I worked as a volunteer in Hong Kong for 16 years. The group I was with housed and rehabilitated heroin addicts. Hong Kong has had an opium/herion problem since the days of gunboat diplomacy. Anyway, I was told that the main way heroin came into Hong Kong was that it was tied to the bottoms of the hulls of a ship. Divers would go into the water and retrieve the heroin. I am sure this method is used elsewhere in the world. I wonder how the Coast Guard inspects the whole hull of a ship?
Diving Outlaws
- Thread starter durian
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ShakaZulu
Contributor
Interesting idea, and they can just jettison the load if they are in trouble by the coast guard. Using this method, the smugglers can even use a ship that is not even aware they are carrying. Maybe package it in some kind of a electromagnetic enclosure. Not in the business, so can't help you.......
For routine hull inspections, several cruise lines hire divers in the various ports of call to take a look below the waterline. Nothing fancy about it.
I doubt thay are looking to see if someone planted contraband on the hull. More likely they are checking for possible damage from striking a partially submerged object.
Lots of trees and even a few shipping containers are wandering the oceans barely at the surface. Hitting one of those is possible in the night when most cruise ships are underway. The amount of damage could be minimal or substantial given the speeds those ships travel.
I doubt thay are looking to see if someone planted contraband on the hull. More likely they are checking for possible damage from striking a partially submerged object.
Lots of trees and even a few shipping containers are wandering the oceans barely at the surface. Hitting one of those is possible in the night when most cruise ships are underway. The amount of damage could be minimal or substantial given the speeds those ships travel.
Actually, to the bottom of ships would be a serious pain in the keister as well as produce drag that would cause the vessel to want to steer to the side that the drag is being created from. IF it were balanced out, it would still create drag that would be very noticable to those who are on the vessel all the time.
Down here, drug smugglers use boats that are submerged to just below the water line. Commonly smuggled drugs into SWFL you may ask?? Cocaine, heroine, and marijuanna.
Down here, drug smugglers use boats that are submerged to just below the water line. Commonly smuggled drugs into SWFL you may ask?? Cocaine, heroine, and marijuanna.
MAGELLAN
Contributor
Funny you should mention that. I talked to the Houston Police Department's dive team recently at the Seaspace expo in Houston, and they mentioned the same thing. They don't inspect every ship, only if they've been given a tip. The officer mentioned, that there are compartmetns on the hull that are accessed only from under water and this is where drugs are often stored.
Green Mountain
Guest
When I retire I plan on being by the ocean somewhere. I wonder if they have a volunteer corp of divers that would do this inspection duty. That would be something interesting to do.
DennisS
Contributor
Years ago they found drugs attached to the hulls of the cruise ships entering Miami. There is a program where ships are inspected when they are in port. I imagine its been stepped up after Sept-11. They've been doing it for at least the last 10 years.
O2BBubbleFree
Contributor
benncool:
In the US, at least, the Coast Guard is primarily responsible for port security and anti-smuggling, and it seems they would have high-tech methods.
For instance, check this out:
http://www.didson.com/
Of course, once a questionable spot on the hull has been identified, divers would have to be sent in, but I would think that they would be Explosive Ordenance Disposal guys just in case it's a bomb. Don't think I would volunteer for that kind of job.
Green Mountain
Guest
3dent:
Oh well then, when I retire I'll just have to settle for being the Constable in Margaritaville. :dazzler1: :dazzler1:
