Law Enforcement Operations News

U.S. lawmakers from both political parties have urged President Joe Biden and members of his administration to resolve a months-long delay in the transfer of a cargo of oil from a seized Iranian tanker off Texas.The Suez Rajan has been stuck near Galveston about 50 miles (80 km) from Houston since May 30, as shipping companies fear any vessel unloading it would lead other oil buyers to shun their ships on future voyages. The U.S. seized the tanker in a sanctions enforcement operation.The delay in discharging the cargo is also partly out of fear of repercussions from Iran. A senior commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards' navy said last month Iran would retaliate against any oil company unloading Iranian oil from a seized tanker.Senators Joni Ernst…

Japan's Mitsubishi Shipbuilding launched the first of two large multi-role response vessels (MRRVs) being built to order for the Department of Transportation in the Republic of the Philippines. The MRRVs, both scheduled to be in service in 2022, will be used for severe-weather rescue missions and patrolling in offshore and coastal zones, enhancing rapid response capabilities for maritime accidents and crimeThe ceremony took place at the Enoura Plant at MHI’s Shimonoseki Shipyard & Machinery Works in Yamaguchi Prefecture on July 26, 2021.

Predictive intelligence tech company Windward has launched Container Insights, a capability that provides live screening and tracking of containers and Bill of Lading (BOL) verification.The new capability, which Windward says enhances the company’s current Cargo Insights, optimizes and increases the efficiency of screening processes for trade finance transactions and enables government agencies to investigate suspicious containers, providing them with a "holistic" view of vessels…

After more than 30 years of active service, U.S. Coast Guard Island-class patrol boats USCGC Aquidneck (WPB 1309) and USCGC Adak (WPB 1333) were decommissioned in a ceremony aboard Naval Support Activity Bahrain, Tuesday.Vice Adm. Steven Poulin, commander of U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area, was in attendance to honor the years of service Aquidneck, Adak, and their crews, provided to the Coast Guard.“Thank you to every single crew member who has ever served aboard Aquidneck and Adak, from the plank owners to the final crew and all the crews in between,” Poulin said.

The Vermont State Police recently took delivery of two specialized 25-foot’ RIBCRAFT 7.8 patrol boats. Delivered to the greater Burlington area, the rigid inflatable boats (RIB) will be used by the State Police Marine Division for all law enforcement operations including patrol, search and rescue, rapid response, victim recovery, and executive protection details on Lake Champlain.The two RIBs add to the agency’s existing fleet of RIBCRAFT vessels and will provide expanded on-water capabilities. As with the previous RIBCRAFT deliveries, these boats were configured and built to meet the diverse operational requirements of the Vermont Marine State Police.The new 7.8 features a center console with windscreen and extended aluminum T-top…

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Washington Island (WPB 1331), a 110-foot Island Class patrol boat, was decommissioned after nearly 30 years of service as part of recapitalization efforts during a ceremony at Naval Base Guam, Wednesday.Rear Adm. Kevin E. Lunday, commander, Coast Guard 14th District presided over the ceremony. Washington's years of service included numerous law enforcement cases, safety and security enforcement patrols, dignitary and Naval security operations, and a…

A new monohull dive compliance vessel Salish Scout was recently accepted by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) after successful launch and sea trials in Port Angeles Harbor.In a competitive solicitation process last year, DNR selected Armstrong Marine’s proposal to design and build multiple vessels for their Marine Law Enforcement program. Salish Scout is a sister ship to the vessel Sentry, completed earlier this summer.Salish Scout is customized for efficient geoduck fishery management along with other marine law enforcement operations. A 4’ dive platform, tank racks, aft deck shower, and custom dive ladder serve DNR divers monitoring geoduck stock and habitat.“As the manager of 2.6 million acres of aquatic lands…

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML): mention these two terms and the listener may instantly think of the ads displayed as you view your favorite online news site. This is one version of what AI/ML might be. Given the state of AI and ML research today, these advanced mathematical techniques represent something the U.S. Coast Guard should explore for mission application. To do this, common definitions need to be created, challenges understood, and practical use…

The 38 x 13-ft. monohull dive compliance vessel Sentry was recently accepted by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) after successful launch and sea trials in Port Angeles Harbor. In a competitive solicitation process last year, DNR selected Armstrong Marine’s proposal to design and build multiple vessels for their Marine Law Enforcement program.Sentry is customized for efficient geoduck fishery management along with other marine law enforcement operations. A 4-ft.

The Coast Guard commissioned the newest California-based 154-foot Fast Response Cutter in San Diego, Wednesday.The Benjamin Bottoms is the fourth Sentinel-Class Fast Response Cutter (FRC) to be homeported at Base Los Angeles-Long Beach.While these ships will be based in San Pedro, they will operate throughout the 11th Coast Guard District, which includes all of California and international waters off of Mexico and Central America. "Radioman First Class Benjamin Bottoms is a Coast Guard hero," said Adm. Charles Ray, the Coast Guard vice commandant.

The Coast Guard commissioned a new, California-based 154-foot Fast Response Cutter in San Francisco, Saturday, March 2, 2019.The Coast Guard Cutter Robert Ward is the second of four Sentinel-Class Fast Response Cutters (FRC) to be homeported at Coast Guard Base Los Angeles-Long Beach.While these ships will be based in Southern California, they will operate throughout the 11th Coast Guard District, which includes all of California and international waters off of Mexico and Central America.“This cutter is specifically designed to face today’s threats in the maritime domain,” said Rear Adm.

As the Japan Coast Guard celebrates its 70th anniversary, Maritime Reporter & Engineering News offers insights on the current status and future direction of the JCG courtesy of an interview with Shuichi Iwanami, Commandant, Japan Coast Guard.*Note: At the time this interview was conducted, Shuichi Iwanami was still Vice Commandant for Operations.Could you please tell us the history and future development of the Japan Coast Guard (JCG)?The JCG, in 2018 celebrates the 70th anniversary of its foundation. When it was founded, the Japanese waters were in an eclipse period.

Bollinger Shipyards has delivered the USCGC Terrell Horne, the 31st Fast Response Cutter (FRC) to the U.S. Coast Guard. The Coast Guard took delivery on the October 25, 2018 in Key West, Fla.The 154 foot patrol craft USCGC Terrell Horne, the 31st vessel in the Coast Guard's Sentinel-class FRC program has a flank speed over 28 knots, state of the art command, control, communications and computer technology, and a stern launch system for the vessel’s 26 foot cutter boat. The FRC has been described as an operational “game changer,” by senior Coast Guard officials.

The crew aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Steadfast (WMEC-623) returned home Friday to Astoria after a 60-day counternarcotic patrol in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.While patrolling international waters off the coast of Mexico and Central America, Steadfast’s law enforcement boarding teams intercepted and stopped eight separate vessels suspected of smuggling illicit drugs. The eight boardings resulted in the discovery and seizure of approximately 13,123 pounds of cocaine worth…

The crew aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Steadfast (WMEC-623) returned home Friday to Astoria after a 60-day counternarcotic patrol in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. While patrolling international waters off the coast of Mexico and Central America, Steadfast’s law enforcement boarding teams intercepted and stopped eight separate vessels suspected of smuggling illicit drugs. The eight boardings resulted in the discovery and seizure of approximately 13,123 pounds of cocaine worth more than $200 million wholesale. The 210-foot cutter deployed to the Eastern Pacific Ocean in support of the Joint Interagency Task Force South with the primary mission of detecting and interdicting illegal drug traffickers.

Australia's Armidale class patrol boat HMAS Launceston has tested trainees and strengthened regional relationships in a recent deployment to south-east Asia. Launceston departed Australia after sailing from Darwin on 10 March in-company with sister-ship HMAS Pirie. The crews conducted 25mm, 12.7mm and small arms firing serials and undertook close quarters steaming, internal damage control, boat drills and communications training to help their junior warfare officers to practice their mariner skills. Upon completion Pirie commenced border protection duties in Australia's northern waters, whilst Launceston continued north to the Indonesian archipelago through the Sape Strait between the islands of Subawa and Komodo pasing an active volcano.

The U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Navy completed an 18-day joint mission in the Central and South Pacific under the Oceania Maritime Security Initiative to combat transnational crimes, enforce fisheries laws and enhance regional security. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment 103 from Pacific Tactical Law Enforcement Team embarked USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) and conducted 16 fisheries enforcement boardings with the assistance of the ship’s visit, board, search and seizure team and law enforcement ship riders from Tuvalu and Nauru.

Adm. Robert E. Kramek, former Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, has died October 20, 2016. Kramek served as the Coast Guard's 20th commandant from 1994 through 1998, during which time he significantly expanded the Coast Guard's global reach and influence as commandant, including directing active participation in the combined service/international anti-narcotic smuggling operations Frontier Shield and Gulf Shield, along with other law enforcement operations. He led the Coast…

China said on Wednesday South Korea's coast guard should not have been operating in part of the sea where one of Seoul's patrol boats sank last week during an operation to crack down on a group of Chinese fishing boats. South Korean coast guard vessels regularly chase Chinese boats for fishing illegally off its coast, at times resulting in violent confrontations. The disputes are an irritant in relations between China and U.S. ally South Korea, even as their economic relations grow close and they share concerns about North Korea's nuclear weapons and missile programmes. South Korea's Ministry of Public Safety and Security, which oversees the coast guard, said one of its patrol boats sank last week during an anti-illegal fishing operation off the Korean peninsula's west coast.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said it has apprehended a motor vessel carrying prohibited shark fin meat. The passenger/cargo vessel Trisha Kerstin 2, owned and operated by Aleson Shipping Lines INC, and skippered by Capt. Joel P. Mendoza, was allegedly carrying prohibited shark meat from Bongao, Tawi-tawi to Port of Zamboanga City, where it was seized by the PCG on September 9. Thereafter, the team apprehended and found two perishable crate box containing approximately two tons of assorted fish…

USNS Spearhead (T-EPF 1) and an embarked multinational law enforcement team, working with Cameroon Navy Ships Ntem (108) and Sanaga (109), conducted the first ever at-sea customs and fisheries boardings supported by Cameroon Navy. The Cameroon Navy vessels patrolled the entirety of the Cameroon Exclusive Economic Zone for 12 days while conducting at-sea law enforcement operations. In the first AMLEP with Cameroon, U.S. maritime forces worked and trained with 17 Cameroon Navy personnel, two Gabonese Navy officers, six Cameroon customs officers, and seven Cameroon fisheries officers. Utilizing Spearhead’s onboard sensors, Sea Vision and the Multi-national Coordination Center for maritime domain awareness…

A 21-foot all-aluminum patrol/rescue boat was recently delivered to the Southampton, N.Y. Bay Constables for its law enforcement mission, the builder Silver Ships, Inc. announced. The Freedom 21 center console boat was designed and engineered for one-man operation, which, according to Silver Ships, is a sought-after feature in today’s climate of staffing reductions by public safety agencies. The boat is tasked with patrol, rescue and enforcement of various environmental, conservation…

Chicago’s Christmas Ship Committee, Coast Guard set for 15th anniversary of re-enactment, delivery of 1,200 Christmas trees for deserving families. The Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw, serving once again as this year’s “Christmas Ship” and loaded with more than 1,200 Christmas trees, is returning to Chicago for a two-day event re-enacting what was an annual Chicago tradition in the late 1800s and early 1900s. A welcoming for the Mackinaw, by the Chicago Christmas Ship Committee, is scheduled for Friday at 8 a.m.