Great Lakes Joint Security/Oil Spill Response Exercises
The Coast Guard, along with other federal, tribal, state and local agencies, is conducting a full-scale, anti-terrorism and oil spill response exercise in the Port of Duluth-Superior Aug. 28-29, 2013. In addition to Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Duluth, participants in Operation Peeking Duck will include maritime industry representatives from the states of Minnesota and Wisconsin, oil spill response agencies, as well as representatives from fire, emergency management and local law enforcement agencies.
U.S. Coast Guard Opens Arctic Base of Operations
The Coast Guard opened its seasonal forward operating location in Barrow Monday in preparation for the anticipated increase of maritime activities in the Arctic. FOL Barrow is part of Arctic Shield 2012, which focuses on operations, outreach and an assessment of the Coast Guard's capabilities above the Arctic Circle. The FOL in Barrow consists of two Kodiak-based MH-60 Jayhawk helicopters with supporting air, ground and communications crews. "The Coast Guard crews will provide a vital forward deployed presence in the Arctic during the summer operational period," said Rear Adm.
Arctic Shield 2012: USCG Mounts Historic Arctic Effort
While it seems that half the world is monitoring the oil and gas exploration activities of Royal Dutch Shell (Shell Oil) on the United States outer continental shelf (OCS) in waters of the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas off the north coast of Alaska, another historic event is occurring in those same waters: Arctic Shield 2012. The US Coast Guard is assembling its largest ever effort in the Arctic during the period July through October 2012. The Coast Guard has been gradually expanding its presence in the Arctic over the past four years.
USCG Launches Another Cutter
Charleston’s newest Coast Guard Cutter, Oak, a 225-ft Juniper Class seagoing buoy tender was launched Saturday in Marinette, Wis. Although the launching ceremony is a milestone in the birth of Oak, the cutter still has to undergo extensive work before Oak heads to its new homeport of Charleston, S.C. sometime in late fall of 2002. U.S. Representative Henry Brown of South Carolina is scheduled to be the keynote speaker for the launch ceremony. Representative Brown’s wife, Billye Brown, the ship’s sponsor, and Coast Guard Seventh District Commander Rear Adm. Jay Carmichael are also scheduled to attend the launch ceremony. Oak will replace the ageing Coast Guard Cutter Madrona, which has been in service since 1943.
Coast Guard Strike Team Members Return to U.S.
Eleven members of the Coast Guard National Strike Force are scheduled to return to the United States this week, after deploying to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The 11 members are assigned to the Pacific Strike Team in Novato, Calif.; the Atlantic Strike Team in Ft. Dix, N.J.; the Gulf Strike Team in Mobile, Ala.; and the National Strike Force Coordination Center in Elizabeth City, N.C. Strike Team Members are trained to respond to oil spills and hazardous chemical releases. At the height of Operation Enduring Freedom, twelve members were deployed. During deployment to the Persian Gulf, they utilized their…
