(SAN FRANCISCO) — The U.S. Coast Guard removed three people from the roll-on/roll-off ship Cape Orlando after they reportedly trespassed on the vessel during a protest in the Oakland Harbor on Friday morning.
Coast Guard Sector San Francisco watch standers received a report of a demonstration happening within Oakland Harbor near Cape Orlando at about 8:30 a.m. The ship, owned by the U.S. Maritime Administration (MarAd), is part of the nation’s Ready Reserve Fleet.
At 9:30 a.m., watch standers received an additional report that some of the people protesting had breached the fence surrounding the pier where Cape Orlando was moored. Then protesters reportedly began tampering with mooring lines and climbing onto the vessel’s ladder.
Watch standers then directed the launch of several Coast Guard Station San Francisco 45-foot response boat-medium crews and boarding teams at approximately 10 a.m.
After arriving on scene, Coast Guard boat crew members began to assist Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) members alongside local law enforcement to remove the protesting individuals from the maritime facility at about 10:05 a.m.
After local law enforcement moved the protesting individuals away from Cape Orlando, three people remained attached to the vessel’s ladder. The Sector San Francisco boarding team and CGIS then removed the three remaining individuals from the vessel Friday afternoon.
Individuals who breached the maritime facility and trespassed aboard Cape Orlando are currently under investigation for potential violations of federal law. Local media reported that the protesters believed the ship was carrying weapons bound for Israel.
– U.S. Coast Guard
