to be unveiled today, scans port waters and alerts authorities on land to any possible divers. A response boat then drops a second sonar below the surface for confirmation and sends back high-resolution images of the diver. "Instead of alerting us to every sea lion, manatee or fish, this system will help us identify objects as a diver who just got lost or someone who intends on doing us harm," said Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Alan Tubbs. Tubbs declined to discuss in detail how the system actually differentiates humans from animals, how far away it can detect divers or how many were being used. The device would only be deployed periodically and could prove especially useful to inspect waters during major public events like welcome ceremonies for military ships returning to port. Coast Guard crews have been operating the system along the West Coast over the past year as well as training with it along the Gulf of Mexico and the East Coast. So far, the device has been nearly flawless during testing, said Petty Officer 2nd Class Jachob Smith. | | "Our unit divers were out trying to trick the system, but we haven't been able to yet," Smith said. Concerns about terrorist strikes by scuba divers were raised three years ago after the FBI announced it was investigating whether al-Qaida operatives took scuba training to help blow up ships at anchor, power plants, bridges, depots or other waterfront targets. The Coast Guard has no information about any current underwater threats, Tubbs said. SOURCE - Press-Telegram |
