Friday, May 10, 2013
The Coast Guard held a changing of command ceremony May 10 for the Nantucket, a 110-foot patrol boat.
The Coast Guard Cutter Nantucket changed command May 10 in St. Petersburg. Coast Guard Lt. Ryan Waitt is now the Nantucket's commanding officer. Lt. Andrew S. Dunlevy, former commanding officer of Coast Guard Cutter Nantucket, heads to San Diego to pursue a Master's degree, the Coast Guard reports. Highlights of Dunlevy's command of the Nantucket included "nine counter drug and migrant interdiction deployments off the shores of Miami and Key West. During the patrols, the crew interdicted more than 270 migrants and conducted several repatriations that resulted in returning more than 90 illegal immigrants attempting enter the United States," according to a media release. "It has been a privilege to serve with this crew over the past year…
Two people were rescued by Coast Guard crewmembers approximately one mile east of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge on their 19-foot boat Thursday.
The U.S. Coast Guard rescued two people a mile east of the Sunshine SkywayBridge on May 9 after their 19-foot boat began taking on water near the center span of the Skyway bridge. According to the Coast Guard, members of Sea Tow contacted Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders at 4:47 p.m. Thursday, and reported the people aboard were in need of assistance. The crew of a 25-foot response boat from Coast Guard Station St.Petersburg arrived on scene and was able to control the flooding, a news release said. They placed the boat in tow and transported them to DemensLanding Marina in St. Petersburg. No injuries were reported, the Coast Guard said. Sign up for the St. Pete Patch email newsletter to get our top headlines delivered …
Sunday, January 20, 2013
"These kayakers were fortunate that they had the light from the bridge and a cell phone to call for help," said Kevin Coyne, an operations controller at the sector in a news release.
- POLICE & FIRE
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Sunday, January 20
Two male kayakers were rescued by U.S. Coast Guard crewmembers after being stranded underneath the Gandy Bridge Thursday. According to the Coast Guard, the Tampa Police Department dispatch contacted watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg at 1:50 a.m. Jan 17, regarding two kayakers who became stranded on a platform underneath the Gandy Bridge while fishing. Their main paddle drifted away during the climb to the platform, a news release said. A 25-foot Response Boat was launched at 1:07 a.m., and arrived on scene at 1:24 a.m. The crewmembers transferred the two kayakers and their kayak to the Gandy Boat Ramp where family was waiting. No injuries were reported. "These kayakers were fortunate that they had the light from the bridge…
Friday, January 4, 2013
This is the third multi-million dollar drug haul the Coast Guard has seized and then docked in St. Pete in the last four months.
For the third time in four months, the U.S. Coast Guard has docked in St. Petersburg after seizing millions of dollars worth of cocaine. The latest drug bust worth $11 million was announced Thursday after crews docked in St. Pete. Authorities say that totaled 17 bales of the powdery drug. According to FirstCoastNews.com, the operation was a part of Operation Martillo. "The Coast Guard said the drugs were seized from a go fast boat that was spotted in the western Caribbean by a marine air patrol unit. The suspects on the boat attempted to escape at high speeds, but a Coast Guard helicopter fired several warning shots and eventually disabled the boat's engines. Three men have been detained along with the drugs." In December, nearly two …
Monday, December 17, 2012
U.S. Coast Guard members stationed in St. Pete are set to use a newer and safer warning device for boaters.
- NEWS
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Monday, December 17, 2012
Coast Guard members stationed in the St. Petersburg are scheduled to begin using a new non-lethal warning device to aid in security operations beginning January 2013. “All Coast Guard ports, waterways and coastal security units in the Sector St. Petersburg AOR will be capable of employing the LA51 signal and warning device,” said Ensign Andrew Denning, a member of Sector St. Petersburg Enforcement Division in a news release. The LA51, according to the Coast Guard, is fired from a 12-gauge military shotgun to produce a visible and audible signal at a range of 100 meters. This signal and warning device is considered a safer alternative to the current warning devices used by Coast Guard personnel. It is a shorter range round, and the flash …
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Two large drug busts netted $45 million worth of cocaine.
Nearly two tons of cocaine worth $45 million was offloaded by the U.S. Coast Guard Wednesday in St. Petersburg. According to a Coast Guard news release, the ship Decisive and crews seized 3,967 pounds of cocaine. The seizure was part of a multi-agency law enforcement plans called Operation Unified Resolve. Officials said on Nov. 25, the Coast Guard and Caribbean regional law enforcement authorities disrupted a maritime illegal drug shipment and seized 2,094 pounds of cocaine south of the Dominican Republic. “Our Coast Guardsmen are committed brave men and women who everyday go far out to sea, away from our immediate shores, to stop the threats that come from the sea and bring those responsible to justice.” said Coast Guard Capt. Drew …
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Three Tampa Bay bridges will have round-the-clock security, and seven others will be kept in the down, closed position during the Republican National Convention.
Anchoring and mooring near three major bridges in the Tampa Bay area will be banned during the Republican National Convention, the Coast Guard announced. In addition, seven draw bridges will be kept in the down, locked position, even to tug boats, during the RNC. The Coast Guard announced that it has established 15 additional federal security zones; all are coastal and along waterways. The heightened security begins Saturday and ends Aug. 31 at 1 a.m. Security zones within the Intracoastal Waterway extend from the Clearwater Memorial Bridge south to the Pinellas Bayway Structures A, B & C. ( Specific bridge names and closure times are noted in the graphic attached to this article.) Three Tampa Bay bridges will have 24-hour security zones. …
Catcentrics
8:11 am on Friday, January 4, 2013
Go, USCG! You rock. Much respect for all you do. more ›