Coast Guard, multiple agencies conduct exercise north of Barrow as commandant testifies on Arctic capabilities

BARROW, Alaska - Participating members of the a joint Coast Guard, Air Force, Alaska Air National Guard and North Slope Borough search and rescue coordination team meet together in an search and rescue exercise pre-brief July 26, 2011.

The two-day joint exercise, designed to better understand each agencies capabilities and concerns during a maritime mass causality event, started the same day Coast Guard commandant, Adm. Bob Papp, testified before the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and Coast Guard Subcommittee about the challenges the service faces operating in the region

“We have the lead role in ensuring Arctic maritime safety, security and stewardship,” said Papp during his testimony. “To meet NSPD 66’s and EO 13547’s direction, the Coast Guard is working closely with its many interagency partners, and Alaska State, local and tribal governments.”

BARROW, Alaska - A Coast Guard 25-foot Response Boat-Small crew makes preparations to begin a joint rescue exercise after being deployed in the Arctic Ocean from the Barrow boat ramp as a Barrow resident observes them July 27, 2011.

The two-day joint exercise, comprised of Air Force, Alaska Air National Guard and North Slope Borough personnel, was designed to better understand each agencies capabilities and concerns during a maritime mass causality event, started the same day Coast Guard commandant, Adm. Bob Papp, testified before the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and Coast Guard Subcommittee about the challenges the service faces operating in the region.

“Our engagement with Alaska Native Tribes continues to be highly beneficial,” said Papp in his written testimony. “Our efforts to learn from their centuries of traditional knowledge … have made our operations safer and more successful,” Papp continued. “We are working hard to ensure tribal equities are recognized, considered and indigenous peoples and their way of life are protected to the greatest extent possible.”

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Charly Hengen.

BARROW, Alaska - Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class John Yavorsky, left, Petty Officer 1st Class Brandon Kelly and Petty Officer 2nd Class Bill Lounsbery, all HC-130 Hercules airplane aviation maintenance technicians with Air Station Kodiak, search for various shaped and weighted buoys from the airplane over the Arctic Ocean July 27, 2011.

The buoys were used to simulate people in the water during a joint rescue exercise comprised of Air Force, Alaska Air National Guard and North Slope Borough personnel all searching for 10 simulated people in the water after a sailboat accident in the Arctic Ocean.

The two-day joint exercise, designed to better understand each agencies capabilities and concerns during a maritime mass causality event, started the same day Coast Guard commandant, Adm. Bob Papp, testified before the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and Coast Guard Subcommittee about the challenges the service faces operating in the region.

“For the past four years, we have been conducting limited Arctic operations during open water periods. However, we face many challenges,” said Papp during his testimony. “Some Arctic operations demand specialized vessels, aircraft, and crews trained to operate in extreme climate.”

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Charly Hengen.