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Tampa Waterway Security Enhanced For Super Bowl

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By KATIE CORONADO

kcoronado@wfla.com

Published: January 15, 2009

TAMPA - A multiagency effort to keep waterways safe during the Super Bowl is under way in the Tampa area.

Among the collaborating agencies are the federal Customs and Border Protection, FBI, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Hillsborough and Manatee county sheriff's offices and St. Petersburg and Tampa police departments.

The Coast Guard will enhance security in the area of Garrison Channel between the Beneficial Drive bridge and Tampa Convention Center beginning the week before the game while official Super Bowl events take place.

Coast Guard officials say owners of recreational or commercial vessels in that area will need to check in at a security zone when entering or leaving the Garrison Channel area.

Coast Guard Capt. Timothy Close said residents should expect to see heightened security at least a week before the game, which will be played Feb. 1 at Raymond James Stadium.

Several Super Bowl events will take place downtown, including the Tampa Marriott Waterside, Close said.

A Coast Guard command control will help coordinate the federal, state and local agencies involved.

"We want to make sure that all the boats on the water related to the security event are all speaking on the same channels and that we have good command and control," Close said.

For security reasons, Close said he can not reveal how many boats will be protecting the waters.

"We just want people coming into to Tampa for the Super Bowl to see the law enforcement boats and to realize that everything is safe, there's no threats or anything like that out here," said Sgt. Alan Draffin of Tampa Police Department's Marine Unit.

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