Danish Sailors Rescued 650 Miles NE of Bermuda
Watchstanders at the Coast Guard 5th District command center coordinated a rescue approximately 650 miles northeast of Bermuda with the assistance of the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre Denmark and a Finnish naval vessel. The Coastguard received a notification from RCC Denmark, stating that there were two people aboard the sailing vessel Petra in need of assistance as the keel of the boat had become loose and the vessel was flooding. The Coast Guard watchstanders, in Portsmouth, sent out an enhanced group call and asked the captain of the Finnish Navy Ship Pohjanmaa to assist. Watchstanders had also used AMVER, the Automated mutual-assistance vessel rescue system, to be in communications with other vessels’ crews in the area in case their assistance was needed.
CCD Hosts MACC in Norfolk
The Combatant Craft Detachment (CCD) hosted the well-attended 6th annual Multi-Agency Craft Conference (MACC) in Norfolk, focusing on DOD and government boats and craft June 17-19 at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek in Virginia, with this year's theme: "Innovative Operations: Waves of the Future". CCD is a field activity within the Naval Surface Warfare Center's Carderock Division (NSWCCD). The Army, Marine Corps and Navy sponsored this popular gathering, fostering mutual understanding between military, government and commercial organizations. MACC drew over 1400 participants with 37 technical presentations by both government and industry, an exhibition tent with over 100 booths and 60 boat displays, 45 of which were available for in-water demos.
Blueprint For Transportation System Unveiled
Addressing a projected increase in waterborne commercial vessel traffic that is expected to double or triple over the next 20 years, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Rodney E. Slater issued a major report, An Assessment of the U.S. Marine Transportation System, outlining recommendations to meet the growing challenges to the nation's marine transportation system (MTS). The recommendations include improved vessel traffic management to ensure safety and greater focus on operational efficiencies, research and intermodalism, and better coordination and development of adequate financing mechanisms to ensure the growth of seaports and waterways. "The MTS is the lifeline that links American producers, farmers and manufacturers to global markets," said Secretary Slater.
Secretary Slater Unveils Blueprint for 21st Century Marine Transportation System
Addressing a projected increase in waterborne commercial vessel traffic that is expected to double or triple over the next 20 years, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Rodney E. Slater issued a major report, An Assessment of the U.S. Marine Transportation System, outlining recommendations to meet the growing challenges to the nation's marine transportation system (MTS). The recommendations include improved vessel traffic management to ensure safety and greater focus on operational efficiencies, research and intermodalism, and better coordination and development of adequate financing mechanisms to ensure the growth of seaports and waterways. "The MTS is the lifeline that links American producers, farmers and manufacturers to global markets," said Secretary Slater.
