uscg – Pacific Maritime Magazine

21 Mar

Coast Guard Cutter Steadfast Returns Following Drug Patrol

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newscutter, steadfast, uscg

After 69 days in the Eastern Pacific Ocean providing anti-narcotics enforcement, the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Steadfast has returned to its homeport in Astoria, Oregon, it was announced March 16. During the patrol, crew members of the 210-foot medium endurance cutter interrupted drug activity in three instances, preventing the flow of over 7,500 pounds of cocaine worth $85.6 million from reaching the U.S., the Coast Guard said. In one instance, the crew traced a suspected narcotics-smuggling ship with help from a Mexican Navy surveillance aircraft and aircrew and sent a boat crew and helicopter aircrew while Mexican forces tracked it,…

14 Mar

Coast Guard Cutter Munro Returns from Alaska Patrol

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newscutter, munro, uscg

After 105 days, the crew members of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Munro have returned to their Alameda homeport after a 10,000-nautical mile patrol in Alaska, the agency announced March 8. During the patrol, crew members of the 418-feet long Legend-class national security cutter joined forces with the NOAA Office of Law Enforcement on two dozen commercial fishing vessel boardings as part of efforts to ensure sustainable fishing practices and federal compliance, the agency said. “The continued existence of these fisheries depends on a healthy and productive ecosystem,” Capt. Rula Deisher, Munro’s commanding officer, said. “As a federal law enforcement…

07 Mar

Vessel Owners Must Report Harassment, Coast Guard Says

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsharassment, uscg

Owners, masters or managing operators of a vessel are now required to report complaints or incidents of harassment and sexual harassment and assault to the U.S. Coast Guard, according to Coast Guard Investigative Service Director Jeremy Gauthier. In a March 1 Marine Safety Information Bulletin Gauthier said recent law changes mandate that the vessel’s responsible entity must report misconduct to the Coast Guard. Bystanders, survivors and others would be able to report incidents through a CGIS Tips App or at CGISTIPS@uscg.mil. There’s also a 24/7 watch that can field sexual misconduct reports through the National Command Center at 202-327-2100. The…

28 Feb

Coast Guard Seeks Comment on Navigation for Portage Bay Bridge

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online News, Terminal Operationsportagebridge, seattle, uscg

The U.S. Coast Guard is asking the public, and mariners in particular, to weigh in on navigation at Portage Bay Bridge in Seattle. The agency has issued a public notice for Washington Department of Transportation’s request to replace the bridge near Lake Union and is looking for vessel and facility owners and operators and others in the maritime community to discuss navigation needs that the proposed bridge project should meet. “This includes but is not limited to mariners' requirements for horizontal and vertical navigation clearances, placement of bridge protective systems, bridge lighting systems and various other safety measures,” the agency…

21 Feb

USCG Cutter Kimball Completes Training Exercises with Japan Coast Guard

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newscutter, kimball, uscg

Honolulu-homeported U.S. Coast Guard cutter Kimball has left Kagoshima, Japan after participating in a days-long joint training exercise with the Japan Coast Guard, U.S. officials said Feb. 16. Members from both agencies engaged in several search-and-rescue exercises and other activities in Kagoshima Bay, including “collaborative mission planning, boat handling and helicopter operations, and demonstrated techniques for locating, recovering and hoisting a simulated distressed swimmer.” The U.S. Coast Guard command also visited the Japan Coast Guard’s 10th Regional Headquarters and gave tours of the cutter to several Japan Coast Guard members and the community. The events nurture the newly inked memorandum of cooperation…

14 Feb

Removal Planned for Tug Submerged at National Guard Dock in Alaska

Pacific Maritime MagazineNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsalaska, tugboat, uscg

Weather permitting, work to remove a partly submerged tugboat at the National Guard Dock in Gastineau Channel, Alaska, was expected to be underway this month, the U.S. Coast Guard said Feb. 7. The Coast Guard contracted salvage firm Melino’s Marine Services to perform the work of removing the tug by using a barge and crane system that came from Bellingham. Once removed, the tug is expected to be moved by barge to an out-of-state disposal site. The tug had been partly submerged with an oil sheen since at least Dec. 29 when Coast Guard Sector Juneau first received word on…

31 Jan

National Maritime Center Now Accepting Electronically Signed Documents

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsedocuments, nmc, uscg

In an effort to improve services for mariners, the National Maritime Center can now accept electronic signatures on CG-719 series forms and all supporting documentation for merchant mariner credentials, medical certificates and course approvals, the NMC announced Jan. 23. Mariner applicants may use software-generated electronic signatures such as Microsoft Word, and Adobe Acrobat on CG-719 forms and other supporting materials including, “but not limited to, sea service, assessments, mariner training documentation and qualified assessor and designated examiner requests,” according to the NMC. “E-mailing your application and e-signing your documents is the preferred method for submission,” according to NMC. However, any…

27 Dec

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star Heads to Antarctica

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newspolarstar, uscg

The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Polar Star is on its way to Antarctica to support Operation Deep Freeze 2023, its 26th voyage to the continent. Operation Deep Freeze is a joint mission to replenish the U.S. Antarctic stations of the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Antarctic Program’s lead agency. The crew, which left its homeport in Seattle on Nov. 16, made a four-day stop at Hobart, Australia, before leaving Dec. 21 across the Southern Ocean. In Hobart, crew members hosted guests from the Australian Antarctic Division, Australian Border Force, Tasmanian government officials and others, USCG said. “The reception was a…

20 Dec

Coast Guard Station Honolulu Partners on Search-Rescue Training Course

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newshonolulu, searchandrescue, uscg

Members of the U.S. Coast Guard Station Honolulu teamed up with the Hawaii Department of Transportation Airport Division Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting Unit for five days of training with the National Association of Boat Law Administrators’ Boat Operator for Search and Rescue course, the agency revealed Dec. 14. Developed to standardize the training, qualification, credentialing and typing process for maritime first responders, the course centered around “on-the-water risk management, team coordination, navigation, search patterns, rescue and towing,” according to the Coast Guard. This helps strengthen the working relationship between the USCG and the firefighting unit, the first responding agencies in…

20 Dec

Fishing Boat Fuel Spill Cleanup Underway on Santa Cruz Island

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newssperanzamarie, uscg

Crews are working to contain and clean up diesel fuel spilling out of a 60-foot fishing boat that ran aground on Santa Cruz Island on Dec. 15, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. At about 2 a.m., members of Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles/Long Beach watchstanders were alerted to a report from Vessel Assist Ventura about f/v Speranza Marie, which ran aground in Chinese Harbor on Santa Cruz Island. The boat was carrying six people and about 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel, according to the Guard. A unified command was created by the Coast Guard, California Department of Fish and…