Winterization 101
Sadly, summer is over and freezing temperatures are right around the corner. Freezing temperatures for boat owners means time for winterization! Even if you are in a region that is more temperate, winterizing your boat is important and fall is the perfect time to take the proper steps.
The science of safety
Inside the thick red hull of Coast Guard Cutter Healy, a multitude of crewmembers, scientists and support staff hustle to and fro, performing their various jobs in preparation for operations during Arctic Shield 2013. The 420-foot icebreaker reached its destination amidst the ice floes of the cold Arctic waters, and everyone is eager to begin deploying the five unique technologies aboard the ship that could have the ability to enhance oil detection and recovery capabilities in the Arctic.
Safe haven from Hurricane Ingrid
In late September, Hurricane Ingrid prompted a fleet of 179 Mexican shrimp boats to request shelter in the port of Brownsville until it was safe to return to Mexican waters. Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection crews boarded each of the vessels, taking account of crew numbers and any pollution concerns that could adversely effect the port. This process took approximately 18 hours.
500 baby turtles get a lift
One of the core missions of the U.S. Coast Guard is marine environmental protection. Whether educating the boating public about reducing speeds around manatees, enforcing protection zones for whales or working with partner agencies to remove derelict fishing nets from reefs, the Coast Guard ensures our nation’s waterways and their ecosystems remain healthy and sustainable.
Artist’s sketchbook: Departure
From July 29 to Aug. 15, 2013, Coast Guard Cutter Healy, the Coast Guard’s largest ice breaker and research vessel deployed to the Arctic Ocean under Capt. John Reeves with 44 scientists aboard. Under the aegis of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Healy scientists probed the water column and ocean floor in order to establish a basic understanding of the Chukchi Sea ecosystem.
Artist’s sketchbook: Board of lies
Last week we shared the simple moments aboard Healy as crew and scientists alike settled into routine. This week “Artist’s sketchbook” continues with a peek into life in the ship’s engine control room and the deployment of “The Rosette.”
Artist’s sketchbook: Just below freezing
Last week we shared the first moments aboard Healy, including scientists preparing to board the ship and the crew navigating the ship as Healy pulled out of port. This week the ship is at a science station 335 miles north of the Arctic Circle where the wind chill stands at 19 and the crew is experiencing 20 percent ice coverage.
Why I Serve: MST1 Forrest PhiferSpens
As a conservation biologist, I work for the preservation and conservation of natural resources. As a reserve marine science technician, I get to extend my work from the terrestrial side to the ocean side. Living in Hawai’i the ocean is a part of our daily lives and is valued by the people who live there. Being a member of the Coast Guard Reserve allows a seamless blend of my two jobs.
Meeting Arctic missions
With a stifling heat wave affecting most of the country last week, it’s hard to picture U.S. Coast Guard units focusing on our nation’s Arctic interests. But for a dedicated group of Coast Guard men and women, the Arctic is all that is on their mind. As the nation’s lead federal agency for ensuring maritime safety and security in the Arctic, the Coast Guard will perform its statutory missions to ensure the Arctic remains a safe, secure and environmentally protected region.
Leaning forward on forward deployments
The 14th Coast Guard District is charged with protecting and patrolling more than 90,000 miles of coastline. In fact, of the total 3.4 million square nautical miles of U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone, 43 percent resides within this region. With such a large expanse of ocean to operate in, teamwork is critical in performing the many missions of the U.S. Coast Guard. It was this sense of teamwork and partnership that the two units – cutter and station – joined together.
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