A Coast Guard ship, center, patrols the restricted safety zone area in the Columbia River Tuesday as the EGT ship Full Sources and its three tugs docks at the Port of Longview. Barbara LaBoe photo for the Daily News.
The Daily News reported on law enforcement at the EGT terminal this week. Excerpts:
Law enforcement officials celebrated the uneventful arrival of the first grain ship at the EGT terminal in Longview on Tuesday, saying they were thrilled to avoid the large, unruly protests initially feared.
Law enforcement had been preparing for large-scale protests while the longshore union was still picketing the EGT terminal about a jobs dispute. Since the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and EGT announced a settlement two weeks ago, though, fears about a ship protest decreased. Occupy groups also called off a planned caravan that would have brought protesters from Seattle and Portland.
On the Columbia River on Tuesday, there were plenty of law enforcement boats but almost no private vessels. The Coast Guard contacted the only private vessel out near the terminal, handing out a flier and map detailing the safety zone that was ordered around the ship and terminal. The flier stated violations could result in fines ranging from $40,000 to $250,000 and up to six years in prison.
In addition to two smaller Coast Guard patrol boats, a large, fast-moving cutter and another Coast Guard ship also came in ahead of the grain cargo ship. The ship was guided into place by three tugs.
Several patrol boats from the Cowlitz, Columbia, Clatsop and Clark county sheriff’s offices also patrolled the river, especially in front of the EGT terminal. There were close to a dozen law enforcement ships total on the river as the grain ship arrived.
“It was a great opportunity for us to work with the Coast Guard and other county agencies in a coordinated event,” Cowlitz County Sheriff Mark Nelson said. “In that regard it was a very, very positive for us. … It was a nice operation all the way around.”
The Coast Guard could not be reached Tuesday about the costs for the Coast Guard ships to escort the ship. It also was unclear whether Coast Guard ships would accompany any future ships to the terminal. The safety zone order, though, remains in effect for any ship bound to the EGT terminal through April unless rescinded by federal officials.