New Bedford is often pitched to tourists for the opportunity to observe its "working waterfront," and with the coming of things like ferry service and now the offshore wind industry on top of being a bustling fishing port, it's only getting busier. That's one reason why New Bedford has been "on the hunt" in recent years for equipment that would safeguard the city from any potential radiation-related threats coming by sea, says New Bedford firefighter and hazmat coordinator Travis Rebello.
Now, New Bedford and a number of SouthCoast communities will be able to detect any such threats, Rebello said, thanks to equipment and training provided recently through the federal Securing the Cities program. "It's at zero cost to the city," Rebello said, noting New Bedford got about $150,000' worth of equipment, as well as the in-depth classroom and field training that's been carried out this week by staff from Nevada-based CTOS (Counter Terrorism Operations Support), Rebello said.