Security Drill on the Elizabeth River

Hampton Roads Transit, local and federal law enforcement officials will conduct a maritime security exercise on Wednesday, December 2, involving an Elizabeth River ferry.

This exercise is designed to test the response of local police to the illegal seizure of an HRT ferry and HRT’s ability to assist law enforcement in that event. It will involve police boats in the Elizabeth River with officers in tactical gear trying to board the ferry.

The exercise will begin at approximately 9 a.m. and will end at about noon. The drill is part of a larger U.S. Department of Homeland Security grant awarded to HRT to conduct security training. It will be observed by officials from the Transportation Security Administration and the United States Coast Guard.

The exercises are being managed by Lionclaw Consulting & Training under the supervision of HRT’s security manager. The Chesapeake-based company has been conducting Homeland Security exercises and training since 2002 with law enforcement agencies, military units, private organizations and businesses.

The activities will be staged at the HRT ferry dock at Harbor Park. Ferry service will continue as usual during the drill. The ferry used for the drill will not have passengers aboard.

For more information about HRT, visit www.gohrt.com.