Homeland Security Grant Buys 2 New State Of The Art Boats For OHP

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol marine division has two new high tech tools to use mostly on Oklahoma's river system.

The latest vessels added to the OHP Marine Enforcement Section are no ordinary boats.

They're high-dollar, high tech and marine troopers say highly needed for homeland security.

"They're a spectacular piece of equipment, and we're very fortunate to add them to Oklahoma's fleet," said Lt. Kurt McKean.

The two new 27-foot boats were bought with a Homeland Security grant. They'll be used for port security on the Arkansas River navigation system. Oklahoma has the farthest inland port in the U.S.

"We're also kind of the eyes for the Coast Guard, up in the inland waterway, because the Coast Guard really doesn't have an enforcement arm up this far inland," said Trooper Ben Chapman.

The steel boats are reinforced for the rigors of use on the river and have all kinds of features.

"This is a hydraulic bow that actually drops down," McKean said.

They include state of the art equipment.

"Generator system, it has sonar, down-looking sonar, it has a fleer system on it to see in the dark. It's phenomenal," Chapman said.

They're the same type of boat used by the Coast Guard and the military.

"They're a long-range, high-speed boat that can handle about any situation they're put in," McKean said.

The rapid response vessels will help with law enforcement and safety on the water, but can also be dispatched quickly to emergencies, whether it's in a nearby state like the aftermath of hurricane Katrina or closer to home like the I-40 bridge collapse.

With 126 miles of navigable river in Oklahoma, marine enforcement troopers say the boats will be a nice and effective tool.

"They're basically a floating command post," McKean said.

While the rapid response vessels will primarily be used on the navigation system in Oklahoma, they can also be used on other lakes in the state if there is an emergency.