Jul 3, 2008 7:19 pm US/Pacific
NYPD Unveils Super Anti-Terror Patrol Boats
At $1 Million Each, Vessels Are Closest Thing To A Sure Thing In The Continuing Battle Against Seaborne Attacks
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
Just in time for the Fourth of July, the NYPD is dramatically stepping up its war against seaborne terrorist threats.
CBS station WCBS-TV in New York City went along on one of the first patrols of the new vessel for an exclusive look at this new and important way to help keep the city safe.
There is nothing else like it in any other American city. A $1 million lean speedboat – the newest weapon in New York City's war against those looking to do us harm.
"There is no other agency in this country I can safely say that can go out there and protect the citizens of that city," said David Kao of the NYPD's Counter Terrorism Unit.
It's called a "TRACS" boat. Because of security purposes, WCBS-TV can't reveal all of the equipment on board, but it has the unique capacity to detect even the most minute traces of radiation to prevent one of the city's top security nightmares – the smuggling of radioactive material that could be used to make a dirty bomb.
"This is a key component, not the only component, but this can stop a devastating attack on the infrastructure of New York City," Kao said.
This is one of two boats of its kind in use by the NYPD. As highly sophisticated as this boat is in fighting terrorism, it looks like any other NYPD launch, and that was the plan.
"We just blend in with the rest of the police boats out here," Det. Kao said. "It's very difficult to tell who we are. We're out here to protect the public but we just have an additional piece of equipment here that gives us a tactical advantage."
And the harbor is being protected in more low-tech, but nonetheless effective ways as well. NYPD divers inspected every inch of the Macy's fireworks barges.
"It's all done by feel," said Paul Reynolds of the NYPD's Harbor Unit. "The divers are down there and they have a systematic search system."
Divers are backed up by a device with a remote camera, monitored inside the boat.
"You see all this growth here, this is good," Reynolds said, as the camera observed the underbelly of a barge. "If you were to come up with something shaved away that would mean someone was there and that something could have been done."
After inspection, the barges are guarded 24-7.
The NYPD has also deployed armed patrols. That, plus the round the clock radiation sweeps and other measures makes the NYPD confident of a safe Fourth of July and the future. They say the public should feel safe, too.
"All the people who out there planning on coming to New York City, come on down," Det. Kao said. "We're it. We are doing the state of the art stuff and the city of New York is pulling out all the plugs to protect everybody."
Ultimately the city will have 10 TRACS boats. They were custom made after lengthy consultations between scientists and the NYPD Counter terrorism Unit.
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