A possible breach in ocean security

Ahoy.

Last week, I mentioned that I was with Capt. Chandler Bell in

Ensenada taking command of a new 54-foot yacht arriving from Florida.

Only this yacht was arriving aboard a transport ship called the

“Super Servant 3,” which is more than 456 feet long with a 105-foot

beam.

The ship is stopping in Mexico because of the Jones Act that

governs the number of ports a ship can touch in the United States,

and Mexico has less expensive port and union fees than the U.S.

When we boarded the ship, it had the usual commercial ship feel,

but sounds different than a cruise ship and, of course, the ship’s

cargo deck was loaded with boats. Sailboats, powerboats, catamarans,

workboats and nice yachts were all in cradles, as if in a floating

shipyard. While walking the deck looking for our yacht, we had to

avoid the welders who were cutting away the extra steel cradle

supports from the ship’s deck.

We were pleased to find our boat was a luxurious yacht and to

notice on the radar arch a satellite doom for TV reception --

priorities when waiting in port. Then it is the usual hurry up and

wait, as you have to sign the agent’s paperwork, check out your

vessel and wait aboard your boat as the ship sinks. That’s correct;

the ship sinks except for the superstructure.

Sinking is a strange feeling as you watch the cargo deck start to

flood with water while the ship goes down 20 feet. The water

eventually floats the boats free of the cradles, and there are scuba

divers now swimming the deck to clear the underwater cradle

structures. Then a signal is given by the deck officer for you to

start up your boat and disembark the ship.

This adventure takes a full day, so we stayed the night in the

marina and left for San Diego at sunrise to our next stop, U.S.

Customs.

This brings a question to my mind: How secure do you think our

borders are? When I walk across the border, the wait time is one to

three hours, with a security check similar to an airport’s.

What about entering the U.S. by water, though? Now, it is faster

for me to go from Ensenada to San Diego by water in a 20-plus-knot

speed boat than if I go by land because of the hours-long border wait

for cars and pedestrians.

Surprisingly, there is no one out in the Pacific Ocean checking

boats that are entering U.S. waters from Mexico. There is a check-in

protocol for recreational boats returning from Ensenada. Upon

entering U.S. waters, a boater is supposed to go directly into San

Diego Harbor and dock immediately to clear customs.

But what if a boater just keeps going north and passes by San

Diego Harbor or the boater enters San Diego, only to vanish in the

crowd -- how would anybody know?

I always clear customs, and the customs officers are always

appreciative and helpful. We all know that if someone has something

to hide, then they would not be stopping. I think that this is a huge

breach of security in our border and an easy entry path. Remember

back in May 2002 when the naked Chinese immigrants ran ashore at

Crystal Cove in the wee hours of the morning?

I will enter the U.S. by land and water again this week when I

skipper a new yacht to Ensenada, take a cab to the border and then

walk through the checkpoint to the San Diego Trolley. Two days later,

I will travel back to Ensenada, where I will skipper a boat uphill to

Newport Beach. I need a break in between because I am scheduled to

cruise 26 miles across the sea to Avalon.

I will let you know which method of entry was faster and if there

are any new security measures on the water.

As I cast off the dock lines, those of you traveling to Hawaii

should keep an eye on TV channels 14 and 21 for my “Boathouse TV

Show.” We are close to signing the contracts to begin airing there.

Safe voyages.

* MIKE WHITEHEAD is the Pilot’s boating and harbor columnist.

Send him your harbor and marine-related thoughts and story

suggestions by e-mail to [email protected] or visit

BoathouseTV.com.