uscg – Pacific Maritime Magazine

27 Feb

USCG Launching New Merchant Mariner Credential Format

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newscredentials, mmc, uscg

Starting March 1, the U.S. Coast Guard plans to issue merchant mariner credentials in a new format that replaces the red passport-style book with related endorsement labels, according to the National Maritime Center. “The complexity and degraded reliability of the custom printers used to print the (credential) books necessitated a change to the credential printing process,” according to USCG, adding that the new credentials are going to be “printed on readily available commercial desktop laser jet printers and will vastly improve print services and availability.” The new format is expected to be on 8.5-inch by 11-inch “waterproof and tear-resistant synthetic…

27 Feb

USCG Sector Puget Sound Launches Effort to Curb Vessel Traffic’s Impact on Whales

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newscargovolumes, pmsa, pugetsound, trade, uscg, vts, whales

The U.S. Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound is engaging in a four-year pilot program that is expected to help minimize the vessel traffic impact on endangered whales in the Salish Sea, the agency announced Feb. 21. Hosted in the Puget Sound Vessel Traffic Service (VTS), the program allows for the Coast Guard to get whale sighting reports from mariners and give close to real-time information on whale locations to mariners through a whale report alert system, according to the Guard. The Coast Guard said that it plans to work closely with international, federal, tribal and state entities as well as…

13 Feb

Coast Guard Halting Seasonal Sound Signals at Umpqua River South Jetty, Yaquina Bay

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsnavigation, soundsignals, uscg

The U.S. Coast Guard is planning to discontinue the seasonal Sound Signal audio navigation aids at Umpqua River South Jetty Sound Signal and Yaquina Bay, both in Oregon, at the end of the 2024 spring installation, the agency announced Feb. 7. The Coast Guard is seeking public feedback on the new changes and on the performance and operation of navigation aids. Meanwhile, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Columbia River is expected to continue receiving reports of any discrepancies to this and other navigation aids, the agency said. “The U.S. Coast Guard values the input of the maritime community and remains dedicated…

06 Feb

Port of Long Beach Appoints New Security Chief

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsnewsmakers, polb, uscg

U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Ryan Manning is expected to helm the Port of Long Beach’s Security Division beginning this spring. The port announced Jan. 22 that its Board of Harbor Commissioners has approved Manning’s appointment to lead the Security Division, which is responsible for providing portwide safety and security and collaborating with various agencies on those efforts. Manning is expected to start in his new role after March, when he retires as the Guard’s captain of the Port of Los Angeles-Long Beach, and Commander of Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach. In that role, Manning oversees 550 active duty, reserve…

16 Jan

USCG Cutter Midgett Returns from 129-Day Alaska Deployment

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

After 129 days on patrol, the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Midgett has returned to its homeport in Honolulu, the agency announced Jan. 12. During its deployment, the crew of the 418-foot National Security Cutter engaged in readiness training in and near Southern California and a 50-day patrol in the Bering Sea. There, the cutter carried out the agency’s Arctic Strategic Outlook goals within the 17th Coast Guard District area of responsibility and provided fishery law enforcement for the $13.9 billion Alaskan fishing industry, including the completion of 10 federal fisheries boardings. The Midgett is the only U.S. maritime military service…

28 Nov

USCG Cutter Polar Star Heads to Antarctica for Operation Deep Freeze

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newscutter, deepfreeze, polarstar, uscg

The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Polar Star has embarked on its 27th year in support of Operation Deep Freeze, the Guard said Nov. 16. The cutter has left its homeport of Seattle and headed to Antarctica for Deep Freeze, a yearly joint military effort to replenish the U.S. Antarctic stations supporting the National Science Foundation, which is the U.S. Antarctic Program’s lead agency. Every year, the cutter crunches through ice to create a path that enables fuel and supply vessels to access McMurdo Station, the U.S. Antarctic Program’s logistical hub and the biggest Antarctic station. “Operation Deep Freeze is a…

10 Oct

USCG Shuts Down Illegal San Diego Charter Operation

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newscharter, luckyduck, uscg

U.S. Coast Guard members recently shut down an illegal charter operation in San Diego’s La Jolla State Marine Reserve protected area, the agency announced Oct. 4. Operation of the Lucky Duck, a 20-foot, state-registered pleasure vessel with six people aboard, including one child, was terminated after the California Department of Fish and Wildlife conducted a boarding Sept. 21 and found the operator violated state laws. Violations include failing to hire “an appropriately credentialed mariner” and failing to have a drug and alcohol program, according to the Coast Guard. “The Coast Guard will continue to pursue vessel operators who put the…

03 Oct

Post-Maui Wildfire Cleanup Underway

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsglobaldiving, mauifire, uscg

The U.S. Coast Guard announced Sept. 26 that the first phase of a multi-phase plan is underway to remove pollution and hazardous material in the aftermath of the Aug. 8 wildfire in Maui. More than 2,100 gallons of product from vessels have been removed from around Lahaina Harbor by members of the Coast Guard, the Hawaii Department of Health and the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation and contractor Global Diving & Salvage. Global Diving workers who surveyed Lahaina Harbor are said to be refining a plan for the removal of hazardous product…

12 Sep

Coast Guard to Detail Proposed Soil Cleanup at Washington’s Point No Point Light Station

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newscontamination, lead, uscg

The U.S. Coast Guard is inviting the public to a Sept. 21 open house to talk about potential efforts to clean up lead-contaminated soil at the Point No Point Light Station in Hansville, Wash. The Coast Guard performed a site assessment in 2018 and said that it found “elevated concentrations of lead in the soil around the perimeter of the four existing light station buildings” that likely stem from the use of lead-based paint on the buildings. The agency is expected to lead the soil cleanup that is set to start in early 2024 and take about a month to…

22 Aug

Public, Private Sectors Move to Help in Maui Wildfire Aftermath

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newshidot, maui, uscg, wildfire

As the community of Maui works to recover and rebuild following a deadly wildfire that killed at least 111 people earlier this month, members of both the public and private sectors have been working to provide relief. Through Sept. 10, the Hawaii Department of Transportation is waiving wharfage fees for cargo coming to Kahului Harbor. That includes cargo types such as autos, island agricultural products and fuel. “We have to offer any help we can at this time for the people of Maui,” Hawaii DOT Director Ed Sniffen said. “This will lessen the burden on shipping necessities to many who…