Bridgeport gets money to improve port security

(Bridgeport-WTNH, Sept. 15, 2004 11:29 PM) The war on terrorism continues in our ports, and the City of Bridgeport is getting some big money to better protect the water.

by News Channel 8's Bob Wilson

Bridgeport harbor has a lot at stake.

"As far as critical infrastructure goes we've got a power plant here, tank farms, I-95 bridge that spans the harbor, we have a railroad bridge that spans the harbor, we have the ferry," says Capt. Adam Radzimirski, Bridgeport Police Dept.

And now they have $600,000 to buy new hi-tech equipment. The grant comes from the Homeland Security Department and will buy things like nuclear detectors, sonars and infrared night-vision.

At the top of the list is a new fast attack rescue boat.

"It will be more versatile. Get into shallower waters. It will be a lot faster."

This boat Spirit of Bridgeport is about 32 years old, and while she's passed her prime the police department doesn't expect to retire the boat anytime soon because they can use the Spirit of Bridgeport for dive operations in the harbor.

"Not only do we check the hull of the ferry but on some of the vessels that come in from South America that come here we check the hulls for contraband."

In the past divers had to check the holes by hand. Now they're getting an underwater camera to help them in this package.

"it gives us another feature that we wouldn't see with our eye," says diver John Klesyk. "So anytime that you can have help underwater that's great."

Capt. Radzimirski says in the past they've had the manpower. Now they have the equipment. "A little bit helps and this is a lot more than a little bit."

The Bridgeport harbormaster has also received a $3 million grant to install cameras around the harbor to keep an eye on things.