Eleventh Coast News

The Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) in Monterey, Calif. and the U.S. Coast Guard Research and Development Center (RDC) in New London, Conn. agreed to a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on April 14 extending for five more years their previous three-year direct collaboration on joint research projects and exchanges. The extension is a result of the Tri-Service Maritime Strategy (TSMS) released in December, which underscored the need for joint cooperation in today’s security environment.

A Change of Command Ceremony is scheduled for U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Stratton at Coast Guard Island, Alameda, Calif., Thursday, at 10:30 a.m. During the ceremony Capt. Andrew M. Sugimoto will relieve Capt. Charles L. Cashin III, as Stratton’s commanding officer. Vice Adm. Paul F. Zukunft, Commander, Pacific Area and Defense Forces West, will preside over the ceremony. Cashin is a native of Chelmsford, Mass., and has served aboard seven cutters, commanding three of them. He is a 1988 graduate of the United States Coast Guard Academy where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering.

A Marine Safety Alert was issued to increase awareness and reiterate general guidance on fuel systems and fuel switching safety in an effort to prevent propulsion losses. After a noted decrease, there has been a recent increase in the number of reported loss of propulsion incidents on deep draft vessels within the Eleventh Coast Guard District. Coast Guard studies and review of marine casualties indicate that lack of maintenance and testing of certain systems, including fuel oil systems, is one of the leading causes of propulsion failures. Advanced planning and careful fuel system management are critical to safely switching fuels. This is especially important if fuel switching is not routine practice.

Residents of Corte Madera located on the northeast side of the , saw an increased emergency response activity as area responders participate in an industry-led exercise on Wednesday, October 22, 2008. The interagency exercise, sponsored by Golden Gate Ferry in coordination with Coast Guard Sector San Francisco, took place at 4 which is located off the . The exercise was designed to test the Bay Area Vessel Mutual Assistance Plan including agency emergency evacuation capabilities, and mass rescue operations, as well as the ferry system transportation infrastructure. The Golden Gate Ferry exercise allowed all participants the opportunity to test interagency coordination…

On March 8, at the Coast Guard Marine Safety Office San Diego Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-53) and Rear Admiral Kevin Eldridge, Eleventh Coast Guard District Commander presided over the ceremony recognizing the establishment of the San Diego Area MaritimeSecurity (AMS) Committee. The formal establishment of an AMS Committee is one of the key measures of Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002. As we commemorate the first anniversary of the Department of Homeland Security, this event marks a significant milestone in the effort to secure one of the Nation’s most strategic ports. The AMS Committee is composed of 22 members from all levels of government, maritime industry stakeholders, and the private sector. It will be Chaired by Commander Stephen P.

Alameda, Calif. – The Eleventh Coast Guard District will begin posting weekly marine navigation information for the State of California on the Coast Guard Navigation Center’s website at http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/lnm/default.htm on April 1. This move is designed to improve service and reduce costs. The Local Notice to Mariners (LNM) for California is published weekly by the Eleventh Coast Guard District Aids to Navigation office in Alameda. The LNM provides information on changes or deficiencies in maritime aids-to-navigation and navigational chart information, as well as details on advanced notice marine activities. "By using the internet…

Governor Schwarzenegger joins Admiral Kevin J. Eldridge, USCG, Commander, Eleventh Coast Guard District and Matt Bettenhausen, Director, Office of Homeland Security, State of California, onboard a UTB-41 Coast Guard boat to observe coast guard port security drills. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced a $5 million grant to improve port security at 11 of California's ports during a visit to the San Diego Coast Guard Joint Operations Center. "In California, we have many threat targets, including large urban areas, mass transit, railways, and international icons like the Golden Gate Bridge," said Gov. Schwarzenegger. California's ports bring in 43 percent of the nation's cargo containers.

Coast Guard Sector Ohio Valley is scheduled to host a change-of-command ceremony on July 6, 2007 in Louisville, Kentucky. During the ceremony, Capt. Hung M. Nguyen, will relieve Capt. John R. Bingaman and will assume command of Coast Guard Sector Ohio Valley. Capt. Nguyen arrives in Louisville from the Coast Guard Marine Safety Center in Washington D.C where he served as executive officer. Capt. Bingaman has been the commander of Sector Ohio Valley since its commissioning in 2005 and will depart Louisville to become the Chief of Prevention at Eleventh Coast Guard District in Alameda, Cal. Rear Adm. Joel R. Whitehead, Commander of the Eighth Coast Guard District in New Orleans is scheduled to be the presiding official for the ceremony.

Vice Admiral Terry Cross, commander of the Eleventh Coast Guard District, reinstated Captain John Holmes to his position as the commanding officer of Coast Guard Marine Safety Office/Group Los Angeles-Long Beach today. Holmes had been temporarily assigned to the district’s marine safety staff while the FBI conducted an investigation into security concerns within the command. The FBI’s investigation has been completed, but the results are not being released due to the security classification of the report. Commander George Cummings, the unit’s executive officer, led the command during Holmes temporary assignment. "This matter has been fully investigated…

Admiral Thomas H Collins, Commandant, US Coast Guard (USCG) is in Singapore for a 2-day visit under the Distinguished Visitors Program of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA). Over the two days, ADM Collins will be calling on Yeo Cheow Tong, Minister for Transport. He will also be meeting Peter Ho, Chairman, MPA; Chen Tze Penn, Director-General, MPA; and other MPA senior officials. His itinerary will include meetings with key personnel from other Singapore maritime agencies. A highlight of ADM Collins’ visit will be the keynote address which he will be delivering at the opening of the International Maritime and Port Security Conference (IMPSC) on January 21. ADM Collins will be speaking on the “New Challenges to Maritime and Port Security”.