New anti-terrorism rules proposed by the U.S. Coast Guard could have a devastating financial effect on public and private ferries and tour boat services.

As proposed, the new rules would require vessels that carry 150 or more passengers — including state-operated and privately owned ferries — to pay for extra security and possibly require screening of all passengers, cargo and baggage, including motor vehicles.

The proposed rules could ground the state’s ferry fleet, a spokeswoman said.

“At highest (security) phase of having to screen 100 percent of passengers, for all intents and purposes you would almost be shutting us down,” said Pat Patterson, Washington State Ferries’ director of communications.

“It could end up that it has a very significant financial impact on us.”

“If you make it so tough to go to Victoria, then people might not go,” said Jack Harmon, owner of the seasonal passenger ferry Victoria Express out of Port Angeles.

“That’s what we’re concerned about.”

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The rest of the story appears in the Thursday Peninsula Daily News. Click on SUBSCRIBE, above, to get the PDN delivered to your home or office.