Communications Procedures News

A major winter storm is forecast for the San Francisco Bay this week. The storm is forecast to impact the entire Bay Area region, Monterey, and Lake Tahoe. Patchy fog, heavy rain, gale force winds (in excess of 34 knots) and increased wave action are expected Wednesday night, 10 December 2014 through Thursday 11 December 2014, with weather abating and showers expected on Friday 12 December 2014.... This MSIB clarifies USCG Captain of the Port expectations and provides recommended actions in preparation for heavy weather conditions forecast for the San Francisco COTP Zone. Industry partners should review the applicable portions of the San Francisco, San Pablo and Suisun Bay Harbor Safety Plan, implement heavy-weather plans and shall take due diligence to prepare for potential storm impacts.

The Royal Australian Navy Ships HMAS Sydney, Warramunga, and Sirius, which are based on both the east and west coast of Australia, have concluded their participation in Exercise Blue Raptor in the Northwest Shelf area. Exercise Blue Raptor was a maritime security exercise which tested communications, procedures and protocols between the Navy ships and other units of the Australian Defense Force with the oil and gas installations in the area. The exercise is part of a number of routine patrols conducted by the Navy in the region and was supported by a Royal Australian Air Force AP-3C Orion.

The Coast Guard Cutter Decisive returned to its homeport of Pascagoula Aug. 15 after a 29-day patrol conducting law enforcement and search and rescue in the Gulf of Mexico and the Straits of Florida. The crew of the Decisive conducted commercial fishing vessel boardings while in the Gulf of Mexico and ensured vessel compliance with federal laws and regulations. During one boarding on a commercial fishing vessel, two of its crewmembers were found to be undocumented aliens. They were taken aboard Decisive and then transferred to other law enforcement personnel in South Padre Island, Texas.