Marine Link
Thursday, March 28, 2024
SUBSCRIBE

First Coast News

02 Mar 2023

Bollinger Delivers USCGC Maurice Jester

(Photo: Bollinger Shipyards)

Bollinger Shipyards announced it has delivered the USCGC Maurice Jester to the U.S. Coast Guard in Key West, Fla.. This is the 178th vessel Bollinger has delivered to the U.S. Coast Guard over a 35-year period and the 52nd Fast Response Cutter (FRC) delivered under the current program.Measuring in at 154-feet, FRCs have a flank speed of 28 knots, state of the art C4ISR suite (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance), and stern launch and recovery ramp for a 26-foot…

12 May 2022

Linda Fagan Confirmed as First Woman USCG Commandant

Adm. Linda L. Fagan (Photo: U.S. Coast Guard)

Adm. Linda L. Fagan has been confirmed as the 27th Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, clearing way for her to be the first woman top officer in one of the military services. The Senate on Wednesday approved Fagan’s promotion, along with those of five other senior Coast Guard officers, by unanimous consent.Nominated for the role by President Joe Biden in April, Fagan will succeed Adm. Karl Schultz as head of the Coast Guard. Schultz, who has been Coast Guard Commandant since 2018, will retire at the end of this month.

19 Apr 2021

Fagan Nominated as USCG Vice Commandant

Vice Adm. Linda L. Fagan (Photo: U.S. Coast Guard)

Vice Adm. Linda L. Fagan has been nominated by the White House to be the next Vice Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard. She would become the first Coast Guard female four-star admiral and the third woman to serve as Vice Commandant.Pending confirmation, Fagan is expected to relieve current Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard Adm. Charles W. Ray on June 18.“Vice Adm. Fagan is an outstanding leader with 36 years of Coast Guard operations, policy-making, joint service, and interagency experience,” said Adm. Karl L. Schultz, Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard.

06 May 2020

Cellphones Are Helping the USCG Locate Distressed Mariners

File photo (U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy of Station New London)

First Coast Guard District command center crews, from Maine to Northern New Jersey, have a new tool to help distressed mariners come home to their families after being out to sea.The i911 program allows for watchstanders to use a mariner’s cellphone number to assist in finding their location for Coast Guard rescue crews to locate them faster. Once the number is entered, the mariner receives a text message authorizing them to share their location with the U.S. Coast Guard. Once shared…

14 Nov 2019

10th Annual Maritime Risk Symposium at Suny Maritime

3-Day Event Gathers Industry Leaders to Focus on Risks to the Marine Transportation SystemFrom November 13-15, the 10th annual Maritime Risk Symposium (MRS) will take place at SUNY Maritime College bringing together academics, government, and commercial entities to discuss threats, challenges, and risks associated with the Marine Transportation System (MTS).Key industry leaders participating in the event include First Coast Guard District Commander Rear Admiral Andrew Tiongson, MARAD Administrator Mark “Buz” Buzby, and New York State Supreme Court Judge John Ingram. “A resilient Marine Transportation System is imperative to our Nation’s economic prosperity and national security…

25 Jul 2018

Coast Guard Cutter Nathan Bruckenthal Commissioned

The Coast Guard Cutter Nathan Bruckenthal berthed before its commissioning ceremony in Alexandria, Va., July 25, 2018. The Bruckenthal was the 28th Sentinel-class Fast Response Cutter to be commissioned. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Charlotte Fritts)

The U.S. Coast Guard commissioned North Carolina’s second Fast Response Cutter, the Coast Guard Cutter Nathan Bruckenthal, during a ceremony in Alexandria, Va., today.The 154-foot vessel was built by Bollinger Shipyards and is based on the Damen Stan Patrol Boat 4708. It was delivered to the Coast Guard in Key West, Fla. earlier this year.FRCs feature advanced command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance equipment that allow their…

25 May 2018

US Coast Guard Welcomes New Vice Commandant

Adm. Charles D. Michel was relieved as vice commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard by Adm. Charles W. Ray during a military change-of-watch ceremony held Thursday at U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters. Michel, who also retired from the Coast Guard after 33 years of service to the nation as part of the ceremony, received the Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal from the 25th Commandant of the Coast Guard Adm. Paul F. Zukunft. “The Coast Guard has given me everything I wanted and more: a world-class education, a profession dedicated to providing salvation to those in peril at sea, patient leadership that had faith in me, and a group of friends and colleagues that have lived our core values of honor, respect, and devotion to duty,” said Michel.

16 Feb 2018

USCG Sector Long Island Sound Commander Temporarily Reassigned

Capt. Andrew Tucci was temporarily removed from command of Sector Long Island Sound, in New Haven, Connecticut, Monday, by Rear Adm. Steven Poulin, First Coast Guard District commander due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command.   Poulin appointed Cmdr. Kevin Reed, deputy commander of Sector Long Island Sound, to assume command of the Sector.    Tucci is being reassigned to the Coast Guard's Research and Development Center in New London, Connecticut until further notice. No other details were provided.   "The change in leadership will not impact Sector Long Island Sound's operational readiness," said Poulin. "We will remain always ready to perform all Coast Guard missions."

18 Sep 2017

SAR is Global Responsibility: IMO

​Search and rescue (SAR) is a humanitarian process, aimed at assisting persons in distress, without regard to the nationality or circumstances of the persons in distress. International Maritime Organization (IMO) 's Chris Trelawny highlighted this global responsibility, during the first Coast Guard Global Summit, jointly hosted by the Japan Coast Guard and Tokyo-based Nippon Foundation, in Tokyo (14 September). He also outlined the international legal framework for SAR; the implementation of effective SAR systems; and the need for and benefit of international and inter-regional cooperation for effective SAR on a global basis. Search and rescue officials from more than 30 countries attended the summit.

12 Apr 2017

Hudson River: A Battle for Anchorage Grounds Goes Viral

Bruno Bernier / Adobe Stock

Where commercial marine and safety considerations allide with recreational and other peripheral agendas, the discussion can sometimes be contentious. One such example of this reality is now playing out on the Hudson River in New York. On June 9, 2016, the U.S. Coast Guard published a three-page Federal Register notice, seeking public comments on a proposal suggesting new anchorage grounds in the Hudson River, from Yonkers to Kingston, N.Y. Officially, this was an advance notice of proposed rulemaking…

30 Mar 2017

USCG Recognizes T&T Marine Salvage’s Capabilities

ARGO Contaminated Water Diving Operations (Photo: T&T Marine Salvage)

T&T Marine Salvage, a member company of the Teichman Group, founded in 1957, received a new certification by the U.S. Coast Guard to detect and recover non-floating oils. T&T is the first Coast Guard recognized Salvage and Marine Firefighting service provider to receive this new Oil Spill Removal Organization classification initiated by the U.S. Coast Guard in 2016. This new certification is in recognition of T&T’s years of experience conducting non-floating oil detection and recovery operations and their expansive inventory of hydrographic…

30 Aug 2016

Wounded Lobsterman Medevaced near Cape Cope

(U.S. Coast Guard stock photo:  MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter)

An injured lobsterman was medically evacuated by U.S. Coast Guard helicopter crew Tuesday roughly 130 nautical miles east of Cape Cod.   At about 10:15 a.m., a crewmember aboard the lobster boat Eagle contacted watchstanders at the First Coast Guard District command center requesting assistance for a 41-year-old crewmember who had accidentally been impaled.   A Coast Guard flight surgeon recommended a medevac and Air Station Cape Cod launched an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter at about 11 a.m. The air crew arrived on scene, hoisted the man, and is currently in transit to Cape Cod Hospital.

01 Jun 2016

US Coast Guard Promotes Second Four-star Admiral

Adm. Zukunft (right), presents the new flag of the vice commandant of the Coast Guard to Adm. Charles at the conclusion of a ceremony at the Douglas Munro Coast Guard Headquarters Building in Washington, D.C., June 1, 2016. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Kyle Niemi)

Charles D. Michel, vice commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, was promoted to the rank of admiral at Coast Guard Headquarters Wednesday. Following passage of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015, the president nominated Michel for promotion to the rank of admiral to align the leadership structure of the Coast Guard to that of the other armed services and recognize the important role of the vice service chief at the national level. “I am humbled to be the first Coast Guard vice commandant promoted to the rank of four-star admiral,” Michel said.

13 Feb 2016

N.E. Fishermen Warned of Extreme Cold, Wind Chills

The Coast Guard is urging the Massachusetts and Rhode Island fishing fleet to take caution heading into the weekend when life threatening temperatures and wind chills are forecasted. The National Weather Service has issued a wind chill warning for 4 p.m. Saturday until noon Sunday for our area. The wind chill temperatures are expected to be 20 to 30 degrees below zero. These wind chill temperatures can result in frostbite in as little as ten minutes. “Heavy freezing spray Saturday afternoon into Sunday may result in dangerous conditions for any vessel in the near-shore waters off Massachusetts and Rhode Island,” said Lt. John Mansolillo, a command duty officer in the First Coast Guard District’s command center. The National Weather Service is advising outdoor exposure be limited.

26 Aug 2015

USCG, Royal Canadian Navy Conduct Jt Exercise

U.S. Coast Guard crews from Southeastern New England conducted various evolutions with the Royal Canadian Navy to train and improve the inter-operability of the two nations’ militaries and surface search and rescue assets. Coast Guard Station Woods Hole, Station Provincetown, and Air Station Cape Cod and HMCS Summerside conducted homeland security, anti-terrorism, search and rescue, and medical evacuation operations. The training commenced in Buzzards Bay, Monday with a Coast Guard Station Woods Hole 29-foot Response Boat Small simulating a boat protesting against the Royal Canadian Navy. The attack vessel, represented by the Coast Guard small boat, approached HMCS Summerside prompting the ships crew to stand up their force protection measures to defend the ship.

24 Aug 2015

USCG Aid Disabled Fishing Boat Off Nantucket

Crews aboard two Coast Guard cutters brought an 83-foot fishing vessel safely to anchorage at approximately 8 p.m. Sunday. Watchstanders at the First Coast Guard District Command Center, were notified at 11:30 a.m. Saturday that the scallop fishing vessel Chaz’s Toy lost propulsion during a living marine resource boarding by the Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba crew 120 miles southeast of Nantucket. The crew of the 270-ft Escanaba issued a marine assistance request broadcast for Chaz’s Toy soliciting commercial or good Samaritan assistance for the vessel, which went unanswered. The cutter took the vessel in stern tow at approximately 4:30 p.m. Saturday. The following morning, the crew of the 110-foot Tybee relieved the Escanaba crew and continued to bring the vessel toward shore.

12 Mar 2015

Maritime Security Experts Meet in Jacksonville

One of the MARSEC East 205 boat demonstrations featured a pursuit and arrest of noncompliant boaters in an exclusion area.  (Photo by William Lusk)

Maritime security experts are gathering this week at Maritime Security 2015 East in Jacksonville, Florida, to exchange information and ideas, as well as learn about and see emerging technologies and operational concepts in action. Presentations were made by speakers from the Navy and Coast Guard, along with state, city and local organizations with maritime security and law enforcement responsibilities. The event is taking place at the Jacksonville JAXPORT Cruise Terminal. A dramatic on water demonstration was led by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

01 Aug 2014

Tall Ship Cutter Eagle to Visit Rockland

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Eagle (USCG photo by Erik Swanson)

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Eagle is scheduled to arrive in Rockland, Maine, Friday, at 3 p.m. as part of its 2014 cadet summer training deployment. The Eagle's visit to Rockland is to celebrate the Maine Lobster Festival. The Eagle will be open for free public tours Saturday, Aug. 2, from 1 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Aug. 3, from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. At 295 feet in length, the Eagle is the largest tall ship flying the stars and stripes and the only active square-rigger in U.S. government service.

22 Apr 2014

Air Draft Alert: Bayonne Bridge Struck Twice this Year

Bayonne Bridge: Wiki CCL credit Lamune

The Bayonne Bridge is undergoing a two-year construction project to raise the roadway an average of 65 feet. The Captain of the Port, New York-New Jersey says that it has been struck twice in the past 4 months. The Captain of the Port, New York-New Jersey, has issued a reminder about the importance of providing accurate information clearance information, and warns that civil penalties may be pursued against any vessel owner, master or person in charge that provides inaccurate information that contributes to a bridge strike.

18 Mar 2014

USCG: The Fleet Faces Forward

USCG Cutter Sapelo and the Royal Netherlands Navy Offshore Patrol Vessel HNLMS Holland search Caribbean Sea waters for bales of contraband jettisoned by Dominican drug smugglers.

The numerous cutters and craft of the U.S. Coast Guard —from the sail training ship Eagle to the large oceangoing patrol ships; from polar icebrakers to small utility boats — form a formidable fleet to meet the many challenging assignments undertaken by the service. In 2014 the Coast Guard continues its recapitalization program with its National Security Cutter (NSC), Fast Response Cutter (FPC) and Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC). The service plans to procure 91 cutters (8 NSCs, 25 OPCs and 58 FRCs) to replace are 90 aging cutters and patrol boats. According to a Feb.

12 Mar 2014

Maritime Security East 2014 Underway in Boston

Captain Anthony Popiel, chief, Response Division, U.S. Coast Guard First District (pictured right); and Robert M. Gauvin, executiRobert M. Gauvin, executive director of Piracy Policy and technical advisor in the Office of Vessel Activities at U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters (pictured right), and Captain Anthony Popiel, chief, Response Division, U.S. Coast Guard First District (Photos by William Lusk)

Maritime security and law enforcement experts are gathering in Boston this week to better understand maritime domain awareness and the challenges of port, waterway and coastal security, environmental protection, safety and law enforcement. One big lesson learned is that everything is just a little more challenging on the water. A number of law enforcement agencies from the New England area are attending and participating that have specific duties and functions associated with the maritime environment…

05 Mar 2014

Odfjell Pleads Guilty to Pollution Charges

Odfjell's tanker vessel involved in the incident, M/T Bow Lind (Photo: Odfjell)

Company agrees to pay $1.2 million penalty; $300,000, will fund Long Island Sound projects. Singapore-based Odfjell Asia II Pte Ltd and one of its senior crew members pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Hartford, Conn., for violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS), announced Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division Robert G. Dreher, United States Attorney Deirdre M. Daly and Rear Admiral Daniel B. Abel, Commander of the First Coast Guard District in Boston.

12 Dec 2013

Caution: Check Air Draft For Safe Passage Under NY's Bayonne Bridge

Bayone bridge modification: Image NY/NJ Port Authorities

The Bayonne Bridge is undergoing a major construction project and special care is required to avoid ship allisions, including ship antenna strikes similar to those that occurred in the past, which may cause severe property damage or loss of life. It is imperative that ships transiting under the Bayonne Bridge know the distance from the ship’s keel to the highest point and provide accurate information to the Pilot and the ship’s agent for safe navigation. This information is required…