A new Coast Guard marine safety unit has been put into place to more quickly respond to a myriad of marine safety missions, such as response to oil spills and commercial vessel incidents in northeast North Carolina.
Marine Safety Team Elizabeth City, N.C., a field unit for Marine Safety Office Wilmington, N.C., has been stood-up at the Coast Guard Support Center, Elizabeth City and will be responsible for
port safety and security, inspections of U.S. flagged vessels, including passenger ferries, marine environmental protection, commercial fishing vessel safety program, and investigations of marine casualties and accidents.
“By having a marine safety team at this location, we are able to more adequately and more rapidly respond to many types of marine safety incidents,” said Coast Guard Lt. Thomas Tarrants, supervisor of the MST. “We also conduct inspections of passenger vessels to ensure the safety of all those who ride them.”