18 May 2015

US Coast Guard releases 2014 Recreational Boating Statistics Report

By U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters Public Affairs

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Coast Guard Wednesday released its 2014 Recreational Boating Statistics, revealing boating fatalities that year totaled 610, the second-lowest number of yearly boating fatalities on record.

From 2013 to 2014, deaths increased from 560 to 610, an 8.9 percent increase, injuries increased from 2,620 to 2,678, a 2.2 percent increase and the total number of accidents increased from 4,062 to 4,064, a 0.05 percent increase. Even with these increases as compared to the record low year of 2013, 2012 to 2014 collectively set record lows for accidents, deaths and injuries.

The fatality rate of 5.2 deaths per 100,000 registered recreational vessels reflected a 10.6 percent increase from the previous year's rate of 4.7 deaths per 100,000 registered recreational vessels. Property damage totaled approximately $39 million.

"We thank our partners for their work in boating safety, particularly for the Wear It! and other key outreach initiatives promoting life jacket use, boating education efforts, and Operation Dry Water activities. Together, we focus on the important role of life jacket use, navigational knowledge and safe, sober boating to prevent accidents," said Capt. Jon Burton, director of inspections and compliance at U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters.

The publication states alcohol use was the leading contributing factor in fatal boating accidents; it was listed as the leading factor in 21 percent of the deaths. Operator inattention, improper lookout, operator inexperience, excessive speed and alcohol use ranked as the top five primary contributing factors in accidents.

Where the cause of death was known, 78 percent of fatal boating accident victims drowned; of those drowning victims, 84 percent were not wearing a life jacket. Where boating instruction was known, 77 percent of deaths occurred on vessels where the operator had not received boating safety instructions. The most common types of vessels involved in reported accidents were open motorboats, personal watercraft and cabin motorboats. The vessel types with the highest number of fatalities were open motorboats, canoes and kayaks.

The Coast Guard reminds all boaters to boat responsibly while on the water: wear a life jacket; take a boating safety course; get a free vessel safety check; and avoid alcohol or other impairing substance consumption.

To view the 2014 Recreational Boating Statistics, please visit http://www.uscgboating.org/library/accident-statistics/Recreational-Boating-Statistics-2014.pdf

For more information on boating responsibly, please visit www.uscgboating.org.

###

03 Apr 2015

US Coast Guard establishes diver specialty

By U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters Public Affairs

WASHINGTON - The Coast Guard announced Wednesday the establishment of the diver enlisted rating and corresponding chief warrant officer specialty.

About 50 enlisted personnel and three chief warrant officers will initially transition to the Diver (DV) rating and Diving (DIV) specialty, respectively.

The newly-minted divers received certificates signed by the commandant and the master chief petty officer of the Coast Guard at several locations throughout the service.

Divers support a variety of Coast Guard missions by servicing aids to navigation, conducting subsurface search and recovery, inspecting and maintaining Coast Guard vessels, and providing technical expertise with remotely operated vehicles, sonar equipment, and underwater imagery.

In addition to the new specialty, the Coast Guard is scheduled to establish Regional Dive Locker Pacific in Honolulu this summer. Divers will be stationed at one of three dive lockers or at other units throughout the country.

For more information on the history of the Coast Guard's diving program, please visit: http://www.uscg.mil/history/articles/CoastGuardDivingProgramCOTPSanFran.pdf

To view more imagery, please visit: http://coastguard.dodlive.mil/2015/04/coast-guard-officially-stands-up-dive-rating/

###

01 Apr 2015

HISTORIC ARCTIC COAST GUARD FORUM GATHERS NATIONS TO PROGRESSIVELY FOSTER SAFE, SECURE, AND ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE MARITIME ACTIVITY IN THE ARCTIC

By U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters Public Affairs

WASHINGTON - Citing an increasing need to ensure safety, security, and stewardship of Arctic waters, member countries of the Arctic Council gathered at U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters Wednesday for a two-day Arctic Coast Guard Forum (ACGF) Experts Meeting.

The ACGF is a cooperative initiative between nations with shared maritime interests in the Arctic.  Membership includes Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, the Russian Federation, and the United States.  The ACGF will be an operationally-focused organization that strengthens maritime cooperation and coordination in the Arctic.

The Arctic region is gathering increased global attention due to dynamic geo-political factors such as climate change, permanent ice cover, and intensifying competition for undiscovered resources. Such factors provided context as members came together to reach consensus in organizing the Forum's operating principles, strategic objectives, and rules of governance. These foundational steps will allow the ACGF to foster the strong partnerships required support safe, secure, and environmentally responsible maritime activity in the Arctic region.

During his recent State of the Coast Guard Address, Commandant Adm. Paul Zukunft addressed the importance of the Coast Guard's role in the Arctic stating, "Unimpeded access and sustained presence while operating in the Arctic are vital to meet the United States Arctic Strategy.  There is a new ocean opening and Coast Guard authorities mandate our presence wherever U.S. national interests require people and ships to operate."

The member countries will formally establish the Arctic Coast Guard Forum at a Summit at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy's Center for Arctic Study and Policy this fall.

More photos of the event can be viewed at https://www.dvidshub.net/image/1839877/us-coast-guard-hosts-arctic-forum

###

13 Dec 2014

U.S. Coast Guard's notice of proposed rulemaking on cruise ship terminal security published in Federal Register

By U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters Public Affairs

WASHINGTON – The Federal Register Wednesday published the U.S. Coast Guard's notice of proposed rulemaking amending its regulations on cruise ship terminal security.

This proposed rule would standardize screening activities for all persons, baggage and personal effects at cruise ship terminals while also allowing an appropriate degree of flexibility that accommodates and is consistent with different terminal sizes and operations.

This flexible standardization ensures a consistent layer of security at terminals throughout the United States. This proposed rule builds upon existing facility requirements in 33 CFR part 105, which implements the Maritime Transportation Security Act, Pub. L. 107-295, 116 Stat. 2064 (November 25, 2002), codified at 46 U.S. Code chapter 701. The Coast Guard consulted with the Transportation Security Administration during the development of this proposed rule.

The Coast Guard also proposes to remove 33 CFR parts 120 and 128 because provisions in those parts requiring security officers and security plans or programs for cruise ships and cruise ship terminals would be redundant with the provisions in 33 CFR subchapter H. Section 120.220, concerning the reporting of unlawful acts, would also be removed because it is obsolete and existing law enforcement protocols require members of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) to report incidents involving serious violations of U.S. law to the nearest Federal Bureau of Investigation field office as soon as possible. The Coast Guard will consider issuing additional regulations on this subject in a separate rulemaking pursuant to the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2010 (CVSSA), Pub. L. 111-207 (July 27, 2010).

This proposed rule does not address the screening of vessel stores, bunkers or cargo. Requirements for the delivery of vessel stores, bunkers and cargo exist and may be found in 33 CFR 104.275, 104.280, 105.265 and 105.270.

This NPRM may be viewed at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2014-12-10/pdf/2014-28845.pdf.

###

17 Dec 2013

Coast Guard releases Top 10 videos of 2013

By U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters Public Affairs

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Coast Guard has released its Top 10 video compilation for 2013, highlighting the year's most compelling cases from the work done every day by America's Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard also announced its 2013 Video of the Year contest in which the public is invited to vote for their favorite video. The contest begins Sunday, with voting open through Jan. 13, 2014. The Coast Guard's official blog, the Coast Guard Compass, will publish one of the 10 videos each day along with commentary from a servicemember who participated in the mission.

The public can vote by choosing "Like" for their favorites on the Coast Guard's Facebook page http://Facebook.com/uscoastguard or on the Coast Guard's YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/USCGImagery. All 10 of the videos competing in the Video of the Year contest will be premiered for Coast Guard recruits at Training Center Cape May, N.J., the service's only enlisted basic training center, Wednesday.

"Most Coast Guard operations and missions aren't caught on camera," said Capt. Todd Prestidge, commanding officer of Training Center Cape May. "Much of our work occurs in the black of night during the most brutal weather conditions or thousands of miles away from U.S. shores in some of the most dangerous places on earth. This gives the people we serve an opportunity to see what Coast Guardsmen do every day."

The Top 10 video compilation includes:

  • A look into the Coast Guard's rigorous basic training program at Training Center Cape May, where more than 80 percent of the Coast Guard's enlisted force begin their careers. Recruits wait an average of more than six months to attempt the program where more than 30 percent are either reverted, rephrased or washed out of training.
  • Coast Guard Cutters Tackle and Shackle break ice along the Penobscot River in Bangor, Maine, Feb. 21, 2013. These crews regularly break ice along Maine's rivers to keep the waterway open for commercial traffic and to prevent flooding.
  • An aircrew aboard an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., medevac a 47-year-old man from a 780-foot cargo ship being tossed in heavy seas approximately 200 miles east of the Chesapeake Bay March 6, 2013.
  • Surfmen from Coast Guard Station Cape Disappointment battle the waves of the Columbia River during surf drills. Surfmen are considered to be some of the best boat coxswains in the world and are famous for piloting vessels through breaking waves.
  • An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., rescues a sailor 70 miles east of Kitty Hawk, N.C. The sailor asked for help after he hit his head and was injured.
  • Coast Guard personnel participate in underwater egress training in an indoor pool at the Coast Guard Aviation Technical Training Center located in Elizabeth City, N.C. The Coast Guard implemented underwater egress training July 2013 at the ATTC aimed at increasing a member's survivability in the event of a small boat capsizing.
  • Coast Guardsmen use warning shots and disabling fire to stop a drug smuggling vessel off the coast of southern California Oct. 5, 2013. Coast Guardsmen found 31 bales of marijuana and apprehended two suspected smugglers when they boarded the vessel.
  • An Air Station Kodiak HC-130 Hercules airplane crew conducts an Arctic Domain Awareness flight with scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the University of Washington's Polar Science Center above the Arctic Circle in Alaska, July 16, 2013. Many people do not know of the extensive research that is being conducted in the Arctic.
  • Coast Guard divers demonstrate new equipment that will improve safety for the divers and allow them to remain underwater longer and work in harsher conditions March 26, 2013.
  • Coast Guard Cutter Hollyhock travels from the Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore to its homeport of Port Huron, Mich., in this time-lapse video spanning Oct. 11 to 26, 2013. The Hollyhock spent more than three months in dry dock undergoing necessary maintenance to prepare it for a busy winter season on the Great Lakes.

The Top 10 video compilation is available for viewing and download from the Coast Guard visual information site at http://www.dvidshub.net/branch/Coast+Guard and YouTube.

###

Date: Dec 17, 2013

28 Oct 2013

U.S. Coast Guard christens fourth National Security Cutter

By U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters Public Affairs

WASHINGTON – The U.S Coast Guard christened its fourth National Security Cutter Saturday, during a ceremony at Ingalls Shipyards in Pascagoula, Miss.

The cutter's sponsor, Linda Kapral Papp, led the time-honored tradition of breaking a champagne bottle on the cutter's bow, officially giving the cutter the name Hamilton. She was accompanied by Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Bob Papp, who was the keynote speaker for the event.

"A ship's sponsor is considered a permanent part of the ship's crew and an advocate for its continued service and well-being," said Linda Kapral Papp. "I take this advocacy role, both for the crew and their family, very seriously."

The Hamilton was named after Alexander Hamilton, the first Secretary of the Treasury and the driving force behind the establishment of the Revenue Cutter Service, a precursor to the modern U.S. Coast Guard. With the christening, the Hamilton becomes the sixth U.S. Coast Guard cutter that bears the name Hamilton. The first was the 75-foot U.S. Revenue Cutter Hamilton, commissioned in 1830.

"I'm very proud to be joined today by Linda, my wife and the ship's sponsor, as we both christened cutter Hamilton," said Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Bob Papp. "The christening ceremony marks an important milestone in the creation of a national asset that is designed and uniquely equipped to provide a persistent water-borne presence, ensuring maritime security far from our shores."

The Hamilton was launched Aug. 10, 2013, and is scheduled for delivery to the Coast Guard in September 2014. The Hamilton will be homeported in Charleston, S.C. Following the christening, production work on the Hamilton will continue until 2014.

"Today was an exciting day because we are one step closer to bringing cutter Hamilton to her new home in Charleston," said Capt. Doug Fears, the Hamilton's prospective commanding officer. "This exceptionally capable ship is the first major cutter to enter the Coast Guard's Atlantic fleet in more than 30 years, and it will serve our national security interests for decades, along with providing economic opportunities through ship maintenance and technical support to the greater Charleston area. Hamilton's crew is eager to test the ship's capabilities and equally thrilled to become part of the Charleston community."

Currently, three NSCs, including the Hamilton, are in production at Ingalls Shipyards. The fifth NSC, the James, is scheduled for delivery in 2015. The sixth NSC, the Munro, is scheduled for delivery in 2016. A contract option for long lead time materials for NSC 7, the Kimball, was exercised June 14, 2013. Long lead time materials includes main propulsion and navigation systems, generators, electrical switchboards, major castings and other items needed for production.

The NSC is the most technologically sophisticated cutter in the Coast Guard fleet, capable of performing critical homeland security, law enforcement and national defense missions in the most demanding open ocean environments. The cutter is 418 feet long, has a top speed of 28 knots, a range of 12,000 miles and endurance to perform 60- to 90-day patrols.

Three NSCs have been delivered to the Coast Guard and commissioned into service. These cutters, Bertholf, Waesche and Stratton, are currently performing operations in support of Coast Guard missions.

The Hamilton's prospective commanding officer, Capt. Doug Fears, and a small precommissioning crew are currently stationed in Charleston and are making preparations for the cutter's arrival in 2014. They are available upon request for public speaking or other opportunities to educate the public about the Hamilton. For additional information, please contact Capt. Fears at (843) 740-3143.

###

05 Aug 2013

Know your ROPES: U.S. Coast Guard issues marine safety alert for parasailing operations

By U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters Public Affairs

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Coast Guard Monday issued a marine safety alert regarding parasailing operations due to 11 passenger deaths and 52 passengers injured related to parasailing activities since 2006.

"The Coast Guard expects licensed mariners to follow all regulations regarding safe vessel operations and has an expectation of parasail operators to follow established standards," said Rear Adm. Joseph Servidio, assistant commandant for prevention policy. "Parasail operators must evaluate and consider all safety risks before getting underway, including weather conditions and condition and maintenance of equipment, in order to ensure safe parasailing activities. In the future, we expect the parasailing industry and related industry associations to share best practices and develop operational standards to maximize safety and prevent marine casualties."

Additionally, the Coast Guard asks those who decide to engage in this activity to consider the risks and to understand current safety standards for parasailing. Parasailing equipment is not regulated or inspected by the federal government.

All of the incidents have had several common factors unique to parasailing. The mnemonic "Know your ROPES," briefly summarized below, was established to remind parasail operators of important safety issues that may help prevent future casualties:

R is for Remember: Remember that most parasail fatalities and injuries are related to the failure of the towline.

O is for Observe and Monitor: Observe and monitor weather conditions continuously. ASTM Standard F2993-13 published April 1, 2013, is a "Standard Guide for Monitoring Weather Conditions for Safe Parasail Operation."

P is for Prepare: Prepare for emergencies by having well-documented procedures and conducting crew training to ensure proficiency in responding to various types of emergencies.

E is for Ensure: Ensure that all of your equipment is properly maintained on a continual basis.

S is for Safety: Safety is up to you, the parasail operator. The Coast Guard ensures safe operation of vessels, but does not regulate or inspect parasail equipment or regulate parasail operations.

You may read "Know your ROPES" in its entirety on the Coast Guard's Homeport page.

###

13 May 2013

U.S. Coast Guard releases 2012 Recreational Boating Statistics Report

By U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters Public Affairs
Report shows lowest number of fatalities on record, overall drop in accidents and injuries

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Coast Guard released its 2012 Recreational Boating Statistics Monday, revealing that boating fatalities that year totaled 651, the lowest number of boating fatalities on record.

From 2011 to 2012, deaths in boating-related accidents decreased from 758 to 651, a 14.1 percent decrease; injuries decreased from 3,081 to 3,000, a 2.6 percent reduction; and the total reported recreational boating accidents decreased from 4,588 to 4,515, a 1.6 percent decrease.

The fatality rate for 2012 of 5.4 deaths per 100,000 registered recreational vessels reflected a 12.9 percent decrease from the previous year's rate of 6.2 deaths per 100,000 registered recreational vessels. Property damage totaled approximately $38 million.

"We're very pleased that casualties are lower, and thank our partners for their hard work over the past year," said Capt. Paul Thomas, director of Inspections and Compliance at U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters. "We will continue to stress the importance of life jacket wear, boating education courses and sober boating."

The report states alcohol use was the leading contributing factor in fatal boating accidents; it was listed as the leading factor in 1;7 percent of the deaths. Operator inattention, operator inexperience, improper lookout, machinery failure and excessive speed ranked as the top five primary contributing factors in accidents.

Almost 71 percent of all fatal boating accident victims drowned, with 84 percent of those victims not reported as wearing a life jacket. Approximately 14 percent of deaths occurred on vessels where the operator had received boating safety instruction. The most common types of vessels involved in reported accidents were open motorboats, personal watercraft and cabin motorboats.

The Coast Guard reminds all boaters to boat responsibly while on the water: wear a life jacket, take a boating safety course, get a free vessel safety check and avoid alcohol consumption.

To view the 2012 Recreational Boating Statistics, go to http://www.uscgboating.org/statistics/accident_statistics.aspx.

For more information on boating responsibly, go to http://www.uscgboating.org/.

###

23 Apr 2013

U.S. Coast Guard reinstates tuition assistance

By U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters Public Affairs

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Coast Guard announced that tuition assistance is reinstated for the remainder of fiscal 2013 but with revised eligibility requirements.

The Coast Guard revised eligibility requirements for members seeking assistance in order to ensure the $4.6 million set aside for the program is enough to sustain it to the end of the fiscal year.

The new requirements for eligibility include the member must be on active duty at the rank of petty officer 1st class or below and pursuing undergraduate courses, only.  Reservist members on extended active duty also qualify. For eligible members, benefits are restored to pre-suspension levels of $250 per individual credit hour and an annual cap of $4500. 

The U.S. Coast Guard has averaged nearly 10,000 enrollees a year for the last three years and expected around the same number this year. 7,000 members had participated this year prior to suspension.

The Coast Guard joins the other military services in reinstating tuition assistance after an amendment to the Appropriations Bill directed all military services to do so. The initial decision to suspend tuition assistance was a result of the service's attempt to meet the provisions of the Budget Control Act.

###

Subscribe & Listen to Reader Podcasts

On Stands Now

 

Tagged Content

Two Ways to Subscribe

1. Subscribe to free weekly e-mail content updates.

You'll get both the current official narrative challenge and What's Happenin' in the Quad Cities.
(Did you know we publish a new Real Astrology and RCR Crossword every week?) 

Subscribe!

* indicates required

2. Get 12 monthly issues mailed first class for $48

Get 12 issues mailed monthly for $48 per year.

Get the printed Reader edition mailed to you (or anyone you want) first-class for 12 months for $48.
$24 goes to postage and handling, $24 goes to keeping the doors open!

Click this link to Subscribe now.