Homeland Security Interceptor

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DaveS

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Yesterday as we cruised into the Bellingham Marina, a large Homeland Security vessel was departing the marina with four heavily armed personnel on board the vessel with four large outboards and one mounted 50 caliber machine gun. As I walked to our truck and trailer, I saw a large semi-truck parked in the lot with Homeland Security emblazened on the side. After inquiring of the young man with the semi what the semi was all about, he stated that the vessel that I had just seen is currently being "toured" around the country to all of the Water Homeland Security agencies so their personnel can have some hands on experience with this new vessel. (I had wrongfully assumed that the vessel I saw was one I'd seen previously). The semi is the support unit to trouble shoot any concerns with the new vessel.

Then last night while watching the news on KOMO news 4, there was an editorial about the vessel. The news story showed the vessel and stated that it carries advanced thermal imaging that can show the operators any vessels miles away and display the number of occupants on each vessel and what the occupants are doing. The cost of the equipped vessel is just over 1/2 million dollars.

We use hand held thermal imaging cameras in the fire service for locating individuals in fires, and hot spots in structure walls. Additionally, if arriving on the scene of an accident and the vehicle is unoccupied we can aim the camera at the seat cushions to determine how many people were sitting in the auto, prior to their departure. (Of course, we have to arrive shortly after there departure). We can also utilize the camera to find individuals that have been ejected into the brush from accidents.
 
Lets see, a C-Dory with 4 motors on the back and a 50 cal. mounted on the bow! Sounds like an interesting rig. hey Dave you should have asked for a test drive!
 
This could have been the same, or similar vessel to the one I saw fueling up at Deer Harbor in May. It had four big Verado's on the stern. There were three young guys and a young lady on board. I mentioned to the lady that I was really happy I as a taxpayer could afford such a vessel and her reply was to the effect that she too was happy that I could also afford all the fuel they were burning. It was similar to a Safe-boat, black neoprene type hull and aluminum underhull.
 
Did they have a kicker mounted with the four outboards? Any good ideas on mounting 50 cal. on a C-Dory? I can see where it would have it's advantages establishing right-of-way.

I spent July on fire assignments in AK. The last fire near Circle, AK was using a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle), a project through the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. The infared and other video imaging was pretty amazing. The UAV was launched from a rail and flown into a wire on a boom to recover. It had about a 12 ft. wingspan, 15 lb. payload and 20 hours of fuel. I think the military and Border Patrol have been using them for years, but I believe this was the first use on a wildland fire.
 
Dave,

I am truly happy that fire departments have a functional purpose for thermal imaging. It is excellent technology and can be put to good use in a variety of situations from weather reporting to fire/rescue, warfighting, SAR, etc.

As for the Department of Homeland Defense's use of thermal imaging and high caliber weaponry on fast boats, I guess we should feel safer knowing DHS is keeping Bellingham (and other harbors on their tour circuit) safer. I wonder if they'll be swinging by Lake Powell or Jackson Lake?

I suppose we can also feel better knowing DHS is masterful in its cost effective spending protocols, and has figured out new ways to replicate capabilities available elsewhere (USCG, several military branches, and even multi-spectral satellite imagery [if you have the proper access]).

Guess I better stop before this gets too sarcastic ... I have to fly to PHX on Thursday, and may already be on someone's Watch List.

It will be interesting to monitor the news and see when the next batch of terrorists are rounded-up from use of the new toys.

NOTE TO TYBOO & DaNAG: Please feel free to delete this if I've crossed-the-line, but I'm a little concerned that DHS is a monumental money sump with little demonstrated effectiveness. Sorry if I got too boisterous.

Best,
Casey
The Villages, FL
 
This will be a great tool for catching the 30 foot Bayliners coming into the US from Canada with drugs. Without 1400hp, there's no way they'd catch the Bayliner. I do feel badly for the four agents who have to huddle behind a center console at 70 mph in December. Although I guess the one at the gun doesn't even get that amount of protection. 40 and raining isn't much fun outside. An article on King5 claimed they would be able to spot people with guns from over a mile away in the dark with their new infrared cameras. I doubt that. Based on discussions I've had with owners of these systems, they are nowhere near that effective.
 
So lets see we have 4 motors on our Dory's a 50 cal on the bow and an UAV launcher on the roof. Looking good, I am sure we can fit it all in.
 
"... they would be able to spot people with guns from over a mile away in the dark with their new infrared cameras."

Very cool capability....

And when they take the vessel down to the Texas coast - the Whole coastline will be dotted with little-red-blips indicating "Gun Aboard!"

Best,
Casey
 
Sounds like a very cool vessel and personally I'm glad they are out there doing what they do to help keep us safe. It's a different world now.
 
localboy":283xsr8a said:
Sounds like a very cool vessel and personally I'm glad they are out there doing what they do to help keep us safe. It's a different world now.
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What you said Mark! It's a different place. Rather see the $ spent there than on clunkers... Here we go again! :cry

Heck, all I own is clunkers... Can't afford new ones. I got too many boats!

Charlie
 
Thirty years ago we used thermal imaging to find springs and fault zones in gravel areas. We traced 'faults' in the gravel above ground zero for a test of the largest nuclear detonation ever set off in the continental US.

Geologists scratched through the gravel, found no trace of offset from faulting, and gave the ok. They called the project Faultless. BOOM!

Each of our hydrothermally mapped faults broke and slipped 20 feet or more.

Oh and our sensor could find a cottontail from 20,000 feet.
 
Captains Cat":ddrjxtyd said:
localboy":ddrjxtyd said:
Sounds like a very cool vessel and personally I'm glad they are out there doing what they do to help keep us safe. It's a different world now.
Click to expand...

What you said Mark! It's a different place. Rather see the $ spent there than on clunkers... Here we go again! :cry

Charlie
Click to expand...

Indeed...














I see I am not alone, adrift in a world of common sense & pragmatism after all.
 
Captains Cat said:
Flying Rabbits.... What is the world coming to.. Oh wait, the rabbits were on the ground? :?: :lol:

Charlie
Click to expand...

:note "One pill makes you larger...and one pill makes you small..." :note

Oh, wait. That's "White Rabbit"..... :P
 
localboy":2a2arnvk said:
El and Bill":2a2arnvk said:
Thirty years ago we used thermal imaging...Oh and our sensor could find a cottontail from 20,000 feet.
Click to expand...

Imagine how good they are NOW.
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Yes - now we can not only spot the rabbit from a greater distance, we can tell if the rabbit is packing heat. :lol:
 
TyBoo":28jzt16d said:
:note I love a rainy night :note

Oh, wait. That's Eddie Rabbit .....
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Crimminy - now I've got to put Two Dollars in the Jukebox and Pour Me Another Tequilla. :cocktail
 
if you have followed the news theirs a well worn path from Pt. Roberts into Canada .. our news camera's pointed it out following that Jengins case .. its not monitored because the animals trigger the (motion detectors????) ... anyway good ground cover just keep your head down .. :o ... wc
 
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