USCG Evaluates Comms Equipment in Alaska
At nearly 663,000 square miles, Alaska is the biggest state in the United States and over twice the size of Texas. The state’s size and the remoteness of its northern communities make emergency response challenging. In response to growing economic and tourism interests in the Arctic, Coast Guard District 17, Alaska Command and the State of Alaska and other state and federal partners will conduct a mass rescue exercise called Operation Arctic Chinook in Tin City and Kotzebue August 23-24.
Effective Communication on the Water
Because communication on the water is serious business, David Clark Marine offers a number of system solutions tailored to meet specific needs. On board the City of Marco Island’s Firestorm 32 High Speed Aluminum Fireboat, made by MetalCraft Marine, first responders depend on their wireless communication gear every day. Surrounded by wind and engine noise, salt spray, choppy seas and all of the unexpected variables that come with operating in a harsh, unforgiving marine environment, communication is key to effective performance. Nowhere is that reality more evident than for firefighters and first responders everywhere, as they patrol and perform a myriad of public safety missions.
Mariner's 'Command Bridge' Helps Keep Baltimore Celebration Safe
The Mariner Group informs that it augmented the security efforts of Maryland's Natural Resources Police and other federal, state and local agencies for Baltimore's recent Star-Spangled Spectacular and Sailabration. Mariner provided CommandBridge situation awareness support to the Incident Command Center at Coast Guard Sector Baltimore. The CommandBridge displays and on-site staff helped maintain safety and security during several high-profile maritime events, including a Parade of Ships into Baltimore Harbor and the Navy's Blue Angels air show performances. "The Maryland Natural Resources Police partnered with CommandBridge to create a command and control system for managing emergencies and significant planned events," said Col. George Johnson, superintendent of the Maryland NRP.
GMS Establishes New Headquarters
Gallagher Marine Systems LLC (GMS) announced today that it has established a new headquarters in Moorestown, New Jersey for its North American operations in a move designed to better serve customers and position GMS for sustainable, long-term growth. According to GMS, the move to larger office space was needed to accommodate its growing staff and services to clients. Highlights of the new office include a larger and enhanced state of the art Incident Command Center and dedicated training center. gallaghermarine.com
Marine Response Alliance Relocates to Houston
Marine Response Alliance (MRA), an association of U.S. emergency responders providing OPA 90 Salvage Marine Firefighting (SMFF), has relocated from Pompano, Fla., to Houston to be situated with international salvage partner TITAN Salvage. Conveniently located near George Bush International airport, the new office boasts a 102,500 square-foot maintenance and warehousing facility with 4.61 acres of outside storage. Built to suit, the facility includes a state-of-the-art Emergency Response Center manned 24/7, the only one of its kind in the United States.
Rena Grounding Response Reviewed
Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) welcomed the release of the independent review of its response to the grounding of the Rena, and the announcement of $2 million of government funding to help improve New Zealand’s maritime response capability.The report, by independent reviewer Simon Murdoch, was released today by Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee.MNZ Director Keith Manch said the organization was already implementing a number of the review recommendations and the funding package would help MNZ develop a wider strategic and operational response to maritime incidents.In the review report…
NOIA Member Deepwater Horizon Response
As BP, the National Response Team, and an army of volunteers respond to the Deepwater Horizon incident in the Gulf of Mexico, NOIA member companies are lending their resources in an unprecedented cooperative effort to stop the flow of oil and prevent further damage to the environment. These resources include land-based and offshore facilities, aircraft, marine vessels, remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), a containment dome, subsea tooling, subsea video, dispersant, personnel, and technical expertise on suction systems, blowout preventers, dispersant injection, well construction, containment options, subsea wells, environmental science, emergency response, spill assistance, well intervention, and drilling and well competence.
Update on Coast Guard Operations
More than 2,400 Coast Guard personnel from Florida to Louisiana are continuing to conduct search, rescue, response, waterway reconstitution and environmental impact assessment operations today. To date, the Coast Guard has used air and boat crews to rescue more than 22,000 people and has assisted with the joint-agency evacuation of an additional 9,400 patients and medical personnel from hospitals in the Gulf coast region. More than 11,000 of the rescues were made via air and almost 11,000 rescues were made via boat operations, and hundreds of people are continuing to be rescued daily by Coast Guard crews. In total, the Coast Guard has 43 helicopters, eight fixed-wing aircraft and 13 Coast Guard Auxiliary aircraft supporting the operations.
