LOS ANGELES — Today’s society has a heightened awareness of potential terrorist attack targets. One particular area of concern is cruise ships.
Securing a cruise ship and its passengers is no easy task. For starters, there are thousands of passengers onboard, a number that would be enticing to terror groups meaning to hurt innocent people. Then there is the possibility of an underwater explosive.
As ABC 7 in Los Angeles reports, it take a collaborative effort to ensure the security of every cruise ship leaving from Los Angeles — the Los Angeles Port Police, U.S. Customs, the Coast Guard, federal air marshals and the cruise’s internal security team are all used in the process.
“What we want to be able to do is be in the background, but we also want to be noticed and that is the deterrent effect,” said Michael Hillman, the assistant chief of the LA Port Police.
Every passenger is screened before they get onboard. Then they are checked and photographed. Meanwhile, outside the ship, port police are on high alert for threats against the cruise lines.
However, port police only stay onboard the ship shortly before they jump off into an escort boat. Once in the open water, it becomes the cruise’s sole responsibility to secure the ship, according to the report.
