Hurricane Prep, Force Surge Top Commandant’s Gulf Coast Trip Agenda
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Written by: CDR Glynn Smith
Lt. Matthew Nakagawa briefs Adm. Robert J. Papp Jr., Coast Guard commandant, on continuing operations in regard to buoy tenders returning to and departing to skim oil for the Deepwater Horizon response at the Naval Air Station Pensacola pier. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Walter Shinn)
Posted on behalf of Admiral Bob Papp:
Shipmates,
I just returned from my third trip to the Gulf Coast. The focus of this trip was on hurricane preparations and the expanding number of Coast Guard forces deployed to maintain the ongoing Deepwater Horizon response.
Admiral Bob Papp poses with a group of Coast Guard Auxiliary members in front of an Auxiliary boat at Station Pensacola on the Auxiliary’s 71st anniversary Wednesday. The Auxiliary actively supports the Coast Guard in performance of its duties, including the Deepwater Horizon oil spill response effort. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)
I spent Tuesday at the Unified Area Command in New Orleans. I am impressed by the effective and coordinated response efforts. These efforts stretch across the coastlines of four states and encompass a water area the size of South Carolina. Significant hurricane planning is also underway. While I was the Atlantic Area commander between 2008 and 2010, I had 30 named storms move through my area of responsibility, many of those in the Gulf of Mexico. As a result, making sure we are ready for a hurricane is one of my top priorities. I concluded the day with my first Chief’s Call and recognition for some of our stellar junior personnel that have been mentored by the chiefs.
Yesterday, I focused on our forces. I visited five buoy tenders at Naval Air Station Pensacola: Aspen, Cypress, Juniper, Walnut and Joshua Appleby. These ships, hailing from as far away as Honolulu, San Francisco and Newport, reflect our “all-hands-on-deck” commitment to this response. The decks of these ships, which are normally loaded with buoys, are now filled with oil skimming equipment. These crews’ efforts are making a difference. Shortly after my visit, Cypress and Juniper got underway to rejoin other cutters engaged in skimming operations.
SNPA Grace Baldwin receives a Commandant’s coin from Admiral Bob Papp at Unified Area Command New Orleans. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)
I also overflew the spill site. Since my last over flight in June, I could see that oil collection efforts have intensified and our hard work is beginning to pay off, though we still have many days of hard work ahead. I was particularly encouraged to see a large number of skimmers operating, most of which were “Vessels of Opportunity,” or VOOs. VOOs are commercially and privately owned vessels grouped and organized by the Coast Guard. Using the latest surveillance, VOOs are sent to attack the most prominent and threatening areas of the spill.
During this trip, I had a Fox National News crew traveling with me. You can click here to view a post they uploaded today. I also recorded a message to all Deepwater Horizon responders, which is available here.
I am honored to represent the thousands of Coast Guard men and women doing amazing work to help restore a way of life for the people of the Gulf Coast. Keep up the great work. Take care of your shipmates.
Semper Paratus,
Admiral Bob Papp
Adm. Robert J. Papp Jr., Coast Guard commandant, visits crew members aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Juniper. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Walter Shinn)
Leave a Comment
We welcome your comments on postings at all Coast Guard sites/journals. These are sponsored by the U.S. Coast Guard to provide a forum to talk about our work providing maritime safety, security and stewardship for the American people to secure the homeland, save lives and property, protect the environment, and promote economic prosperity.
The information provided is for public information only and is not a distress communication channel. People in an emergency and in need of Coast Guard assistance should use VHF-FM Channel 16 (156.8 MHz), dial 911, or call their nearest Coast Guard unit.
All comments submitted are moderated. The Coast Guard retains the discretion to determine which comments it will post and which it will not. We expect all contributors to be respectful. We will not post comments that contain personal attacks of any kind; refer to Coast Guard or other employees by name; contain offensive terms that target specific ethnic or racial groups, or contain vulgar language. We will also not post comments that are spam, are clearly off topic, or that promote services or products.
The U.S. Coast Guard disclaims any liability for any loss or damage resulting from any comments posted on this page. This forum may not be used for the submission of any claim, demand, informal or formal complaint, or any other form of legal and/or administrative notice or process, or for the exhaustion of any legal and/or administrative remedy.
If you have specific questions regarding a U.S. Coast Guard program that involves details you do not wish to share publicly please contact the program point of contact listed at http://www.uscg.mil/global/mail/
The U.S. Coast Guard will not collect or retain Personally Identifiable Information unless you voluntarily provide it to us. To view the U.S. Coast Guards Privacy Policy, please visit: http://www.uscg.mil/global/disclaim.asp
Please note: Anonymous comments have been disabled for this journal. It is preferred that you use your real name when posting a comment. WE WILL POST THE NAME YOU ENTER WHEN YOU SUBMIT YOUR COMMENT. Also, you are welcome to use Open ID or other user technologies that may be available.
