TSA, Tanks & Ferries

[kidspot]

I see that in about 18 months Hawaii is to see ferry service begin ... Which means I can take my vehicle with me to the outer islands. I'm curious if anyone knows weather TSA will allow Scuba tanks via ferry? I know there's been a lot of confusion and declining of tanks on airlines. Anyone have experience with ferries? I am really hoping that it will not be a problem.

Aloha, Tim

 

[chrisch]

We take ours on the ferries over to the UK without any problem. Mind you to be honest no-one has ever had a real good look in the car! The customs people are more interested in cigarettes alcohol and drugs!!

Chris

 

[kidspot]

[rant] Here in the USA it seems like they've gotten paranoid about everything ... can't even take matches with you anymore ... makes it tough when you're going backpacking ...

From what I've read it looks like the inspections are going to be very similar to our airports... Everything get's checked and everyone is suspect...
Whose idea was it to trade such a large slice of liberty for such an insignificant amount of safety anyway?.... [/rant]

 

[RICHinNC]

Kidspot....

I have learned that every airport has within their TSA section a customer service individual. While it can be a real bear to find out who that individual is......give the office a call that will handle the ferries and ask what the rules will be.

I suspect that you will have to drain the tank and remove the valve at a minimum.......just like transporting a pony bottle on an aircraft.

Whatever you find out.....come back and lets us know.
rich

 

[mike_s]

I don't know why you'd have to drain the tank and remove the valve to keep a tank in your vehicle on a ferry.

Campers/RV's are allowed on ferrys in the US and they have propane tanks on them and they don't make them drain the propane out of their tanks. They might make them turn the propane off to keep a leak from turning into an explosion, but I not drain the propane tank and remove the valve. I looked on the North Carolina Ferry Web page and it said that RV's/Campers were allowed but told nothing about tanks or propane. Even in their security section.

My guess is that your scuba tanks will be in the trunk of your car and they'll never know it.

BTW... I do know that to go in the tunnel system under Cheasepeake Bay if you have an RV, they make you stop and turn off your propane, but they don't make you drain it either.

 

[eandiver]

TSA doesn't have anything to do with Ferrys or sea ports in general.

 

[RICHinNC]

Recent events is changing TSA's grip on reality.

Mike....I agree in general....but if they do start inspections and you have a tank in your trunk and they find it.....you could save yourself a lot of hassle and possible confiscation of tanks. I dont see them being cooperative enough to let you drain the tank and pull the valve there.

That is still of course if they do get more involved in that travel area.

rich

 

[kidspot]

TSA doesn't have anything to do with Ferrys or sea ports in general.

ahh - I wonder who does all the inspections then? Whenever a ship comes into port here they have armed soldiers with rifles, the tables and screening machines setup where all passengers have to pass through. In a recent conversation with a couple of crew memebers I was told they are not even allowed to have a cork screw on board with them (one was the bar tender) but have to sign one out and sign it back in for work...

Different inspectors, but it seems to be the same limitations ...

Tim

 

[RICHinNC]

Good point.....anyone remember how long it took to get TSA to understand an empty pony isnt a danger.....and worse...who got them to understand?? Now it may start all over again???

 

[mike_s]

Mike....I agree in general....but if they do start inspections and you have a tank in your trunk and they find it.....you could save yourself a lot of hassle and possible confiscation of tanks. I dont see them being cooperative enough to let you drain the tank and pull the valve there.

I don't see TSA making people drain explosive propane tanks, so I don't see them taking my "air" tanks. TSA isn't worried about ferries anyway. For the most
part they are regulated by state agencies.


As for when a ship comes in, they are paranoid of something happening
to the cruise boat industry. Out of Florida, they have the Coast Guard escort
all the cruise boat ships in/out of port and have port security boats around them
all the time when in port. They are afraid of them becoming a likely target
by something. Of course if someone wanted to try something like they did
on the USS Cole, the small 25' patrol boat could only ask them to leave or
use their side arm, which really wouldn't stop a boat full of explosives.

I personally think that TSA security is "wanna be" security. Yes they filled
a "void" that wasn't there before, but it's like putting a lockdown on the barn
after someone has already stolen all your horses.

Just like we put all our subways on alert after the trajedy in London.
By the time we went on alert and added all this extra security, the
attack was over. If they had wanted to attack our subways, they
could have easily done it.

My wife works with Internation shipping and TSA inspections of all the
stuff that goes in/out of the country. She says their TSA rules are a joke.
For example, they can't ship anything larger than "X" size unless they
are a "known shipper". TSA's rule that they are a "known shipper" is that
they have to fill out a form and be on a customer list for 7 or 10 days.
No information has to actually be sent to TSA, just that they be on a "list".
So "Joe Terrorist" can just have his name added to a list and wait until
next week to easily ship his "bomb" through customs. (less than 3% of these
package are actually inspected). B-O-O-M!