Who: Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Pittsburgh, the Coast Guard Auxiliary and the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources

What: Safe boating event

When: May 19, 2012, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: Cabela's @ One Cabela Drive, Triadelphia, W. Va., 26059

WHEELING, W. Va. — Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Pittsburgh, the Coast Guard Auxiliary and the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources will be conducting a safe boating event at Cabela's, May 19, 2012 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Coast Guard will have a static display of a 25-foot Defender Class Response Boat and will be providing information on how to stay safe on the water as a way to kick off National Safe Boating Week.

In 2010, almost 500 people died nationwide from drowning in boating-related accidents. As much as 80 percent of these fatalities are due to the misuse or absence of life jackets.

“We intend to educate as many boaters as possible about the importance of boating safely,” says Petty Officer 3rd Class Jeff Johnston, a boatswain's mate with Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Pittsburgh. "Boaters are encouraged to learn how to safely operate their vessels through courses offered by the Coast Guard Auxiliary."

Auxiliary volunteers will hold a "Ready-Set-Inflate" demonstration in Cabela's Marine Department at 1 p.m. to emphasize the importance of properly inflating and using life jackets. Auxiliarists will also have public education presentations on boating safety in front of the store. In addition, the Auxiliary's Safety Boat Robot, Coastie, is scheduled to make an appearance to teach children about being safe on and near the water.

Questions concerning this matter should be directed to Lt. j.g. Alyssa McDonald at 412-644-5808 ext. 2121 during normal working hours between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except federal holidays.

Scan this QR code to access a Coast Guard approved float plan.

WHO: Coast Guard Sector Mobile, Ala., South Alabama Rescue Search and Recovery.

WHAT: Search and rescue joint training exercise.

WHEN: April 21, 2012 at 9:30 a.m.

WHERE: Coast Guard Sector Mobile located at 1500 15th St., Mobile, Ala., 36615.

MOBILE, Ala. — The Coast Guard is scheduled to conduct a search-and-rescue exercise with the South Alabama Rescue Search and Recovery, Friday, at Coast Guard Sector Mobile.

Capt. Don Rose, commander of Sector Mobile, and Lt. Amanda Henderson, Sector Mobile command center chief, will focus on local search-and-rescue interagency efforts and prepare for the upcoming summer SAR season. In addition, there will be an appreciation luncheon to recognize the first responders of the Coast Guard 6535 incident.

“This exercise helps us develop a strong camaraderie with other agencies and assist with building successful teams that excel through mutual support,” said Rose.

***Editor's Note: Media interested in attending the news briefing should be present 15 minutes prior to the start time. For more information, contact Ens. Torry James at 251-287-4842.

WHO: Coast Guard Sector Ohio Valley, Thunder Over Louisville Safety Coalition.

WHAT: Thunder Over Louisville media interviews and ride alongs.

WHEN: Friday, April 20, 2012 at 10 a.m.

WHERE: Louisville Waterfront Park's Great Lawn.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Coast Guard will hold a pre-event media briefing at Waterfront Park's Great Lawn, Friday, for Thunder Over Louisville festivities.

Captain of the Port Louisville, Capt. Larry Hewett,  and the Thunder Over Louisville Safety Coalition will be available for interviews to address marine law enforcement operations for the festivities. 

The safety coalition consists of the Coast Guard, Coast Guard Auxiliary, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, Louisville Metro Police and Harrods Creek and North Oldham Fire Departments.

**Editor's note: Media interested in attending are advised to contact Lt. Ron Easley, public affairs officer for Sector Ohio Valley, at (502) 893-8186, ext. 2105.

Who: Coast Guard Sector Ohio Valley, Thunder Over Louisville Safety Coalition members

What: Media ride-alongs board Coast Guard two 25-foot Response Boat-Small vessels for Thunder Over Louisville festivities.

When: Wednesday, April 18, 2012 at 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: Louisville Waterfront Park near the Louisville Metro Police Department.

Louisville, Ky. — The Coast Guard and the Thunder Over Louisville Safety Coalition will be available for media interviews and offering rides aboard Coast Guard response boats, Wednesday,  to discuss the Thunder Over Louisville event.

During the "ride-alongs," Coast Guard personnel will also be available to discuss preparations for Thunder Over Louisville and special local regulations that will be in effect during the event including the dates and times of river closures, various operating conditions that boaters could face, and safe boating practices that should be observed year round.

The safety coalition consists of the Coast Guard, Coast Guard Auxiliary, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, Louisville Metro Police, Harrods Creek and North Oldham Fire Departments.

**Editor's note: Media interested in attending are advised to contact Lt. Ron Easley, public affairs officer for Sector Ohio Valley, at (502) 893-8186, ext. 2105.

WHO: Coast Guard marine investigators, crewmembers from the Delta Mariner, employees of Foss Maritime Company, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and Director of the Coast Guard’s Western Rivers Bridge Branch.

WHAT: Formal hearing in Paducah City Hall to receive testimony regarding the allision between the cargo ship Delta Mariner and the Eggners Ferry Bridge on the Tennessee River occurring late January.

WHEN: Monday, April 16, 2012 at 1 p.m., and then resume each day at 7:15 a.m., until the hearing concludes.

WHERE: Paducah City Hall Commission Chambers on the Second Floor, 300 South 5th Street, Paducah, Ky., 42002.

PADUCAH, Ky. — The Coast Guard, working with the National Transportation and Safety Board, will hold a formal hearing in Paducah City Hall, Monday, to receive testimony regarding the allision between the cargo ship Delta Mariner and the Eggners Ferry Bridge on the Tennessee River occurring late January.

The NTSB is assisting in the investigation in accordance with the Coast Guard/NTSB Memorandum of Understanding. The Coast Guard’s Investigations National Center of Expertise is also providing investigative assistance.

The hearing will be open to the public but seating is limited and may result in a media pool.

The purpose of the Coast Guard marine casualty investigation and formal board hearing is to examine the causes of a marine casualty, make recommendations to help avoid a similar incident, improve overall maritime transportation safety, and promote safety of life and property at sea. The investigation and formal board are not intended to fix civil or criminal responsibility.

Facts and testimony collected at the formal hearing, along with the lead investigator’s conclusions and safety recommendations, will be forwarded for review to the Coast Guard Eighth District in New Orleans and the Office of Investigative and Casualty Analysis located at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington D.C. The final report of investigation will be made available to the public once reviewed and approved. No analysis or conclusions will be presented during the hearing.

**Editor's Note: Media desiring to attend must contact Lt. Jennifer Jessee at (270) 210-4742.

Facts known to date: On Jan. 26, 2012, the Delta Mariner was transiting downbound at mile marker 41.7 on the Tennessee River when the vessel struck the auxiliary (recreational channel) span of the Eggners Ferry Bridge. The Eggners Ferry Bridge second span from the east collapsed, no automobiles were reported on that span when it fell. There were no deaths or injuries associated with the incident. The crew of the Delta Mariner were all tested for drug and alcohol use with negative results.

The allision damaged the upper portion of the bow and forward most section of the navigation bridge aboard the vessel. A portion of the downed span initially remained on the bow of the Delta Mariner.

For previous press releases regarding the Delta Mariner case, click here:

http://www.d8.uscgnews.com/go/doc/425/1293879/Coast-Guard-closes-portion-of-Tennessee-River-after-bridge-collapse

http://www.d8.uscgnews.com/go/doc/425/1298531/UPDATE-2-Coast-Guard-approves-salvage-plan-for-vessel-involved-in-bridge-collapse-on-Tennessee-River-

http://www.d8.uscgnews.com/go/doc/425/1301411/UPDATE-3-Coast-Guard-approves-movement-of-vessel-involved-in-bridge-collapse-on-Tennessee-River

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WHO: Coast Guard Sector New Orleans, maritime stakeholders and members of Dillard University.

WHAT: Industry Day for safety, security and vessel inspection topics.

WHEN: Friday, April 13, 2012 from 9 a.m., to 1:30 p.m.

WHERE: Dillard University's Georges Auditorium in the Professional Schools and Sciences Building located at 2601 Gentilly Blvd., New Orleans, La., 70122.

NEW ORLEANS — The Coast Guard is scheduled to host an industry day with maritime stakeholders at Dillard University's Georges Auditorium, Friday.

Members of Coast Guard Sector New Orleans will provide an opportunity for mariners and maritime industry representatives to meet and discuss safety, security and vessel inspection topics.

Presentation topics will be lessons learned from the 2011 Mississippi River high-water event, mariner licensing and changes in the Domestic Vessel Inspections program, to name a few. Presentations are slated to last 15 to 20 minutes each, including individual question-and-answer sessions with the Coast Guard staff.

"It's very important for the Coast Guard to stay connected to the maritime community," said Capt. Pete Gautier, commander of Sector New Orleans. "We all share a goal of safe river and offshore operations, and Industry Day lets us get together and discuss the issues."

*Editor's note: Media interested in attending the event are advised to RSVP to Lt. j.g. Roberto Lopez at (504) 365-2284.

WHO:  Coast Guard Air Station Detroit MH-65C helicopter and crew, Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Pittsburgh 25-foot Response Boat-Small and crew.

WHAT: Search-and-rescue demonstration involving rescue swimmer deployment conducted at the National Society of Black Engineers Annual National Convention.

WHEN: Noon to 12:30 p.m., both Thursday, March 29, 2012, and Friday, March 30, 2012.

WHERE: David L. Lawrence Convention Center, 1000 Fort Duquesne Blvd., Pittsburgh, Pa., 15222

PITTSBURGH — The Coast Guard will conduct a search-and-rescue demonstration for the National Society of Black Engineers National Convention in front of the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Thursday and Friday.

An Air Station Detroit MH-65C helicopter and crew will deploy a rescue swimmer in conjunction with an MSU Pittsburgh 25-foot RB-S and crew to exhibit search and rescue techniques and training.

The NSBE event will have workshops for students of all ages. Children and teenagers, as well as graduate and technical professionals will showcase the achievements of engineers impacting the community and the nation.

*Editor's note: Media interested in attending the search-and-rescue demonstration should contact Lt. j.g. Alanna McGovern at (412) 644-5808, ext. 2116.

WHO: Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Pittsburgh, Shelly & Sands Inc., rivermen Frank Simon and Mark Haverty,

WHAT: Awards ceremony for presentation of Public Service Commendation,

WHEN: Thursday, March 22, 2012 at 3 p.m.,

WHERE: MSU Pittsburgh, 100 Forbes Ave., Suite 1150, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15222.

PITTSBURGH — The Coast Guard will present the Public Service Commendation Award to two members of Shelly & Sands Inc., during an official ceremony, Thursday.

Rear Adm. Roy A. Nash, commander of the Eighth Coast Guard District, will present the awards to Frank Simon and Mark Haverty for their heroic actions while operating a vessel near the Pike Island Lock and Dam. Simon and Haverty assisted a dock-loading foreman who had become stranded on a breakaway barge that became adrift on a disastrous trackline headed toward the Pike Island Lock and Dam on April 13, 2011.

"These rivermen put their own lives at risk to help one of their own facing grim odds as he approached the lock and dam," said Cmdr. Richard Timme, commanding officer of MSU Pittsburgh. "Their selfless actions helped prevent a tragedy that day, and for that, we are all truly grateful."

Simon and Haverty are recognized for their courageous display of selfless dedication to the preservation of life. The award cites their remarkable initiative and fortitude in saving a man in danger of losing his life.

**Editor's note: Media interested in attending the ceremony are advised to arrive 15 minutes before the start time.

Who: Gale L. Fuller, Coast Guard Marine Safety Detachment St. Paul.

What: Fuller will be presented a Purple Heart for injuries sustained during an attack on the USS Leopold in 1944.

Where: Minnetonka Assisted Living, 14505 Minnetonka Dr., Minnetonka, Minn., 55345

When: Friday, March 9, 2012 at 10:30 a.m.

MINNETONKA, Minn. — The Coast Guard is scheduled to honor a World War II veteran, Friday, with a Purple Heart for injuries sustained during an attack by a German submarine in 1944.

Honored will be Gale L. Fuller.

Fuller, then a Seaman 1st Class, was injured during an attack on March 9, 1944, while serving aboard the USS Leopold. Fuller survived a torpedo, freezing waters and other harsh elements more than 100 miles from land before being rescued by the USS Joyce. The Leopold was one of 10 Destroyer Escorts manned entirely by Coast Guardsmen performing maritime security missions across the north Atlantic working to guarantee safe delivery of men and material to England, which was a critical element to the success of the D-Day invasion for the Allies.

Editor's Note: Media interested in attending the event should contact Chief Petty Officer Sean Decataldo, 952-806-0021, by 12 p.m., Thursday, to confirm attendance.