U.S. Coast Guard News – Page 7

USCG Cutter Kimball Completes Training Exercises with Japan Coast Guard

The Honolulu-homeported U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Kimball has left Kagoshima, Japan after participating in a days-long joint training session with the Japan Coast Guard, U.S. officials said Feb. 16. Members from both agencies engaged in several search-and-rescue exercises and other activities in Kagoshima Bay, including “collaborative mission planning, boat handling and helicopter operations and demonstrated techniques for locating, recovering and hoisting a simulated distressed swimmer.” The U.S. Coast Guard command also visited the Japan Coast Guard’s 10th Regional Headquarters and gave tours of the cutter to several Japan Coast Guard members and the community. The events are meant to nurture the memorandum of cooperation between the two agencies, signed last May, that included a shar...

Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley Returns to Alaska

The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Alex Haley returned to its homeport at Kodiak, Alaska on Jan. 13 following an extended seven-month dry dock maintenance period in Seattle. While in dry dock, the crew and contractors successfully completed more than $6 million worth of repairs, according to the Coast Guard. The engineering department oversaw 76 work items including major overhauls on the cutter’s controllable pitch propeller system, speed reducers, rudders and boilers, along with inspections of fuel, sewage and water tanks. The operations department supervised a renewal of the cutter’s flight deck, navigation systems and electronics while maintaining critical law enforcement currencies. Additionally, the deck department completed painting and topside preservation, according to the Coast Gua...

Coast Guard Pursues Civil Penalty for Columbia River AIS Violation

The Coast Guard in late January stated that it’s pursuing a civil penalty with a maximum punishment of $41,000 against a commercial fishing vessel for violating Automated Identification System (AIS) regulations near the mouth of the Columbia River. AIS is a maritime navigation safety communications system adopted by the international community to help save lives and facilitate safe transit of navigable waterways. It automatically transmits vessel information to shore stations, other ships and aircraft. That includes vessel identity, type, position, course, speed, navigational status and safety-related information. Coast Guard Sector Columbia River has said that on Dec. 3, a commercial fishing vessel deactivated its AIS while underway near the mouth of the Columbia River in violation of ...

Coast Guard, Partners Respond to Mysterious Oil Sheen Off Calif. Coast

U.S Coast Guard pollution responders and partners responded to an oil sheen off Summerland Beach in Santa Barbara County, Calif. on Jan. 6. The estimated 1.5-mile to 2-mile-long sheen was reported to be five nautical miles off Santa Barbara. The sheen’s cause was unknown at the time, but on Jan. 17, the state’s Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response said the sheen was likely natural seepage. Just after 2 p.m. on Jan. 6, watchstanders from the Coast Guard Marine Safety Detachment Santa Barbara were notified by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services of the possible oil sheen. The partner agencies informed the National Response Center of the incident and planned further actions. A Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco MH-65 Dolphin heli...

Coast Guard Expands National JROTC Program

The U.S. Coast Guard on Jan. 25 announced that it is establishing four new Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps units for the coming school year including, for the first time, one on the West Coast. The four new units will increase the national total from six to 10. The new units are to be located at: Mission Bay High School in San Diego Aspira Business and Finance High School in Chicago Saraland High School in Saraland, Ala. Clinton High School in Clinton, Miss. According to the Coast Guard, the addition of the four JROTC units is the largest expansion in the program’s history, and the first time the Coast Guard will establish more than two of the units in a single year. The Coast Guard established the JROTC program in 1989 at the MAST Academy in Miami. The program...