Innovation Expo: Coast Guard Modernization Video

Yesterday, the iFORCECOM blog featured an eight-minute video that addresses the Coast Guard’s Modernization effort.

It was debuted by RADM Tim Sullivan, Commander, Force Readiness Command, at the 2009 CG Innovation Expo that is being held at the Virginia Beach Convention Center in Virginia Beach, VA.

From iFORCECOM:

This video examines how the envisioned four co-equal organizational elements – DCO, DCMS, FORCECOM and OPCOM – will work together to complete a Coast Guard mission. The Self Propelled Semi Submersible (SPSS) threat was the scenario used to examine the “Big 4’s” command relationship and how they will work together to successfully complete the mission.
There is a closed caption option on the video for the hearing impaired and can be accessed by clicking here.

The video was produced by Effective Digital Presentation. Copies of the video are also available at the FORCECOM Booth at the Innovation Expo (Booth #1520).

Press Release: Coast Guard responds to vessel fire near Marina Del Rey

MARINA DEL REY, Calif. — The Coast Guard responded today to the 27-foot recreational vessel Casey Lynn, which was reported on fire at 4:49 p.m. approximately one mile offshore of Marina Del Rey, Calif.

A MH-65C Dolphin helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Los Angeles and Coast Guard Cutter Blackfin, an 87-foot coastal patrol boat, were both dispatched to the scene.

Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach coordinated the response with the Los Angeles Fire Department, Marina Del Rey Baywatch and Redondo Beach Baywatch. Once extinguished, the vessel was towed to Marina Del Rey Harbor by Los Angeles County Fireboat 110.

According to reports, no persons were seen aboard the vessel or in the surrounding waters. Vessel documentation identifies Michael Martinez of Woodland Hills, Calif. as the registered owner. Anyone with information regarding Mr. Martinez is asked to contact the U.S. Coast Guard at 310-521-3801.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

Coast Guard Auxiliary in Action

Auxiliarist Nora Watson does an inspection on a recreational vessel in Marina Del Rey.



Members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary perform a Vessel Safety Check at the launch ramp in Marina Del Rey for a trailer of boats that will be used for youth boating activities.

A member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary performs a Vessel Safety Check at the launch ramp in Marina Del Rey.

Did you know? Information on uninspected passenger vessels

Many of the small vessels that offer sightseeing cruises, fishing excursions, and party boat charters in the local area may be classified by the Coast Guard as “uninspected passenger vessels” or UPVs, as long as they carry fewer than six passengers.

UPVs must comply with the standards for commercial vessels outlined in Titles 33 and 46 of the Code of Federal Regulations to ensure the safety of passengers, crewmembers, and other vessel traffic.

To ensure they are in compliance with these regulations, vessel owners and operators are encouraged to register with the Coast Guard, and request a courtesy examination from the Coast Guard Auxiliary. The voluntary examination is a “no blame, no penalty & no fault” safety check that will assist the boat owner to better understand the federal regulations that are required for operation. Once the courtesy exam is complete, the Coast Guard inspector will issue a Coast Guard decal and boarding receipt to document the boat's level of compliance.

More information on Vessel Safety Checks can be found at: http://www.safetyseal.net/

Press Release: Coast Guard assists distressed vessel near Channel Islands Harbor

CHANNEL ISLANDS HARBOR, Calif. — The Coast Guard assisted a vessel in distress off of Channel Islands Harbor Tuesday night after receiving a report from a concerned family member.

Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach received a call at 9:18 p.m. Tuesday from the father of the vessel Summer Song's operator worried that his son was in trouble due to the vessel not having electronics onboard.

Station Channel Islands Harbor launched at 47-foot Motor Life Boat to the scene. A good Samaritan vessel arrived shortly after and confirmed the Summer Song was having trouble managing the seas.

The MLB towed the Summer Song into Port Hueneme for refueling then escorted the vessel to Channel Islands Harbor.

From the Crew: Journal entry from PA2 Matthew Schofield

The Coast Guard Honor Guard Rifle Squad performs a 21-gun salute at the memorial service at Air Station Sacramento Friday, Nov. 6, 2009. The service was for the Coast Guard and Marine Corps aircrew who lost their lives in a midair collision the evening of Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009. U. S. Coast Guard photo by Lt. j. g. Todd Vorenkamp.

There were many things about the memorial for the crew from the Coast Guard 1705 on Friday, November 6, 2009, that really stood out to me. Over 2,000 Coast Guardsmen, family and friends attended their memorial ceremony in person. That doesn’t count the people who attended via the internet, webcast at their homes, in their work spaces and the public who watched it on television.

There were so many Coasties from the C-130 community that came from all over the country; Barber’s Point, Hawaii, Kodiak, Alaska., Elizabeth City, N.C., and Clearwater, Fla. Some people are not part of the Air Station anymore, but many were able to see many of their former colleagues and aircrew-mates.

It truly provided a crutch for those who needed it most… all of us.

Attending the ceremony, it dawned on me how touching a memorial it was because of all the great stories that I heard about each person.

Old stories, new stories and most importantly their stories were what you heard when you moved around the crowd.

Being there was difficult. When you are at any air station in the Coast Guard, there is so much happening at any given moment. They are loud, boisterous and generally raucous places, but that was a sharp contrast to what the feeling in the atmosphere was that day. It was anything but normal to have a somber, solemn memorial for fallen Coast Guardsmen, but it was definitely needed to allow cleansing tears and a grief-stricken reunion.

The tears that I saw were of the most genuine kind. I have not seen some of my closest shipmates shed tears like that. I have not shed tears like that.

Chief John Seidman was one of the best aviators I know. I’m honored to have been able to call him my friend. He will always be the greatest in my heart. When I was flying with him, he would constantly review everything. He made me feel safe when I flew with him.

During his flights, he was the most thorough aviator I witnessed.

When I saw everyone that attended, it is nice to think, as one of the speakers said, that if enough people came together there wouldn’t be any room left for anyone to fall. That phrase meant everything to me and will help me heal and hopefully carry on.

There is no forgetting, no simply or easily letting go, when we held these people so dear. They meant so much to all of us.

As the crowd gathered before the official ceremony, photos of the aircrew were momentarily flashed for everyone to see. I was so glad to see the pictures of these individuals let their real personalities out for us to see. It put a smile on my face to see the snap shots, and they were only snap shots that peered into each of their lives. Where they would hoist up a beer, or be on the beach together with family, and be together as friends making silly faces and messing around. Seeing their beautiful faces and families made it a moving memorial to both them and to us. The family photos were special, because they captured a small sense of each person to show us how they have impacted our lives.

Official portraits are nice, but they are not real… those pictures were real. Those pictures are beautiful.

For anyone who has lost someone so close to them, I know it feels as if a part of you is missing, and I pray that the pain will ease over time. It will take a long time. It is evident after being around everyone, that the wounds are deep. Despite the depth, those wounds will heal.
Memorials and funerals are an important part of the healing process that we all needed, but this occasion gave us more. It offered those that haven’t seen each other to come together and tell how they feel, and to reminisce on the things that will help heal them too. Maybe it was a story about how their friend was able to help them through something difficult, maybe it was just the person’s laugh or maybe it was just their amazing smile… however hard it was to coax out of them.

These flight crews were special to a lot of people. May God bless all of their souls and their families and friends as they have crossed the bar.

I think my friend Chief Jamie Young said it best, “We fixed-wing fliers very rarely, if ever, get to see the faces of those we save. However the solemn pride of saving a life can be felt through something as simple as a distant voice on the radio saying ‘Thanks Coast Guard, I’m okay now.’ The crew of the 1705 was working to hear those words one more time. Che, Adam, John, Carl, Monica, Jason and Danny: Fair winds and following seas, wherever you are.”

May my missions and duties bring honor to these… the Coast Guard’s finest.

Petty Officer Matthew “Stu” Schofield from Public Affairs Detachment Los Angeles/Long Beach was a basic air crewman, radio operator and navigator aboard the HC-130H Hercules from 2000 to 2005 and was stationed with Chief John Seidman while stationed at Air Station Sacramento at McClellan, Calif., during his tour. This article is a tribute to the entire C-130 community, aviators and all Coast Guardsmen.

Towing Vessel Industry Day

Towards the end of last October, Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach hosted a Towing Vessel Industry Day to discuss the upcoming towing vessel inspections regulations that are being promulgated by the Coast Guard.

Representatives from 14 towing companies that operate in the LA-LB area attended and provided valuable feedback. Several important topics were discussed. Of note, the Towing Vessel Bridging Program has begun to bring towing vessels from an uninspected program into a regulated inspections program and train Coast Guard Inspectors to examine towing vessels. Another topic, Towing Vessel Training Outreach, highlighted the need for industry to be aware of the requirements that need to be met to comply with safety regulations.

The Coast Guard is increasing its outreach efforts to include towing vessel rider programs, where Coast Guard inspectors directly observe and work alongside industry to better understand the operating aspects that are unique to towing vessels. To prepare for the upcoming Towing Vessel regulations, the Coast Guard is conducting courtesy exams, and providing detailed inspections packets to vessel operators.

The packets found at the following link contains the majority of equipment that will be inspected in the future. Readers are reminded that they can access Prevention documents as well as the latest announcements on the Homeport webpage. Industry comments and questions are welcome.

An introduction to Vessel Traffic Service

To meet federal and state vessel safety regulations in a cost-effective manner, a unique Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) came on line March 1, 1994, which now serves America’s busiest intermodal seaport complex at Los Angeles-Long Beach Harbor. It monitors and facilitates the safe passage of all commercial vessel traffic in Southern California waters. The VTS was created to provide safe, reliable and efficient maritime transportation through the prevention of allisions, collisions and grounding, thereby protecting California’s fragile environment and limited resources.

The VTS was established pursuant to state law and in partnership with the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, the U.S. Coast Guard, the California Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR), the maritime industry, the two harbor pilot organizations, and the waterfront business community.

The Marine Exchange of Southern California operates this system as an agent of the State of California and in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard. The VTS advises and coordinates commercial vessel traffic operating within the VTS’ Area of Responsibility (AOR), which includes all waters outside the federal breakwaters -- San Pedro Bay, Santa Monica Bay, Newport Bay and Santa Catalina Island — extending 25 nautical miles from Point Fermin. The VTS now facilitates and monitors about 27,000 vessel transits each year on deep sea commercial ships and local vessels passing through the AOR.

VTS-LA/LB is America’s first (and only) joint-ventured government/private sector vessel traffic system operation. The VTS provides for USCG "Captain-of-the-Port Authority" to enforce federal navigation and safety regulations as well as to enforce port security and homeland defense procedures and policies.

The VTS also works to keep small recreational craft safe through a "passive users program" and hourly broadcasts on marine radio band VHF Channel 14 of all vessel locations in the AOR. MX-VTS staff frequently attend meetings of boating groups, marina organizations, and yacht clubs. making presentation on how the VTS-LA/LB system works, and how it can help them to operate more safety on Southern California's waterways. Commercial ships (power-driven, over 40 meters) and other designated vessels are mandated to use the VTS system by law.

Narwhal and Orange County Sheriff's host local school children

Above: Students from Ensign Intermediete School get a ride on a Coast Guard small boat around Newport Harbor.

Towards the end of October, the 87-foot Patrol Boat Narwhal based out of Corona Del Mar, California was able to partner with Orange County Sheriff's Department to host local children from their community.

Narwhal and the Orange County Sheriff’s co-hosted 32 middle school students and 3 teachers from Ensign Intermediate School in Newport Beach, CA.

Above: A crewmember from Coast Guard Cutter Narwhal talks with students about damage control and the proper fit of fire fighting gear.

The students were divided into small groups that rotated through different stations that highlighted the different aspects of life on a Coast Guard boat. Some of these stations were law enforcement, damage control, fire fighting, weapons, and a tour of the ship. Additionally, the students were able to take a boat ride around the harbor.

Above: A crewmember aboard Coast Guard Cutter Narwhal demonstrates weapons safety.

In memory of the lost C-130 crew

ONE MORE SEARCH

(Adapted and modified by R. Laferriere from Commander Jeff Coffee's poem, Hanoi, 1968)

We toast our hearty comrades who have fallen from the skies, and were gently caught by God's own hand to be with him on High.

To dwell among the soaring clouds they've known so well before. With tireless searches for man or beast, they worked at heaven's door.

Not hesitant in howling wind nor darkened threatening skies, their fear overcome by love of the search, seen deep within their eyes.

Angels of mercy, always, for the helpless lost at sea, to unite them with their families where the Angels want to be.

As we gaze into the sky, we're sure to heed their plea. Take care my friend, watch your six, ...search one more time for me.

-Captain Roger Laferriere
Commander, Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach