HONOLULU – The Coast Guard rescued a missing diver approximately two miles west of Ka’ena Point at 1:05 a.m. Monday.

An Air Station Barbers Point MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew sighted the 45-year-old man while searching the area. The rescue swimmer aboard the Dolphin sighted the diver, without the use of night vision goggles, as the helicopter was departing the area to refuel. The missing diver used a dive flashlight to signal the aircrew.

The rescue swimmer was deployed from the helicopter and remained in the water with the diver until the Coast Guard Cutter Ahi arrived.

The diver was transported to Barber’s Point Harbor where he was met by emergency medical staff and family. The diver was reported to be in good health.

The man began diving at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday and was reported missing by friends at 3:30 p.m.

The Coast Guard and Honolulu Fire Department searched for a distance extending nine miles from the diver's last known location.

To assist in the search, the Coast Guard used the Search and Rescue Optimal Planning System to determine the search area with the highest probability for locating the missing diver. SAROPS is a computer program, which calculates environmental factors such as weather, wind speed and direction, current speed and direction and the size of the search object. From that data, a search area is calculated. 

To view the initial news release for this case visit: http://www.d14.uscgnews.com/go/doc/800/1313351/.

For more information contact Lt. Leigh Cotterell, Sector Honolulu's public affairs officer at 808-292-3692.

SAN FRANCISCO — A massive search effort conducted by the Coast Guard and the Marin, Tiburon, San Rafael Police Departments is underway for a person in the water and boat collision near the Richmond-San Rafael bridge.

After hours of searching, crews are unable to locate any signs of the reported distress.

Coast Guard Sector San Francisco received a mayday call over VHF-FM channel 16, at 10:53 last night. The Coast Guard was radioed again 11:18 p.m. from a source reporting that their boat had been involved in a collision with another boat and that there was a person in the water.

The Coast Guard immediately launched an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station San Francisco and a 45-foot utility boat from Station San Francisco, as well as, diverted the Coast Guard Cutter Pike, an 87-foot patrol boat, to the scene. After an extensive search, crews are unable to locate any signs of distress.

The search will continue throughout the night and into the morning. 

HONOLULU – The Coast Guard and Honolulu Fire Department are searching for a missing scuba diver one mile off the coast of Kaena Point, Saturday.

Friends of the missing diver contacted Coast Guard watchstanders at Sector Honolulu and reported him missing at 3:30 p.m.  

A 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew from Station Honolulu, and an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Air Station Barbers Point were launched at 4 p.m. The 14.96 square mile search area is located one mile off the coast of Keana Point. The crew aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Ahi is also en route to the search area. 

The Honolulu Fire Department is responding with a helicopter, jet-ski and rescue boat.

The missing man, a local resident, began diving at approximately 12:30 p.m. and was last seen wearing a black wetsuit. 

The Coast Guard is scheduled to search throughout the night. 

Mariners in the area are asked to report any sign of the missing diver to the Coast Guard on VHF channel 16 or by calling the Sector Honolulu command center at 808-842-2600.

For more information contact the 14th Coast Guard District public affairs office at 808-535-3230. 

NEW ORLEANS — The tank barge involved in the collision, which resulted in the spill of Louisiana sweet crude into the lower Mississippi River, has been emptied and relocated, Sunday.

The remaining oil in the barge holding tanks was removed and the barge has been relocated to a repair facility in West Wego. 

The barge had been secured to the bank of the Mississippi River since Friday following a collision between the Clarence W. Settoon and the Alydar, which was pushing a construction barge at the time. The collision tore a hole into the double-hulled tanker barge causing the release of an amount of oil estimated to be less than 10,000 gallons. 

The Coast Guard Captain of the Port New Orleans, Capt. Pete Gautier, temporarily closed the river to commercial traffic Friday, but later allowed vessels to transit in a rotation to ensure the safety of contracted cleanup personnel and to minimize economic impact.

A total of 101 response personnel from the Coast Guard, ES & H and OMI Environmental Services are actively engaged in the cleanup.

Since operations began Friday, 100 bags of oiled debris and 40 bags of oiled sorbents have been collected. A total of 4,700 feet of hard containment boom has been deployed in an effort to minimize environmental damage.

The Coast Guard, Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator's Office and Settoon Towing have established a unified command to respond to the incident.

The Coast Guard is investigating the cause of the incident.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - U.S. Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) law enforcement crews, as members of the Caribbean Border Interagency Group, in conjunction with Dominican Republic’s Navy and Air Force authorities recovered a 350-pound- cocaine shipment, 168 bricks, from the water following a maritime pursuit of a drug-smuggling vessel Saturday in the Mona Passage.

The crew of a CBP Caribbean Air and Marine Branch surveillance dash-8 aircraft detected two men aboard a 20-foot yola (boat) Saturday morning transiting towards the Dominican Republic, approximately nine nautical miles north of Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

"This case showcases the close and effective coordination between U.S. federal law enforcement agencies and Dominican Republic authorities in preventing yet another drug shipment from reaching the streets," said Capt. Marc Stegman, U.S. Coast Guard Sector San Juan acting commander.

Upon noticing they had been detected by law enforcement authorities, the crew of the suspect vessel immediately proceeded to throw their cargo overboard.

CBP's Caribbean Air and Marine Branch requested Coast Guard assistance in contacting Dominican Republic authorities to advise them that the suspect vessel was entering Dominican Republic waters.

Coast Guard Sector San Juan Watchstanders proceeded to coordinate with Dominican Republic authorities and divert the Coast Guard Cutter Chincoteague to provide assistance.

The Dominican Republic Air Force responded by launching a Tucano aircraft and taking over the aerial pursuit of the suspect vessel into Dominican Republic territorial waters, while the Dominican Republic Navy vessel Benevola also responded to the scene.

The crew of the Chincoteague arrived on scene and was vectored in by the crew of the CBP aircraft to the position of the jettisoned cargo. The crew of the Chincoteague launched their small boat and recovered 7 bales from the water, each containing 24 bricks of contraband and weighing approximately 50 pounds. Field tests conducted at the scene revealed the contraband to be cocaine.

The crew of the Chincoteague transferred all seven bales of cocaine to the crew of the Benevola.

The Chincoteague is a 110-foot patrol boat home ported in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

In July 2006, CBIG was formally created to unify efforts of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Office of Border Patrol – Ramey Sector, the United States Attorney‘s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, and Puerto Rico Police Joint Forces of Rapid action (FURA) in their common goal of securing the borders of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands against illegal migrant and drug smuggling.

MOBILE, Ala. — Edward Johnson (left), an instructor with the Dekalb County, Ga., school system, introduces his 150 Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps cadets to Chief Warrant Officer Todd Murphy (center), commanding officer of the Coast Guard Cutter Saginaw, prior to a tour of the cutter at its homeport in Mobile, Feb. 16, 2012. The Atlanta-area cadets toured the Saginaw, the Coast Guard Cutter Stingray and Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Team Mobile. Crewmembers from all of the units shared their experiences and answered questions about their job, the missions and the Coast Guard. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Bill Colclough.

MOBILE, Ala. — U.S. Navy Reserve Officers Training Corps cadets listen to a member of Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Team Mobile describe the lampchangers and chain used in various aids to navigation at Coast Guard Sector Mobile, Feb. 16, 2012. The Atlanta, Ga.-area cadets toured the Saginaw, the Coast Guard Cutter Stingray and Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Team Mobile. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Bill Colclough.

MOBILE, Ala. — A crewmember of the Coast Guard Cutter Stingray helps a U.S. Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps cadet don firefighting gear during a demonstration and tour aboard the cutter at its homeport in Mobile, Feb. 16, 2012. A group of 150 cadets from the Atlanta, Ga., area toured the Saginaw, the Coast Guard Cutter Stingray and Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Team Mobile. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Bill Colclough.

MOBILE, Ala. — Chief Petty Officer James Holston, executive petty officer of the Coast Guard Cutter Saginaw, provides an illustration of how the radar operates on board the 160-foot inland construction tender's pilot house, Feb. 16, 2012. A group of 150 cadets from the Atlanta, Ga., area toured the Saginaw, the Coast Guard Cutter Stingray and Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Team Mobile. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Bill Colclough.

MOBILE, Ala. — A group of 150 U.S. Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps cadets from the Atlanta, Ga., area toured units from Coast Guard Sector Mobile, Thursday.

The cadets took a tour of the 160-foot Coast Guard Cutter Saginaw, 87-foot Coast Guard Cutter Stingray and a shoreside demonstration from Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Team Mobile.

Crewmembers provided guided tours of the Saginaw and Stingray and demonstrated a diverse array of gear essential to Coast Guard missions. Crewmembers from ANT Mobile demonstrated the operation of lampchangers in lighted aids to navigation and a brief overview of the system of lights, colors and shapes found in the federal aids-to-navigation system.

The cadets donned firefighting equipment and quizzed the crewmembers on their experiences and career opportunities available in the U.S. Coast Guard.

"We're always proud to show our ship; the crews work very hard," said Chief Warrant Officer Todd Murphy, commanding officer of the Saginaw. "This was a great opportunity to encourage these young folks to come our way and perhaps become Coast Guardsmen."

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Armed Services YMCA at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson recognized the 12 Enlisted Service Personnel of the Year during the 35th Annual Salute to the Military at the Egan Civic and Convention Center Friday.

Two service members from each branch of the military, one active duty and one reservist, as well as two National Guardsmen, were named the Outstanding Junior Enlisted Service Personnel of the Year by the Armed Services YMCA in Anchorage.

“It’s an opportunity for the community to get together and recognize military members,” said Anita Porter, the special projects manager for the YMCA.

The Coast Guardsmen who were recognized are Petty Officer 2nd Class Scott Peters, a boatswain’s mate at Station Valdez, and Petty Officer 2nd Class Jeremy Frank, a reservist marine science technician with Sector Juneau.

“I’m proud that we are able to recognize Petty Officers Scott Peters and Jeremy Frank as the Coast Guard Alaska service members of the year,” said Rear Adm. Thomas Ostebo, the Coast Guard District 17 commander. “They are exceptional representatives for the active duty and reserve Coast Guard men and women serving throughout Alaska and their leadership, professionalism and devotion to duty serve as examples for others to follow.”

Peters, a tactical coxswain on Station Valdez’s 45-foot and 25-foot response boats, goes beyond his required duty to promote a healthy lifestyle at his unit, and is known for the intense workout sessions he offers to the station’s members. He is also involved in various volunteer events, including assisting in the construction of a community ski slope.

Frank, who was deployed for the Coast Guard response to the Deepwater Horizon spill, is being recognized for his role in the $14 million lightering operation associated with the removal of more than 130,000 gallons of bunker oil and 220,000 gallons of oily waste from the motor vessel Princess Kathleen, a 369 foot passenger vessel that sank near Juneau in 1952.

For more information about the 35th Annual Salute to the Military, contact Anita Porter at 907-552-9622.

For more information about the Coast Guard members being recognized, contact Petty Officer 3rd Class Grant DeVuyst at 907-321-1866.

MIAMI — A Coast Guard Cutter Confidence boatcrew transfers bales of marijuana to the cutter from a 28-foot go-fast vessel in the Caribbean Sea Feb. 9, 2012. The Confidence crew recovered 1,100 pounds of marijuana and detained six suspected smugglers. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Matthew Luce.

MIAMI — A Coast Guard Cutter Confidence boatcrew on scene with a 28-foot go-fast vessel in the Caribbean Sea Feb. 9, 2012. The Confidence crew recovered 1,100 pounds of marijuana and detained six suspected smugglers from the go-fast vessel. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Matthew Luce.

MIAMI — The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Confidence intercepted a 28-foot vessel suspected of smuggling narcotics Feb. 9 in the Caribbean Sea.

The Confidence crew was patrolling south of Cuba, in international waters, when they spotted the go-fast, which led to the confiscation of approximately 1,100 pounds of marijuana and the detainment of six suspected smugglers.

As the Confidence’s boatcrew pursued the go-fast vessel, the suspected smugglers were witnessed jettisoning bales of marijuana into the water. A second boatcrew was launched to recover the evidence, resulting in the collection of 36 bales packed with illegal drugs.

Coast Guard cutter crews consistently train to respond to emergencies, search and rescue, and drug and migrant interdiction cases, all of which often occur without warning. 

Confidence’s drug interdiction is one example of many that exhibits the Coast Guard’s efforts in stopping the flow of illegal narcotics into the United States. The Confidence is a 210-foot, medium-endurance cutter homeported in Port Canaveral, Fla. The Confidence crew primarily conducts counter-drug and undocumented migrant interdiction patrols in the Caribbean Sea.

Medium-endurance cutters like the Confidence are built for multi-week offshore patrols including operations requiring enhanced communications, and helicopter and pursuit boat operations, which provide a key capability for homeland security operations at sea

PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The Coast Guard is notifying mariners Friday of forecasted gale conditions in the mid-Atlantic region Sunday through Monday and advising mariners not experienced in those conditions to stay in port.

The National Weather Service issued multiple gale warnings for winds in excess of 40 knots and wave heights up to 22 feet.

An HC-130 Hercules crew is scheduled to fly along the east coast Saturday making urgent marine information broadcasts about the expected weather.

"Sending our aircraft out and letting mariners know about the incoming weather is paramount to maintain safety in the maritime environment," said Geoffrey Pagels, a search and rescue specialist at the Coast Guard's 5th District Command Center in Portsmouth.

The Coast Guard urges mariners to always:

• Stay Informed - The public should be aware of weather conditions and monitor the progress and strength of the storm through local television, radio and Internet. Boaters can monitor progress on marine-band radio VHF-FM channel 16.
• Check the current and expected conditions before heading out and be aware that weather can quickly change.
• Wear their life jackets while on the water.
• File a float plan with friends, family members and their local marina before heading out. The list should include the number of passengers aboard the vessel, their destination and expected time of return.
• Have a working radio on board their vessel as cell phone coverage varies from region to region.
• Carry marine flares aboard their vessel to signal rescuers in distress and emergency situations.
• Keep a GPS or electronic position indicating radio beacon so that they may be easier to locate in the event of distress.
• Secure belongings - Owners of recreational boats are urged to take appropriate precautions to prevent damage to their and others' vessels.

The warnings and advisories are available on the National Weather Service's website. Click on the map below to see the most up-to-date version on the NWS site.

NEW ORLEANS — The unified command continues its response to the release of crude oil in the lower Mississippi River near Reserve in St. John's Parish, Friday.

The Coast Guard Captain of the Port, Capt. Pete Gautier, is allowing vessels headed southbound on the river to transit one at a time through the affected area until 6 p.m., Friday. From 6 p.m., to 6 a.m., Saturday, northbound traffic will be allowed to transit. 

"One of our priorities is to facilitate the safe continuation of commercial traffic," said Gautier. "Safety is paramount, and the unified command is working to minimize the impact this spill has on people, the environment and commerce."

Although the precise quantity of oil spilled is yet to be determined, Coast Guard and Settoon crews who have been assessing the damage, now estimate the spill to be less than 10,000 gallons of Louisiana sweet crude oil. These estimates are based on the amount of product known to be in the tank prior to the incident and soundings that have been completed on the tank since the incident. Determining the actual amount of oil spilled is part of the investigation.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received notification at 1:58 a.m., Friday, that a construction barge, towed by the tug Alydar, and a tank barge, towed by the motor vessel Clarence W. Settoon collided near mile marker 139, approximately 50 miles upriver of New Orleans. 

The Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund has been opened and ES&H has been contracted as the oil spill response organization.

No injuries were reported.

The unified command consists of representatives from the U.S. Coast Guard, Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator's Office and Settoon Towing's Spill and Emergency Management Team.

The Coast Guard is investigating the cause of the incident.

WHO: The unified command, which includes the U.S. Coast Guard, Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator's Office and Settoon Towing.

WHAT: News briefing on oil spill in the Mississippi River near Reserve, La. 

WHEN: 3:30 p.m., Feb. 17, 2012.

WHERE: Bonnet Carre Spillway, East Bank, southside, Norco, La.

NEW ORLEANS — The unified command continues its response to the release of crude oil in the Mississippi River near Reserve in St. John's Parish, Friday.

A news briefing will be held to provide a situation overview and provide updates to the cleanup and recovery operations. A question and answer session will be held at the end.

Editor's Note: Media interested in attending the press briefing are required to notify the unified command joint information center at 443-875-4111 to confirm attendance.

NEW ORLEANS — A unified command has been established in response to a report of crude oil in the lower Mississippi River, near mile marker 139, approximately 50 miles upriver of New Orleans, Friday.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received notification at 1:58 a.m., reporting that a construction barge, towed by the tug Alydar, and a tank barge, towed by the motor vessel Clarence W. Settoon, collided.  The tank barge was loaded with Louisiana sweet crude oil and suffered a 10-foot by 5-foot gash above the waterline, resulting in a release of oil into the lower Mississippi River.

The impacted cargo tank reportedly was holding 3,535 barrels, or approximately 148,470 gallons, of crude oil.  The actual amount of product released into the lower Mississippi River has not yet been determined, but is estimated to be substantially less than the total of the tank's contents.

 Coast Guard Sector New Orleans dispatched a pollution investigation team to assess the size of the spill.  The source has been secured and soundings will be conducted to determine the actual amount of product released during the incident.

The Coast Guard Captain of the Port New Orleans, Capt. Pete Gautier,  has closed a section of the lower Mississippi River to all traffic from mile marker 135 to mile marker 140 near LaPlace.

The Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund has been opened and ES&H has been contracted as the oil spill response organization. 

 "We are aggressively responding to this incident and have deployed pollution investigators from Sector New Orleans and an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and crew from Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans to assess the situation," said Gautier. "We are working quickly and efficiently with our local and state partners to clean up product in the water and protect the maritime ecosystem and natural resources that are important to our national economy and essential to the livlihood and way of life for coastal communities."

No injuries were reported.

The unified command consists of representatives from the U.S. Coast Guard, Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator's Office and Settoon Towing.

The Coast Guard is investigating the cause of the incident.

KEY WEST, Fla. - Petty Officer 2nd Class Daphne Gilles passes a bail of cocaine to Petty Officer 3rd Class Bryan Lahair at Coast Guard Sector Key West, Fla., Feb. 16, 2012, as the the crew aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Dallas offloads drugs seized during the ship's current patrol. The ship is on its last patrol before it is decommissioned in March. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Patrick Kelley.

KEY WEST, Fla. - Petty Officer 2nd Class Robert Miller passes a bail of cocaine to Seaman Joshua Chavez at Coast Guard Sector Key West, Fla., Feb. 16, 2012, as the the crew aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Dallas offloads drugs seized during the ship's current patrol. The ship is on its last patrol before it is decommissioned in March. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Patrick Kelley.

KEY WEST, Fla. - Seaman Zachary Quamme carries a bail of marijuana at Coast Guard Sector Key West, Fla., Feb. 16, 2012, as the the crew aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Dallas offloads drugs seized during the ship's current patrol. The ship is on its last patrol before it is decommissioned in March. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Patrick Kelley.

MIAMI — The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Dallas, homeported in Charleston, S.C., interdicted approximately 4,000 pounds of cocaine and 940 pounds of marijuana during two separate cases while patrolling the Caribbean Sea. 

While conducting a patrol, Dallas crewmembers located a 40-foot go-fast vessel north of Hobbies Cays, Honduras, Dec. 22. Dallas crewmembers witnessed personnel aboard the go-fast jettison multiple bales into the water. Dallas crewmembers retrieved 77 individually wrapped packages that tested positive for cocaine. The cocaine weighed approximately 4,000 pounds and has an estimated street value of $48 million.

The four detainees were transferred to federal law enforcement officials at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

On Dec. 31, Dallas crewmembers located a go-fast vessel southwest of Jamaica. The Dallas crew launched their smallboat to stop the vessel in order for boarding team crewmembers to conduct a Right of Visit boarding in accordance with international law.

The boarding team witnessed personnel aboard the go-fast jettison multiple bales into the water. The boarding team recovered 16 packages testing positive for marijuana.

The Dallas crew was able to detain three suspected smugglers aboard the vessel and prevent the trafficking of 940 pounds of marijuana with an estimated street value of $852,000.

The three detainees were transferred to Jamaican Defense Force officials.

The contraband from both cases were offloaded at Coast Guard Sector Key West, Fla., Wednesday.     

CLEVELAND — The Great Lakes Ballast Water Working Group (BWWG) released Friday its 2011 Summary of Great Lakes Seaway Ballast Water Management report.

Click here to view or download the 2011 summary report.

The BWWG is comprised of representatives of the U. S. Coast Guard, Transport Canada – Marine Safety, the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, and the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation.

Preventing the introduction of aquatic invasive species into the Great Lakes through stricter ballast water standards and a comprehensive enforcement policy is a top priority for all the members of this working group.

In 2011, 100% of ships bound for the Great Lakes via the St. Lawrence Seaway from outside the Exclusive Economic Zone received a ballast tank exam.  A total of 7,203 ballast tanks during 396 vessel transits were assessed. Vessels that did not exchange their ballast water or flush their ballast tanks were required to either retain the ballast water and residuals on board, treat the ballast water in an environmentally sound and approved manner, or return to sea to conduct a ballast water exchange.

This is the second consecutive year that agencies that comprise the BWWG ensured the examination of 100% of ballast tanks entering the Great Lakes via the St. Lawrence Seaway. In February 2011, the BWWG released its 2010 summary report. Click here to learn more.

The BWWG anticipates continued high ship compliance rates for the 2012 navigation season.

For more information, please contact Cmdr. Scott Anderson at 216-902-6049 or Scott.E.Anderson@uscg.mil.

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas — Capt. John Pasch, commander of Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi, presented crewmembers from Station South Padre Island with the prestigious Sumner I. Kimball Readiness Award, Wednesday.

The award was a result of an intense evaluation by a standardization team of the Coast Guard’s small boat stations that measure a unit’s ability to carry out its mission. The evaluation is conducted once every two years.

"It's an honor to be recognized for excellence in mission readiness and proficiency," said Lt. Joshua Sagers, commanding officer of Station South Padre Island. "We will continue to provide service to the citizens of south Texas that they have come to expect from the Coast Guard."

While the Coast Guard maintains a high readiness posture, only 10 percent of shore-based boat forces earn the award following each inspection.

The award is named for Sumner I. Kimball, the General Superintendent of the U.S. Life-Saving Service who served from 1878 to 1915. Kimball's accomplishments included unifying the nation's life-saving stations into highly-trained teams that became part of the what is U. S. Coast Guard in 1915.

An image of this event can be downloaded here: http://cgvi.uscg.mil/media/main.php?g2_itemId=1533452

MIAMI — The Coast Guard repatriated 108 Haitian migrants to Cap Haitien, Haiti, Thursday, and 14 Cuban migrants to Bahia de Cabañas, Cuba, Tuesday.

The Haitian and Cuban migrants were interdicted at sea during two separate events. 

The crew of the Boston-based, 270-foot Coast Guard Cutter Spencer assisted the Royal Bahamas Defence Force Monday in the interdiction of 108 Haitian migrants. The Haitian migrants were repatriated Thursday. 

A Coast Guard Air Station Miami aircrew spotted 14 Cuban migrants Friday in the Florida Straits. The crew of the 110-foot Coast Guard Cutter Kodiak Island, homeported in Key West, Fla., repatriated the migrants Tuesday.

For more information on how to legally immigrate to the United States, call U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) at 1-800-375-5283 or visit the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov.

All migrants interdicted were provided with food, water, shelter and basic medical attention.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The Coast Guard closed a 2-mile section of the Intracoastal Waterway to create a safety zone around a grounded tug and barge, Thursday.

Watchstanders at Sector Corpus Christi received a call at 6:15 a.m. reporting a tug with two barges ran aground near mile marker 474 in the ICW.

The tug Bolivar Point was towing two barges with approximately 50,000 barrels of alkylate when it struck a boathouse on the northern shore of the ICW.  There were no reports of injury or pollution.

At approximately 6:30 a.m., a 25-foot Response Boat - Small and crew were launched from Station Port O’Connor to investigate the incident. The crew reported the Bolivar Point blocked passage on the ICW.

Station Port O’Connor and the Coast Guard Cutter Brant have established a safety zone from mile markers 473 to 475 while awaiting assistance from the Bolivar Point’s sister tug.

“Immediate action responding to this emergency was needed to protect people, property and infrastructure,” said Lt. j.g. Erik Heithaus, waterways management duty officer. “The safety zone was established to ensure safety from the hazards associated with two barges blocking the waterway and debris from the destroyed boathouse, and to assist the resulting emergency response efforts.”

The incident is currently under investigation.

WHO: U.S. Coast Guard Sector Mobile, Ala., Gulfport, Miss., Central Fire Station

WHAT: Certificate of Valor

WHEN: Friday, Feb. 17, 2012 at 10 a.m.

WHERE: Central Fire Station, 1515 23rd Ave., Gulfport, Miss., 39501

GULFPORT, Miss. — The Coast Guard is scheduled to present a Gulfport firefighter with the Certificate of Valor during an official ceremony at the Central Fire Station, Friday.

The Coast Guard will award Lawrence Burkhalter with the Certificate of Valor for his heroic efforts in the rescue of a State of Mississippi port employee.

On Dec. 10, 2010, Roy Lang fell 20 feet off of West Pier 7 into 48-degree water in the deep draft of the Gulf Harbor. With the freezing temperatures and inability to recover, Lang became hypothermic and unresponsive.

After two attempts at positioning Lang in a stokes litter basket, Burkhalter securely lifted him on to the Coast Guard vessel.

Burkhalter acted with courage and selflessness despite the unbearable conditions. Moreover, he did not have any cold water protective equipment, which further endangered his life.

The award recognizes his actions as a great credit upon himself and are in keeping with the highest traditions of humanitarian service.

“Lt. Burkhalter's actions are a reflection of some of the many civilians throughout Coast Guard history who exemplified astonishing devotion to duty and valor," said Chief Warrant Officer Thomas Ponte, commanding officer of Coast Guard Station Gulfport. "He demonstrated such extraordinary efforts in saving the life of another person, his actions deserve merit.”

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

Editor's note: For high resolution pictures and video, click the thumbnails above.

HONOLULU – A Canadian family rescued after their sailboat sunk during a voyage from Mexico to Hawaii, met with Coast Guardsmen to discuss lessons learned from the recent rescue in an effort to improve the search and rescue process Wednesday.

The three survivors and other members of their family met with Coast Guard watchstanders from the Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu at the Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole Federal Building. Watcstanders briefed the survivors and family on the Coast Guard process of conducting a search and rescue. Watchstanders explained how they were able to coordinate the rescue by diverting the Horizon Reliance, an 800-foot container ship that is part of the Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue System.

The Coast Guard asked the survivors and family to explain any aspects of the Coast Guard rescue they felt could be improved.   

“It is important for us to review the details of each search and rescue case to identify areas of improvement, which could be of benefit for conducting future rescues,” said Lt. Max Seda, a search and rescue coordinator in JRCC Honolulu. “These types of interactions give us a unique opportunity to examine our process from the survivor’s perspective, which can improve our ability to save lives at sea.”

Each of the family members was wearing a lifejacket. The Coast Guard contributes their wearing of lifejackets as a major factor to their survival. The Coast Guard recommends all mariners wear a properly fitted, Coast Guard approved lifejacket.   

The Coast Guard also recommends mariners register, maintain and carry an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon aboard their vessels.

A map of the transit can be found at the following link:

http://cgvi.uscg.mil/media/main.php?g2_itemId=1533789

For more information visit the 14th Coast Guard District public affairs office at 808-535-3230.  

Click the below thumbnails to obtain high-resolution versions.

To learn more, click here to read a blog post about the visit.

MILWAUKEE, Wis. — Margaret Radiano, a Coast Guard SPAR, is given a tour of the Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan facility by Capt. Matt Sibley, sector commander, on Feb. 14, 2012. SPARs, like Radiano, were the first women to serve in the Coast Guard in the 1940s and served in jobs ashore, which allowed men to serve overseas in support of World War II. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Lt. j.g. Brian Dykens

MILWAUKEE, Wis. — Coast Guard Capt. Matt Sibley, commander of Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan, presents a plaque to Margaret Radiano, a Coast Guard SPAR, following her visit to the unit on Feb. 14, 2012. SPARs, like Radiano, were the first women to serve in the Coast Guard in the 1940s and served in jobs ashore, which allowed men to serve overseas in support of World War II. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Lt. Maria Wiener

MILWAUKEE, Wis. — Margaret Radiano, a Coast Guard SPAR, stands beneath a pennant with the Coast Guard storekeeper rating insignia during her visit to Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan on Feb. 14, 2012. SPARs, like Radiano, were the first women to serve in the Coast Guard in the 1940s and served in jobs ashore, which allowed men to serve overseas in support of World War II. Radiano was a storekeeper when she served on active duty from 1943-1945. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Lt. j.g. Brian Dykens

For more information, contact Lt. j.g. Brian Dykens, Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan public affairs officer, at 414-747-7152.