Coast Guard Establishes Cyber Protection Team Command

Coast Guard Establishes Cyber Protection Team Command

Coast Guard Cyber Command, in an effort to strengthen its defense against digital threats, established a new cyber protection team on Aug. 1. The move was formalized at a ceremony on Coast Guard Island in Alameda, Calif., presided over by the Guard’s deputy commandant for operations, Vice Adm. Peter Gautier. Tasked with providing assessment, threat-hunting and incident response services to the Marine Transportation System, the 2003 Cyber Protection Team is the third CPT to be established, and the first CPT unit geographically detached from cyber command. The 2003 CPT is currently building its staff in order to obtain full operational…
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USCG Seeks Input on Proposed Snohomish Bridge Project in Washington

USCG Seeks Input on Proposed Snohomish Bridge Project in Washington

U.S. Coast Guard District 13 is seeking public input regarding a proposed Washington State Department of Transportation Snohomish River Southbound Bridge Project (WA State Road 9). The Coast Guard is specifically interested in those who can address any issues related to navigation and environment of the project, which is situated near river mile 12.2 across the Snohomish River in Snohomish County. The current bridge allows for both north and south traffic. The new bridge, when built, would accommodate southbound traffic while the current bridge would carry northbound-only traffic. “The new southbound SR 9 bridge will be a fixed structure and…
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Coast Guard Cutter Intercepts $76+ Million Worth of Cocaine

Coast Guard Cutter Intercepts $76+ Million Worth of Cocaine

The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Alert has offloaded over $76 million of cocaine in San Diego, the Guard announced June 9. The 5,776 pounds of drugs was intercepted during a counternarcotics patrol in international waters off the Central and South America coasts in May. The crew of the 210-foot medium endurance cutter partners with various agencies to combat illegal drug operations, including the Departments of Defense, Justice and Homeland Security. Enforcement in the Eastern Pacific Ocean is done under the authority of the Alameda, Calif.-based Eleventh Coast Guard District. Rear Adm. Andrew Sugimoto, commander of the Coast Guard 11th District,…
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Coast Guard Publishes Pacific Coast Port Access Route Study

Coast Guard Publishes Pacific Coast Port Access Route Study

The U.S. Coast Guard’s first comprehensive review of vessel traffic patterns off the California, Oregon and Washington coasts has been published, the agency announced June 7.  The Guard put out in the Federal Register the final report of the Pacific Coast Port Access Route Study (PAC-PARS), which aims to determine historic and future waterway use to see if there is navigational risk and offer recommendations to maintain safe navigation.  To accomplish this work, the study looked at vessel tracking data from the last decade as well as various datasets, including environmental data, current and planned offshore development infrastructure, and past…
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USCG Gets More Time to Finalize Base Seattle Modernization Project PEIS

USCG Gets More Time to Finalize Base Seattle Modernization Project PEIS

The U.S. Coast Guard now has more time to conduct more analysis on the proposed Base Seattle Modernization project. The Department of Homeland Security has extended the U.S. Coast Guard’s timeline to finalize the project’s Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) from May 7 to Dec. 31, giving the agency more time “to consider public comments received on the Draft PEIS and conduct additional analysis that will help inform a final Record of Decision.” Before a Record of Decision is issued “stating the Coast Guard’s decision on the selected alternative,” the public will have a chance to look over the final…
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USCG Participates in Active Shooter Drill at Alaska Marine Terminal

USCG Participates in Active Shooter Drill at Alaska Marine Terminal

On April 26, members of the U.S. Coast Guard and agency partners took part in a full-scale active shooter exercise at the Ketchikan Alaska Marine Highway System Terminal.     Participants, which included Coast Guard Sector Juneau, Coast Guard Station Ketchikan and Coast Guard Public Information Assist Team, were able to run through tactical processes, practice ways to de-escalate the situation and utilize crisis communications during the exercise, which involved an “active shooter” at the terminal and on the 408-foot AMHS marine vessel Matanuska, according to the agency. Coast Guard Station Ketchikan was also able to use a 45-foot medium…
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New Phone Numbers for Pacific Northwest USCG Command Centers

New Phone Numbers for Pacific Northwest USCG Command Centers

Mariners traveling through the Pacific Northwest should be mindful of new U.S. Coast Guard contact numbers. With the creation of a newly merged command center in Portland, the telephone numbers for the Coast Guard command centers in southern Washington and Oregon have been changed, Coast Guard Thirteenth District Pacific Northwest said in an April 4 statement. For emergency response, the public should now call 833-PDX-USCG. To reach Sector Portland automated directory, they should contact 833-771-2565. As of April 3, the telephone numbers that once dialed to the Coast Guard command centers in North Bend and Astoria in Oregon are now…
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Coast Guard Cutter Steadfast Returns Following Drug Patrol

Coast Guard Cutter Steadfast Returns Following Drug Patrol

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,…
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Coast Guard Cutter Munro Returns from Alaska Patrol

Coast Guard Cutter Munro Returns from Alaska Patrol

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…
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Vessel Owners Must Report Harassment, Coast Guard Says

Vessel Owners Must Report Harassment, Coast Guard Says

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…
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