Office of External Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard

Date: Dec. 18, 2009

Contact: 
U.S. Coast Guard External Affairs
(504) 671-2020

Red River flood makes Coast Guard's top 11 video highlights 

NEW ORLEANS — The U.S. Coast Guard released Wednesday its top 11 video compilation for 2009, highlighting the year's most compelling cases and features rescue footage from the Red River flood response.

The Coast Guard's top 11 videos showcase the service's maritime missions conducted every day.  The compilation (presented in no particular order) is available for viewing and downloading from the Coast Guard Visual Imagery site at: http://cgvi.uscg.mil. 

The top 11 video compilation includes:

• The rescue of a paraglider pilot who crashed on the shoreline of Cape Lookout near Tillamook, Ore., by an aircrew from Air Station Astoria, Ore.
• The capture of suspected pirates from a response to a vessel distress signal from Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment Team 409 while operating under Combined Task Force 151.
• A medical evacuation of a crewmember from a U.S. Navy submarine off the coast of Wash., by an aircrew from Air Station Astoria, Ore.
• The simultaneous pursuit and interdiction of two drug smuggling boats 80 miles of the coast of Guatemala by the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf.
• The rescue of two crewmembers from a fishing vessel on fire 10 miles off the coast of Long Beach, Wash., by the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Active and aircrew from Air Station Astoria, Ore.
• The rescue of two people from a burning boat near Corpus Christi, Texas, from an aircrew from Sector Corpus Christi, Texas.
• The rescue of six people from their capsized vessel two miles from the Columbia River, Wash., by a boatcrew from Cape Disappointment, Wash., and an aircrew from Air Station Astoria, Ore.
• The response to US Airways flight 1549 emergency landing in the Hudson River near Manhattan, N.Y., by boatcrews from Sector New York.
• The rescue of a man whose canoe flipped in heavy surf in the Necanicum River near Gearheart, Ore., by an aircrew from Air Station Astoria, Ore.
• The dewatering of the fishing vessel Blue Diamond 90 miles east of Atlantic City, N.J., from the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Sailfish.
• The rescue of three people, their cat and dog during the Red River Valley floods from an aircrew from Air Station Traverse City, Mich.

“As the 23rd Commandant of the Coast Guard, it has been my pleasure to serve with such dedicated men and women who sacrifice so much to serve our great nation,” said Adm. Thad W. Allen, Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard.  "I am truly grateful for their hard work and dedication. During 2009, they committed themselves to maintaining the nation's maritime safety, security, and environment. They are America's Maritime Guardians.  The best videos of 2009 clearly illustrate they are always here to protect and ready to serve."

The public is encouraged to vote online for their favorite video in the Coast Guard’s best video of 2009 contest.  The Coast Guard Compass, http://coastguard.dodlive.mil/, will be highlighting one video per day starting Dec. 21 and through Jan. 1. 

In 2009 America's Coast Guard:

• Screened more than 248,000 commercial vessels and their 62 million passengers and crewmembers before arrival in U.S. ports, identifying nearly 400 individuals in a person of interest watch list.
• Maintained a contingent of six patrol boats and 400 personnel to enforce United Nations sanctions in the Arabian Gulf, train Iraqi naval forces and protect Iraqi critical maritime oil infrastructure.
• Kept 352,862 pounds of cocaine and 71,234 pounds of marijuana from reaching the United States, while nabbing 322 suspected smugglers.
• Saved more than 4,747 lives and responded to 23,555 emergencies.
• Issued 73,168 merchant mariner credentials to qualified mariners
• Conducted more than 14,000 inspections of U.S. flagged vessels
• Investigated nearly 3,600 pollution incidents
• Conducted 49,276 armed patrols to protect critical infrastructure or key resources
• Maintained a 98 percent rate of availability for 50,000 short-range aids to navigation that helped mariners more safely navigate our nation’s 95,000 miles of coastline, 25,000 miles of waterways and 12,000 miles of inland waterways that comprise the U.S. Marine Transportation System.

Spokepersons involved in the Red River flood rescue will be available for interviews.

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Office of External Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard

Date: July 8, 2009

Contact:  Lt.  Rob McCaskey
(314) 269-2541

ST. LOUIS — The Coast Guard will be enforcing a safety zone in the downtown St. Louis area between the MacArthur Railroad Bridge (mile marker 179), and the Eads Bridge (mile marker 180) from July 11 through July 14, 2009 from 4 p.m. until 12:00 a.m. daily.  Commercial vessels transiting the safety zone are required to contact the Coast Guard Sector Upper Mississippi Command Center at the following check-in points. 

·        Downbound: mile marker 168.8, Lock and Dam 27 (Chain of Rocks)

·        Upbound: mile marker 185.5 (Jefferson Barracks Bridge).

Vessels can contact the Sector Upper Mississippi River command center using Channel 16 VHF or by phone at (314) 269-2332. All recreational and commercial vessels desiring to transit the safety zone will be screened by Coast Guard personnel prior to entry.

Additionally, the Coast Guard will close the river within the safety zone on July 11 from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. for the fireworks show that will take place following the evening concert on the Arch grounds.

“The Coast Guard is looking forward to working along side state and local agencies to provide a safe environment for everyone to enjoy the week’s activities,” said Capt. Steve Hudson, Commanding Officer of Coast Guard Sector Upper Mississippi River.

Safe boating practices can be found at http://www.uscgboating.org/.

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Office of External Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard

Date: July 07, 2009

Contact:  PA3 Jaclyn Young
(618) 225-9008

Update: Coast Guard reopens Illinois River

PEORIA, Ill. — The Coast Guard has reopened the Illinois River from mile marker 160 to mile marker 165 to marine traffic, which was closed at approximately 4:30 p.m., Monday, July 6, 2009.

The Coast Guard closed the river in response to a marine incident involving seven people aboard a 40-foot pleasure craft and the motor vessel Richard Sibes at mile marker 164 on the Illinois River.

The Peoria Fire Department and Good Samaritans responded to the incident and rescued the seven people from the pleasure craft.

The Coast Guard sent an investigation team from the Marine Safety Detachment in Peoria, Ill., to investigate the incident.

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Office of External Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard

Date: July 6, 2009

Contact:  PA3 Jaclyn Young
(618) 225-9008

Coast Guard closes portion of Illinois River due to marine incident

PEORIA, Ill. — The Coast Guard has closed the Illinois River from mile marker 160 to mile marker 165 in response to a marine incident involving the motor vessel Richard Sibes and a 40-foot pleasure craft carrying seven people at 4:30 p.m. Monday.

Coast Guard Sector Upper Mississippi River received a report from a good samatian reporting that 7 people needed immediate assistance after being involved in a marine incident on the Illinois River at mile marker 164 near Peoria, Ill.

The Peoria Fire Department and Good Samaritans responded to the incident and rescued all seven people.  

The Coast Guard closed the river from mile marker 160 to mile marker 165 to survey navigation on the waterway. 

The Coast Guard Marine Safety Detachment in Peoria Ill., is investigating the incident. 

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Office of External Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard

Date: May 28, 2009

Contact:  Lt. Rob McCaskey
(314) 269-2541 or (314) 704-9502

Coast Guard reopens Mississippi and Illinois rivers to recreational vessel traffic

ST. LOUIS —  The Coast Guard has re-opened the Mississippi and Illinois rivers to all recreational vessel traffic.

It is requested when transiting on the Illinois River between Beardstown, Ill., and Kingston, Ill., to proceed at the slowest safe speed to minimize wake damage. 

"The summer is fast approaching us and I wish everyone to be safe on the waterways and always remember to wear your life jacket," said Capt. Steve Hudson, commanding officer of Coast Guard Sector Upper Mississippi River.

Additional safe boating practices can be found at http://www.uscgboating.org/.

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Office of External Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard

Date: May 19, 2009

Contact:  Lt. Rob McCaskey
(314) 269-2541
(314) 704-9502

ST. LOUIS — The Coast Guard has closed portions of the Mississippi and Illinois rivers to all recreational vessel traffic due to safety concerns associated with high water levels Tuesday, May 19, 2009.

The following sections are closed to all recreational vessel traffic:

       -Chester, Ill., from mile marker 109.9 to 185.4 on the Mississippi River.

       -Grafton, Ill., from mile marker 0.0 to mile marker 181 near Chillicothe, Ill., on the Illinois River.

"While we would like to allow recreational boaters to enjoy the river over the weekend, the safety of the boating public is our primary concern," said Capt. Steve Hudson, commanding officer of Coast Guard Sector Upper Mississippi River.  "Restrictions to recreational boating operations will be lifted as soon as conditions improve."

The U.S. Coast Guard has authorized local and state law enforcement agencies to enforce all of the above safety zones.

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Office of External Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard

Date: March 13, 2009

Contact:  Lt. Rob McCaskey
(314) 704-9502

St. LOUIS - The Coast Guard has lifted the operating restrictions on the Upper Mississippi River from mile marker 194.5 to 197.5 which were established in response to the sinking of the tug boat Hartford Beaver at mile marker 196.5 Wednesday, March 11, 2009.

Coast Guard Sector Upper Mississippi River received a call at approximately 3:30 p.m. Wednesday from a representative of National Maintenance and Repair, the owner of the tug boat, stating that one of their vessels had sunk. All three crewmembers aboard the vessel were rescued with minor injuries by company personnel who were on scene at the time of the incident. The boat's position is currently stable and is located 60 yards off of the left descending bank which allows ample channel for safe passage of commercial traffic.

The vessel has been marked with magnetic lighted buoys and is being continuously monitored by National Maintenance and Repair personnel to ensure no shifting of the boat occurs and to monitor any pollution discharge.

A survey has been conducted by the Army Corps of Engineers to help assist with salvage and recovery operations. Preliminary salvage operations are on hold until river conditions improve. Current flooding conditions would make the necessary dive operations too dangerous for dive personnel.

The maximum fuel capacity of the vessel is 1600 gallons but the operator estimates that only 900 gallons of fuel was on board when the boat sank. No visible pollution has been observed, National Maintenance has cleanup and containment resources in place and the vessel will remain in place until the river is deemed safe for salvage operations.

The cause of the incident remains under investigation.

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Office of External Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard

Date: March 12, 2009

Contact:  Lt. Chuck Mellor (618) 580-2998

ST. LOUIS -  The Coast Guard has established a temporary safety zone on the Upper Mississippi River from mile marker 194.5 to 197.5 in response to the sinking of the tug boat Hartford Beaver at mile marker 196.5 on Wednesday, March 11, 2009.  At this time, only one-way vessel traffic is permitted to transit through the area. 

Coast Guard Sector Upper Mississippi River received a call at approximately 3:30 p.m. Wednesday from a representative of National Maintenance and Repair, the owner of the tug boat, stating that one of their vessels had sank.  All three crewmembers aboard the vessel were rescued with minor injuries by company personnel who were on scene at the time of the incident.

The tug boat Hartford Beaver has been marked with a lighted buoy, and is being monitored by the tug boat Eager Beaver.  A survey has been conducted by the Army Corps of Engineers to help assist with salvage and recovery operations. 

A Coast Guard smallboat remains on scene to monitor the situation and enforce the safety zone. No visible pollution has been observed and the safety zone will remain in place until the river is deemed safe for normal operations by the Coast Guard Captain of the Port.

The cause of the incident is under investigation.

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Office of External Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard

Date: March 11, 2009

Contact: Lt. Chuck Mellor
(618) 580-2998

Navigation restricted on the Mississippi River following vessel sinking

ST. LOUIS - The Coast Guard has established a temporary Safety Zone on the Upper Mississippi River to all vessel traffic from the Chain of Rocks Lock & Dam at mile marker 185.5 to mile marker 197.5 following the sinking of the tug boat Hartford Beaver at mile marker 197 earlier today.  Vessel traffic is permitted to transit with restrictions through the area.

Office of External Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard

Date: Feb. 5, 2009

Contact:  Lt. Rob McCaskey
(314) 269-2541

Coast Guard helicopter crew assists river evaluations

ST. LOUIS, Mo. - A helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City, Mich., assisted local industry and Coast Guard representatives in evaluating the severity of icing on the Mississippi and Illinois rivers, Feb. 4, 2009.

The HH-65C Dolphin rescue helicopter crew conducted over flights of portions of the upper Mississippi River and Illinois River to determine the severity of icing on the river. Ice conditions not only reduce water levels but can also build up under barges and towing vessels causing them to ground without touching the river bottom.

Navigating in ice conditions can be difficult because ice can displace aids to navigation, form into ice gorges and damage the hulls of towing vessels and barges.

"The Coast Guard is committed to partnering with industry and using all available resources to mitigate the economic impact of icing conditions caused by the recent frigid temperatures," said Capt. Steve Hudson, captain of the port, Sector Upper Mississippi River.  

The Coast Guard Cutter Sangamon is shown moored amongst sheets of ice at its homeport in Peoria, Ill., during a Coast Guard over flight to evaluate the ice conditions on the upper Mississippi River and Illinois River Feb. 4, 2009. The flights by the HH-65C Dolphin helicopter crew from Traverse City, Mich., provided a bird's eye view of the icing conditions on the rivers to help industry and Coast Guard representatives determine how to mitigate the economic impact of the icy waterways. U.S. Coast Guard photograph / Seaman Apprentice Zachary Stewart

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