Guard Vessel

Guns on Coast Guard Vessels Trigger Protest

Reuters reported that machine-gun fire will puncture the calm of the Great Lakes if the U.S. Coast Guard follows through on its plan to set up firing ranges there, despite volleys of criticism fired by environmentalists, boaters and politicians. As part of its expanded responsibilities to police U.S. coastlines in the name of national security, the Coast Guard has mounted gas-powered machine guns on the decks of its patrol boats and cutters, capable of firing 600 rounds a minute. To train its seamen to fire the powerful weapons on the lakes' choppy waters, the Coast Guard proposed establishing 34 target ranges at least 5 miles offshore. But the Coast Guard now acknowledges the poorly-publicized plan -- which was quietly published in the federal register in August -- ignited an outcry in part because the agency failed to properly inform the media and the public. The Coast Guard halted the firing exercises in August and scheduled public hearings that are nearly complete, saying it will listen to public comment before deciding whether to proceed. Mayors on both sides of the border including Toronto's David Miller, Chicago's Richard Daley and Bradley have criticized the Coast Guard's proposal as ill-conceived and dangerous. Two years ago, Canada sanctioned the arming of Coast Guard vessels that would otherwise violate an 1817 treaty prohibiting armed vessels on the lakes.

This Day in U.S. Coast Guard History - April 4

1912- President Taft recommended abolishing Revenue Cutter Service.  His actions led to the creation of the Coast Guard by merging the Revenue Cutter Service and the Life-Saving Service on 28 January 1915.   1933- Navy airship USS Akron crashed off the Barnegat Lightship. The search employed over 20 Coast Guard vessels under Navy supervision.   1972- On 4 April 1972 BMC (later BMCM) Thomas D. McAdams became the first Coast Guardsmen to receive the new Coxswain insignia

Coast Guard Stops Vessel From Collision

Coast Guard Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) San Francisco directed three tugboats to help divert a 700-foot dry-dock barge from colliding with the San Francisco Bay Bridge today. At approximately 8 p.m. today a night watchman from Pier 70 in San Francisco noticed that the dry-dock vessel had broken loose and notified the Coast Guard. Upon notification, the Coast Guard directed three tug boats to intercept the adrift vessel.

Coast Guard Responds to NY Plane Crash

The Coast Guard launched a multi-asset response on Jan. 15 when a passenger plane plunged into the Hudson River here. Upon initial notification, Coast Guard Sector New York launched a fleet of small rescue boats and the 87-foot Coast Guard Cutter Ridley, based in Montauk. Once on scene, the crews distributed life jackets. Three helicopters from Air Station Atlantic City, N.J., and one from Air Station Cape Cod, Mass., also launched

USCG Deploys KVH TracPhone V7 Satellite

In an effort to expand its communications capacity and take advantage of affordable, emerging commercial satellite services, the United States Coast Guard is in the process of deploying the TracPhone V7 and mini-VSAT Broadband service from KVH Industries, Inc., (Nasdaq: KVHI) on its 110-ft and 225-ft cutters. Intended to replace older satellite communications systems and services, the KVH integrated antenna and service solution is now offering increased bandwidth, reduced operating costs

EU NAVFOR, Seychelles Coastguard Cooperation

In the evening of December 6, approximately 250 nautical miles North West of Victoria Seychelles a pirate attack group was neutralized by EU NAVFOR and the Seychellois Coast Guard. On December 5th an EU NAVFOR Maritime Patrol Aircraft, stationed at the Seychelles, located a suspected pirate attack group with one mother skiff and two attack skiffs. EU NAVFOR French warship FS Floreal was tasked to close the group and the Seychellois Coast Guard also responded to the request by sending their

Tanker Restrictions in Place in Houston

Port of Houston facilities reopened to commercial truck traffic, but restrictions remained on ships in the Houston Ship Channel. Although the Coast Guard lifted daylight-only restrictions on vessel traffic Tuesday, draft restrictions kept big oil tankers out of the channel. Only vessels drawing less than 35 feet of water were allowed in. Final surveys taken of the channel were being completed late Tuesday, according to the Coast Guard vessel traffic safety office.

SAC: Canada Shipbuilders Seek New Strategy

Canada needs a new shipbuilding strategy that will help domestic firms become more globally competitive, says the president of the Shipbuilding Association of Canada (SAC). But Peter Cairns is not calling for policies that enable Canadian companies to build ships for overseas markets. He wants Ottawa to introduce tax breaks and other incentives so that Canuck firms can beat out international rivals on domestic deals to build ships that sail in Canadian waters.

VLCC Saves Two Lives

(Picture: The two survivors on the main deck of Kolossi, immediately following their rescue.) The Master and crew of the World Tankers VLCC Kolossi carried out a remarkable rescue off the Indian coast earlier this month. They picked up two fishermen from the sea. The men had survived a gruelling 12 hours in the water. Sadly a third crew member was missing. The fishermen were spotted 15 miles off Quilon, Kerala, in the early afternoon of September 5

New Wireless Headset Communication Systems

David Clark Company Series 9900 Wireless Headset Communication Systems is designed to provide maximum freedom and mobility, without being tethered to the vessel.   Communication is clear and safety is dramatically improved. Ideal for a wide variety of work boats, tugs, towboats, barges, ferries, harbor patrol and Coast Guard vessels, as well as go-fast and high-performance watercraft. Series 9900 systems consist of weather-tight components including noise-attenuating headsets