Law Enforcement Boardings News

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Cuttyhunk (WPB 1322) was decommissioned Thursday during a ceremony held at Air Station Port Angeles that was presided over by Capt. Mark McDonnell, 13th Coast Guard District Chief of Response.Cuttyhunk was one of the Coast Guard's 37 remaining 110-foot Island-class patrol boats. The fleet of Island-class cutters is being replaced by 154-foot Sentinel-class cutters built by Louisiana-based Bollinger Shipyards.Built by Bollinger Shipyards in Lockport, La.

One the U.S. Coast Guard's last remaining 378-foot high endurance cutters recently wrapped up its final patrol before its scheduled decomissioning in August.A 150-person crew on Coast Guard Cutter Mellon (WHEC 717) left Seattle April 17 to conduct missions throughout the Aleutian Islands and Bering Sea and returned to homeport July 7.During the patrol the crew conducted 38 law enforcement boardings, four search and rescue cases and enforced federal regulations governing Alaska’s…

The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Dependable returned home to Virginia Beach, Virginia, Jan. 14 following a 40-day fisheries enforcement patrol focusing on offshore areas in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Dependable operated in support of Coast Guard 5th District’s Operation Grouper Grabber and Operation Stars and Stripers covering the offshore waters of New Jersey, Delaware, North and South Carolina. “This was a very unique patrol in which we had the opportunity to work close to home and help safeguard the nation’s valuable living marine resources,” said Cmdr. Bob Little, Cutter Dependable’s commanding officer. These comprehensive multi-agency living marine resources enforcement operations focus on the following species: blue fin…

With a stifling heat wave affecting most of the country last week, it’s hard to picture U.S. Coast Guard units focusing on our nation’s Arctic interests. But for a dedicated group of Coast Guard men and women, the Arctic is all that is on their mind. As the nation’s lead federal agency for ensuring maritime safety and security in the Arctic, the Coast Guard will perform its statutory missions to ensure the Arctic remains a safe, secure and environmentally protected region. After a successful Arctic Shield 2012 operation on the North Slope and Barrow…

The Coast Guard Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to the education, welfare and morale of all Coast Guard members and their families, announced that its 26th Annual Pacific Area Awards Dinner in tribute to the United States Coast Guard (USCG) will take place on Wednesday, August 3, 2011. Held for the second consecutive year in San Diego, the gala will honor the bravery and courage of our guardians in the region who enforce maritime law, protect our homeland and preserve the environment. Awards will be presented to recognize specific acts of outstanding heroism, leadership and mission achievement. The Coast Guard Foundation has supported the USCG in the Pacific Area with more than $100,000 for morale projects and scholarships in 2010.

U.S. Coast Guard Sector Northern New England’s crew will receive a new commander during a change of command ceremony at 11:00 a.m., June 24, 2011 at the Portland Head Light in Fort Williams Park. Rear Adm. Daniel Neptun, commander of the 1st Coast Guard District, will preside over the ceremony. Sector Northern New England's current commander, Capt. James McPherson of Bradley Beach, N.J., will be assigned as chief of staff for the First Coast Guard District in Boston. Capt. Christopher Roberge will assume command of Sector Northern New England. Roberge previously served as chief of prevention for Coast Guard Atlantic Area in Portsmouth, Va.

1942- The Coast Guard-manned transport USS Hunter Liggett rescued the survivors of the heavy cruisers USS Vincennes, Astoria, and Quincy and the Australian cruiser HMAS Canberra that had been sunk the preceding night by Imperial Japanese Navy warships during the Battle of Savo Island. The night battle, also known as the First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, was one of the worst defeats ever suffered by the U.S. Navy. 1950- Congress enacted Public Law 679, which charged the Coast Guard with the function of port security. 1982- Secretary of Defense Caspar W. Weinberger approved the use of Coast Guard law enforcement detachments on board Navy vessels during peace-time. The teams conducted law enforcement boardings from Navy vessels for the first time in history.

The commanding officer of the Boston-based Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba relieved of duties in a change of command on August 8, at the Coast Guard Integrated Support Command in the North End. Cmdr. James B. McPherson will relieve Cmdr. Brian D. Perkins as the commanding officer of the Escanaba in a formal ceremony presided over by Vice Adm. James D. Hull, operational commander of all Coast Guard activities on the East Coast and in the Gulf of Mexico. The ceremony restates the continuity of the commanding officer's authority and represents a total transfer of accountability from one individual to another. Perkins is transferring to the Naval War College in Newport, R.I., where he will assume the duties of the Coast Guard liaison officer to the Navy Warfare Command.

Admiral Robert Natter, Commander in Chief of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet, and Vice Adm. Thad Allen, Commander of the Coast Guard Atlantic Area, jointly announced the assignment of four Cyclone-Class Navy Patrol Coastal (PC) ships in support of the nation’s homeland security Operation Noble Eagle. Two additional PCs will be assigned to the Pacific Coast. For the first time, U.S. Navy ships will be employed jointly with the U.S. Coast Guard to help protect our nation’s coastline, ports and waterways from terrorist attack. “The Atlantic Fleet is working closely with the Coast Guard to ensure the security of our Gulf and east coast ports,” said Admiral Natter. “These ships will be used for coastal patrol and interdiction efforts with the Coast Guard.

The Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure conducted an oversight hearing on Mariner Education and Work Force. As explained in the Summary of Subject Matter, the focus of the hearing was growing shortage of mariners and the challenges facing the maritime work force. Subcommittee Chair Elijah Cummings (D-MD) expressed concern that the maritime industry is no longer attractive for new entrants. Committee Chair James Oberstar (D-MN) discussed the importance of timely and relevant training. Rear Admiral Joel Whitehead, USCG, explained the role of the International Convention on Standards of Training…