Coast Guard

Sen. Begich and Coast Guard commandant affirm need to increase Arctic capacity

July 7, 2009 -- Climate change in the Arctic is making the Coast Guard's role in Alaska even more critical, and highlighting the need for additional ice-breaking vessels, the Commandant of the Coast Guard, Admiral Thad Allen, testified today under questioning by Alaska Senator Mark Begich.

Admiral Allen said the Coast Guard is undergoing a major analysis of its needs in the Arctic as a result of global warming, which should be completed by year-end. Meanwhile, Allen said the nation's current fleet of two ice-breakers, plus an ice-breaking research vessel, may be insufficient to deal with increased shipping in the Arctic.    » read more »

June 9, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator James M. Inhofe (R-Okla.) yesterday introduced legislation to exempt fishing guides and other operators of uninspected vessels on Lake Texoma from Coast Guard regulation. The legislation will preserve the fishing guide industry and will ensure safety on Lake Texoma.

Senator Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) is a co-sponsor of the legislation and Congressman Dan Boren (D-Okla.) of the 2nd district has introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

"After weeks of discussions with the Coast Guard and thoughtful consideration, many in the Oklahoma delegation have decided that this is the course of action that will best protect an industry that is extremely important to the people of southern Oklahoma," Inhofe said.    » read more »

June 8, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. -Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmospheres, Fisheries, and Coast Guard Senator Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) today announced her support for the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2009, bipartisan legislation to authorize funding levels for fiscal years 2010 and 2011.    » read more »

May 26, 2009 -- Detroit—The Honorable Janet Napolitano, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Honorable Peter Van Loan, Canadian Minister of Public Safety, toured port operations today on both sides of the shared United States/Canada border and signed an agreement to make Shiprider—joint law enforcement teams stationed along the international maritime border—permanent.    » read more »

May 22, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Representatives Dan Boren, and Tom Cole, together with Senator Jim Inhofe and Senator Tom Coburn, continued discussions today with the United States Coast Guard officials to settle recent licensing issues for fishing guides at Lake Texoma.

Lake Texoma, considered "navigable waters" by current federal statute because of its location between two states, is under the jurisdiction of the United States Coast Guard. For the past fifteen years, the Coast Guard has not been enforcing licensing requirements for operators of uninspected passenger vessels like many fishing guides on Lake Texoma.    » read more »

May 4, 2009 -- A new set of ocean observing data that enhances the ability to track probable paths of victims and drifting survivor craft should improve search and rescue efforts along the U.S. coast. The data comes from the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS®), part of a joint effort among NOAA, the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Department of Homeland Security.    » read more »

April 20, 2009 -- U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced today that a series of U.S. Coast Guard projects designed to provide critical improvements and create jobs will be funded by an infusion of $240 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

"Funding these important projects with Recovery Act dollars will strengthen our economy and improve the Coast Guard's ability to keep America safe," said Secretary Napolitano. "I am proud that the Department of Homeland Security can play a major role in our nation's economic recovery."    » read more »

March 25, 2009 -- BISMARCK, N.D. -- The Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and numerous federal and state partners are continuing to join forces to support North Dakota communities facing severe flood threats.

On Tuesday, President Obama declared a major disaster declaration for North Dakota. The President's action made federal funding available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations to help in flood fighting efforts.    » read more »

Aug. 26, 2008 -- WASHINGTON — The U.S. Coast Guard announced today the beginning of enforcement of the requirements for owners and operators of large cargo vessels, known as nontank vessels, to prepare and submit plans for responding to a worst case oil spill from their vessels.

Should a nontank vessel be found operating in a U.S. port or waterway without a properly submitted response plan, the cognizant Coast Guard Captain of the Port will exercise authority under the Ports and Waterways Safety Act of 1972 and impose operational controls, as necessary, on the vessel to safeguard the port.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, Aug. 25, 2008 – The Coast Guard is testing and compiling initial lessons learned from its ongoing Arctic operations, a senior officer said last week.

“It became obvious to me 18 months to two years ago that with the retreat of the multiyear polar sea ice, the Coast Guard was going to have to do more than it had in the past to provide maritime safety and security to northern and western Alaska, the Arctic Ocean and the Beaufort Sea,” Coast Guard Rear Adm. Arthur E. Brooks, commander of the 17th Coast Guard District, told bloggers and online journalists during a teleconference on Aug. 21.    » read more »

August 25, 2008 -- WASHINGTON- The U.S. Coast Guard published today a strategic plan that will enhance and modernize Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Information Technology in support of mission execution.

The C4&IT Strategic Plan charts an ambitious path through the next five years by identifying goals, objectives and initiatives in the areas of information, technology, security, governance, and organizational excellence. By targeting C4&IT efforts in each of these areas, the Coast Guard can work to improve mission support while creating a foundation for future enhancements.    » read more »

Aug. 20, 2008 -- WASHINGTON — The U.S. Coast Guard's Marine Safety, Security and Stewardship Directorate announced Wednesday the publication of a notice of proposed rulemaking to amend Coast Guard regulations governing the stability of domestic passenger vessels.    » read more »

August 4, 2008 -- "Today I congratulate the men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard on the 218th anniversary of the service. This year’s Coast Guard Day is a chance for me to join America’s Guardians in celebrating the service’s proud history and embracing its powerful future; I am honored to join Commandant Thad Allen today to commission the first national security cutter, the Bertholf, in its home port of Alameda, Calif.

The Bertholf is one of the most advanced military vessels in the world and will enable our response to America’s maritime needs well into the 21st century.    » read more »

06/16/2008 -- BOSTON – Senators John Kerry and Edward Kennedy today, along with Congressman Edward Markey, announced that Lumus Construction, Inc of Woburn has been awarded at $1.35 million contract from the United States Coast Guard. The contract includes miscellaneous asphalt and concrete repair work at the United States Coast Guard Academy.

“Our young men and women of the Coast Guard need the best possible working and training environment and I’m proud that a Woburn company was chosen to make sure the Academy stays in tip top shape. Winning a competitively rewarded contract is another reminder that Massachusetts can compete and win when it comes to delivering the best possible services for our military,” said Senator Kerry.    » read more »

HONOLULU -- The Coast Guard is urging all mariners to practice safe boating and be prepared for the 2008 hurricane season, which begins June 1 and ends Nov. 30.

Hurricane preparedness is a shared responsibility. Government agencies have a responsibility to alert citizens and respond to those in distress.

Hurricane aftermath: Photo by Scott Baldwin (CC)

Those in the path of an approaching storm have an individual responsibility to stay alert, heed warnings and insure the safety of themselves and their families.    » read more »