Sector Delaware Bay, Station Atlantic City rescues a kayaker near Longport, N.J.: On April 8, 2021, a 29-foot response boat with a small boat crew from Station Atlantic City rescued a kayaker who was in distress, clinging onto a submerged kayak. "The quick response of Station Atlantic City was a vital role in the outcome of this case," said Petty Officer 1st Class Alexander Castonguay, the command duty officer at Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay Command Center. "Consistent training provides Coast Guard members to be able to respond quickly and efficiently to cases no matter when they occur." Learn more.
Three-day joint Central Gulf Coast enforcement operation results in 40 vessel boardings, 24 violations: The Coast Guard and multiple federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies conducted a three-day operation from March 15 to March 17, 2021 focusing on commercial fisheries along the Central Gulf Coast. The multi-agency operation ensured commercial fishing vessels along the Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi coasts were complying with federal vessel and commercial fishing safety laws and regulations. The three-day operation resulted in 40 vessel boardings, 24 violations — 15 of which were living marine resources violations — and two recreational vessel terminations due to safety violations. Learn more.
Coast Guard Cutter Alert returns home after 63-day counterdrug patrol in the Eastern Pacific Ocean: On April 7, the Astoria, Oregon-based cutter and crew patrolled international waters off the coast of Mexico and the United States-Mexico Maritime Boundary Line, enforcing international laws and treaties throughout their deployment and disrupting the flow of illegal narcotics and migrant smuggling. Working in conjunction with different Coast Guard and Mexican law enforcement agencies, Coast Guard Cutter Alert’s crew prevented more than 2,100 pounds of cocaine, valued at over $41 million wholesale, from entering the United States. While on patrol, they completed a variety of operations, including spotting a suspected smuggling vessel and seizing illegal narcotics through the collaborative and international team effort by Mexican law enforcement; apprehending six suspected narco-traffickers for prosecution in the United States; and identifying and helping to free a sea turtle entangled in fishing debris. Marine environmental protection is a statutory mission of the Coast Guard, and the service saves approximately 300 sea turtles every year. Learn more.
There are significant content changes in the Air Operations Manual. The manual describes policy, standards, instructions, and capabilities pertinent to all phases of Coast Guard flight operations. The manual is intended for use by operational commanders, unit commanding officers, aircrews tasked with operations, as well as customers of Coast Guard aviation. There will be no paper distribution of the manual and it will be replaced in the Electronic Flight Bag issued to all pilots. Learn more.