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My Coast Guard
Commentary | May 13, 2021

Frontline Focus Column

By Janki Patel

Coast Guard Sector New York holds change-of-command ceremony: Capt. Zeita Merchant relieved Capt. Jason Tama as commander of Coast Guard Sector New York, during a change-of-command ceremony at Sector New York, May 7. Coast Guard Sector New York is the largest operational field command on the East Coast. "As your sector commander and captain of the port, I want to ensure that in all that we do, we remain forward," Merchant said. "Forward with our mission, forward with our people, and forward with our partnerships." The change-of-command ceremony is a time-honored military tradition that marks the transfer of total responsibility and authority from one individual to another. Learn more. 

Coast Guard and Navy undertake joint Oceania Maritime Security Initiative Patrol Conduct Enforcement Boarding: A Coast Guard law enforcement detachment (LEDET) embarked aboard the Navy littoral combat ship USS Tulsa (LCS 16) and conducted a maritime law enforcement boarding in the Western Pacific May 6. The joint mission was in support of the Secretary of Defense’s Oceania Maritime Security Initiative (OMSI) to enforce international law in order to protect the United States and Pacific Island Nations’ resource security and sovereignty. “One of the greatest challenges when operating in the Pacific is the vast distances involved,” said Lt. Cmdr. Jessica Conway, a current operations officer with the Coast Guard 14th District. “The ability to integrate with the Navy allows us to cover a much larger area with our enforcement operations combating illegal fishing and transnational crime while also promoting interoperability between the services.” The joint OMSI mission improves maritime security and maritime domain awareness by enabling Coast Guard law enforcement personnel to conduct maritime law enforcement operations from Navy assets. Learn more

U.S. Coast Guard 13th District Pacific Northwest rescues three: Coast Guard Sector Port Angeles coordinated the rescue of three people from a burning vessel five miles east of Port Angeles, Washington, May 4, 2021. Two Coast Guard members aboard a Response Boat-Medium transferred the three distressed mariners from the burning vessel to the response boat before entering the engine room and attempting to extinguish the fire. "The fast action to call for help was essential to their survival," said Petty Officer 1st Class Alexander Polyak, watchstander at Sector Puget Sound command center. "Having a reliable means of communication, appropriate for your location and distance offshore, can mean the difference between life and death." Medical personnel examined one of the mariners for potential smoke inhalation. No further injuries were reported. Learn more

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Salvage crew trains, start removing fuel from SEACOR Power: The crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Salvage started removing the fuel from SEACOR Power's fuel tanks May 3, after spending the weekend arriving on scene and becoming familiar with the equipment approximately seven miles off Port Fourchon, Louisiana. Salvage crews are using a method called hot tapping, which allows for drilling into the fuel tanks and making a hose connection without ruining the integrity of the tank or causing pollution impacts. Divers are performing this process above and below the water, connected to an air hose. Learn more