The 2010 Integrated Security Unit revealed a marine security strategy last week, and plans include a heightened navy and Coast Guard presence in the Howe Sound.
"The Howe Sound area as well as the Squamish area is of close proximity to the Sea to Sky Highway and we consider that obviously as a very important Olympic infrastructure," said Const. Bert Paquet, 2010 Integrated Security Unit (ISU) spokesperson.
However it won't mean that locals will undergo the same restrictions Vancouver boaters will, said Paquet.
"It will mean business as usual for recreational boaters."
According to the ISU website, marine venue security planning is comprised of three key areas: patrol, security of water side Olympic venues and monitoring of vessel traffic within the Vancouver Harbour and Howe Sound areas.
The ISU never contacted local harbour or boating organizations to draw on expertise or explain what security will consist of, according to Harbour Authority and Squamish Yacht Club spokespersons.
"I would be surprised if they knew we existed," said Andrew Guilbride, director of the Squamish Harbour Authority. "The Harbour Authority of Squamish would be happy to work with [the ISU] and provide a wealth of local information."
One detail the ISU may want to know, said Guilbride, is the challenge associated with the shallow Mamquam Blind Channel, which is not being dredged despite years of requests.
"The chances of getting any vessel much larger than a canoe into or out of Squamish harbour is not going to happen," he said. "And unless they've made arrangements to tie up with Squamish Terminals, there is no place to tie up in the Squamish harbour."
Yacht club spokesperson Bill McNeney said the ISU responded to requests for information with very few details.
"They are going to be regulating or monitoring traffic in the Blind Channel, so it may be an inconvenience," he said. "But it doesn't sound like they're gearing up for security clamp down where they're restricting movement. Just that it's part of their security zones, and that's all we've heard to date.
"Vancouver Harbour is totally different," he added.
False Creek marine-based businesses such as Pride of Vancouver Charters have gone public with complaints that the planned restriction of vessel movement will severely impeded their income at a time when they could be experiencing a boom.
From Jan. 25 to March 24, False Creek will be secured by a fence under the city's Cambie street bridge. Vessels moored in the area will be allowed to enter and leave False Creek provided they arrange a security escort.
