ALAMEDA — The U.S. Coast Guard has heightened security around its cutters at Coast Guard Island — literally by about 2 feet.
The Coast Guard put an 800-yard floating security barrier around its pier in the Oakland Estuary, authorities confirmed Thursday.

The $900,000 project was completed last week by Wave Dispersion Technologies, maker of marine breakwaters and port security barriers.

The colorful and powerful string of foam-filled plastic modules clearly defines a security zone around Coast Guard Island, established in June 2004 when the military branch began operating under heightened security.

The safety zone prohibits people and vessels from coming within 150 feet of the Coast Guard Island pier and extends in some spots about

30 feet into the estuary’s navigational channel.

The floating security barrier was installed to protect the cutters docked at Coast

Guard Island and their crews from potential terrorist attacks, Coast Guard officials have said.
The barrier will also help boaters keep an appropriate distance from the pier.

The super-strength barrier includes two swinging gates to allow the cutters to move in and out of the security zone.

The Coast Guard had earlier proposed a 10-foot-high barrier but changed the design when city of Alameda officials complained the wall would obscure residents’ views.

The new design is 2 feet high and extends 6 inches underwater, according to Wave Dispersion Technologies, maker of the WhisprWave® barrier.