Homeland Security boat checks

[Ray]

Coast Guard MSU Lake Charles, local law enforcement agencies conduct maritime enforcement operations on Calcasieu Ship Channel

LAKE CHARLES, La. – Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Lake Charles and local law enforcement agencies conducted a multi-agency maritime law enforcement operation in Cameron Parish on Wednesday, July 22, 2009, along the southern portion of the Calcasieu Ship Channel and its approaches.

During this operation, more than 30 personnel, six small boats, one helicopter, and three K-9 drug units from various agencies boarded 18 offshore supply vessels and fishing vessels. The intent of this 4-hour operation was to increase law enforcement and maritime homeland security presence along southwest Louisiana’s major waterway, enhance maritime domain awareness, continue developing regional partnerships, and investigate and prosecute any federal, state, or local violations discovered along a key portion of the nation’s Maritime Transportation System.

Coast Guard and participating agency officials conducted law enforcement boardings on vessels transiting throughout the operational zone to evaluate compliance with federal boating safety regulations, U.S., state and local laws and to verify proper crew credentials. No vessel types were specifically targeted during this operation.

Participating agencies included:

• MSU Lake Charles
• MSU Port Arthur
  
• Cameron Parish Sheriff’s Office,
  
• Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office Marine Enforcement Division
• Federal Bureau of Investigation
• Customs and Border Protection,
  
• Lake Charles Police Department
• Louisiana State Police
• Immigration and Customs Enforcementas

I was out fishing this day, as well as Gerald and Jsmoke.

[jsmoke222000]

I actually got boarded by the coast guard about 6 weeks ago. A friend & I were headed to the jetties & the coast guard rolled up on us in one of their inflatable boats with a 50 cal. on the front of it. We stoped & they asked for permission to board my boat. They just checked my paperwork & safety stuff (life jackets, fire extinguisher, ect.) Took about 5 minutes. Jumped back in their boat & gave me a copy of the inspection paperwork. I didn't see any on the 22nd though.

[Bluechip]

Ray, did you get boarded that day by any of the agencies?

["W"]

Glad there doing this.........Keep us safe!!

[eman]

Originally Posted by jsmoke222000

I actually got boarded by the coast guard about 6 weeks ago. A friend & I were headed to the jetties & the coast guard rolled up on us in one of their inflatable boats with a 50 cal. on the front of it. We stoped & they asked for permission to board my boat. They just checked my paperwork & safety stuff (life jackets, fire extinguisher, ect.) Took about 5 minutes. Jumped back in their boat & gave me a copy of the inspection paperwork. I didn't see any on the 22nd though.

Keep that paperwork in your boat. If you get stopped again w/in 1 year you can show them the papers. they won't have to inspect again

[all star rod]

A few weeks ago when I was at Big Lake saw two of the boats heading North-South down the channel. After about 20 minutes I saw a tanker coming in and they were escorting it on each side. First time I saw this. They had their 50 cal on the front of each boat.

[Gerald]

I have fished ~3 times around the Port of Lake Charles in the past few weeks. I have seen Coast Guard boats every time out on the water riding around. I was not checked by them.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by Bluechip

Ray, did you get boarded that day by any of the agencies?

Not on this day. I was out fishing, but didn't get checked.
I get checked pretty regularly by LDWF, but not the USCG.
USCG went from 8 boats last year to 15 boats this year. I
suspect that we will be getting to know the Coasties better
in the near future.

[southern151]

Keep em comin guys! It's for our own good. Just remember 9/11. It was aggrevating getting on a plane after that but, not nearly as aggrevating as getting our planes flying through our buildings. They're here for us!

[CatDaddy]

I got stopped by RR once while I was in my 16'/50hp Tohatsu. He was dropped out of an FBI/CIA/ICE drone from about 30,000 feet. When he got about 50 feet from my boat he deployed his chute and stopped him almost instantly, thus safley landing in my boat without making a ripple on the water. He drew his tricked out Custom made Bushmaster M-16 fully auto and made sure I was unarmed (good thing i didnt bring my .22cal huh?).. He then proceded to check my boat, he said he was looking for thousands of AK-47's and hundreds of pounds of meth but it wasnt here. After he completed his inspection he pushed a button that sucked up his exposed chute and deployed a super cool jet pack and blasted off... Kinda ticked me off cause the heat from his super cool jet pack weakend the new spool of 50lb Berkley Big Game Low Vis Green string...

I didnt get any paperwork either.. Whats the deal?

[FlatoutFishin]

Originally Posted by CatDaddy

I got stopped by RR once while I was in my 16'/50hp Tohatsu. He was dropped out of an FBI/CIA/ICE drone from about 30,000 feet. When he got about 50 feet from my boat he deployed his chute and stopped him almost instantly, thus safley landing in my boat without making a ripple on the water. He drew his tricked out Custom made Bushmaster M-16 fully auto and made sure I was unarmed (good thing i didnt bring my .22cal huh?).. He then proceded to check my boat, he said he was looking for thousands of AK-47's and hundreds of pounds of meth but it wasnt here. After he completed his inspection he pushed a button that sucked up his exposed chute and deployed a super cool jet pack and blasted off... Kinda ticked me off cause the heat from his super cool jet pack weakend the new spool of 50lb Berkley Big Game Low Vis Green string...

I didnt get any paperwork either.. Whats the deal?

Your lucky...he didn't really need to drop in, he could've just taken you out from that altitude utilizing that Bushmaster at night....and you'd of never heard it coming!

Funny ****!

[yak'em-n-stack'em]

I got checked in April by the coast guard in the ship channel by those big camps. My gf and I were trying to find clean water and I saw him coming. I said I bet he boards us. And sure enough I hear radio chatter and then he whips around with lights on. They were really nice and respectful. They let me off with a warning ecause my fire extinguisher was discharged. I didn't know this. I didn't get any paper work. But they were lsu fans and that helped the process