Police dive team to beef up Viaduct security

By HELEN TUNNAH and NZPA

Police will have a special dive team patrolling the waters during the harbourside celebrations for the winner of the America's Cup challenger series.

A special ceremony will be held at the Viaduct Harbour to present the winning challenger with the Louis Vuitton Cup and police have briefed officials on security measures.

They are understood to include the use of a police dive team monitoring the moorings and water near the challenger boats.

Security has already been beefed up around Auckland's waterfront, with the America's Cup listed as a potential target for terrorists and after threatening letters were written to crew of one syndicate, Team Alinghi of Switzerland.

Alinghi sailors, including billionaire boss Ernesto Bertarelli and former Team New Zealand skipper Russell Coutts, have been shadowed by minders and the crew have increased protection for their base and yachts.

A strong police presence is evident around the Viaduct, particularly when the competing teams are towing their boats from their inner-harbour bases to the race course.

Alinghi lead Oracle BMW Racing 4-1 in the challenger finals, with the first team to win five races sailing against Team New Zealand for the America's Cup next month.

The America's Cup spokesman for the police, Jeoff Barraclough, said the divers would have both a security and an environmental task while working around the Viaduct Harbour.

They would be checking the sea floor for natural formations, man-made structures and debris from boats, he said. "It's never been done before. This is to help security for even cruise liners that come here in the future."

Today is a rest day in the challenger finals.

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