Officials say the Tiny Dancer, seen here in May anchored off Vancouver's Jericho Beach, has been the subject of a number of investigations. (CBC)

Olympic security officials say the arrest of a female boater off Vancouver's Jericho Beach on New Year's Eve shouldn't raise concerns about marine security during the 2010 Games.

Police boarded the vessel Thursday night after witnesses called 911 reporting that shots had been fired from the boat at birds in the area.

Vancouver police said they would recommend charges of violating probation against Samantha Coates after a handgun was confiscated from the sailboat.

Olympic security officials told CBC News Monday that the boat is some distance from Games security zones and that the waters near any Olympic venue would be tightly locked down during the Games.

"If such a threat were to show up at our marine security perimeters, they'd be dealt with accordingly," said RCMP Staff Sgt. Mike Cote.

Cote said barriers would be erected prior to the Games to ensure so-called exclusion zones are maintained.

Known to police

The boat Tiny Dancer is registered to a Sam Coates, a man from Grand Forks, B.C.

Police said Coates is transgendered, and now is known as Samantha Coates.

"She is known to police," said Vancouver police Const. Lindsey Houghton.

"There were two incidents last year where Ms. Coates relinquished a starter pistol to police."

In May 2009, investigators also looked into allegations that raw sewage was being dumped into English Bay from boats anchored off Jericho Beach.

During that investigation, Coates's boat was found to be painted with symbols resembling the insignia of the SS, the German Nazi secret police.

Police agreed the symbols were disturbing but said they were not illegal.

Vancouver's Port Authority has issued Coates notice to move her boat. Officials said it has been anchored without a permit for at least a year.