Coast Guard

WASHINGTON, March 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Greek-based shipping company Kassian Maritime Navigation Agency Ltd. and a crew member of the M/V North Princess, an ocean-going bulk cargo ship traveling to ports in the United States, were charged in a three-count indictment related to the operations of the ship, the Justice Department announced today.

Kassian Maritime is charged with illegal dumping of bilge and waste water in violation of the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS), making false statements to U.S. Coast Guard inspectors, and obstruction of justice in relation to the Coast Guard's inspection of the North Princess. The ship's Second Engineer, Spyridon Markou, is also charged with obstruction of justice with regard to the ship's inspection.

Engine room operations on board large oceangoing vessels such as the North Princess generate large amounts of waste oil. U.S. law requires that all overboard discharges of waste oil be recorded in an oil record book, a required log which is regularly inspected by the Coast Guard.

Date: Sept. 7, 2006 (***PREPARED FOR DELIVERY***), WASHINGTON – Good morning Mr. Chairman and distinguished members of the Committee. It is a pleasure to appear before you today to discuss the preparedness of the Coast Guard today compared to one year ago.

Introduction

WASHINGTON (Sept. 7, 2006) – The U.S. Coast Guard today announced the formation of a task force to evaluate the overall organizational climate and character development program at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn.

“The Coast Guard Academy attracts the best and brightest student leaders from across America ,” said Adm. Thad Allen, commandant of the Coast Guard. “We owe it to them and our nation to continually improve our training environment. This initiative will help ensure we promote academic excellence while instilling our core values of honor, respect and devotion to duty.”

The task force will be directed by retired Rear Adm. Erroll Brown, and membership will include Terri Dickerson, the Coast Guard’s director of civil rights, and Rear Adm. Robert Parker, the Coast Guard’s director of operations capability. Retired Adm. James Gracey, a former Coast Guard commandant, will act as a senior mentor for the task force.

“It is an honor to lead this important team,” said Brown. “I am personally committed to conducting an honest assessment of academy culture to ensure all cadets have an equal opportunity to excel and the academy continues to produce the finest military leaders.”

The task force is expected to report its findings back to the Coast Guard within 120 days of its first meeting.

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Summary of Free Spirit Search

BOSTON (June 18, 2006) - The U.S. Coast Guard suspended the search about 1:45 p.m. today for the 41-foot sailing vessel Free Spirit, with four people on board, which was reported to be in distress June 15 approximately 200 nautical miles south of Halifax, Nova Scotia and 290 nautical miles east of Chatham, Mass.

The Coast Guard has been working closely with the Canadian Coast Guard and Navy, as well as the U.S. Navy. Assisting in the search were:

* Coast Guard Cutter Spencer, homeported in Boston
* HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod, Mass.
* HU-25 Falcon jet from Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod, Mass.
* C-130 Hercules fixed-wing airplane from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, NC
* Canadian Navy vessel HMCS Halifax
* Canadian Coast Guard vessel CCGS Earl Grey
* Canadian Navy C-130 fixed-wing airplane from Greenwood, Nova Scotia
* Canadian Navy P-3 fixed-wing airplane from Greenwood, Nova Scotia
* U.S. Navy P-3 fixed wing airplane from Naval Air Station Brunswick, Maine

Two Boys Missing in San Francisco Bay Found Alive

ALAMEDA, Calif. (June 5, 2006) -- Two teenage boys who were reported missing in the San Francisco Bay late this afternoon have been found alive and in good condition. The U.S. Coast Guard had been searching an extensive area of the south Bay since about 5:20 p.m. along with other local agencies. The two missing boys, Eric Anderson, 15, and Mark Lazzaro, 16, were last seen by a Good Samaritan at about 3:00 p.m.clinging to their overturned Hobie Cat about one mile north of the Dumbarton Bridge. The Good Samaritan reported the finding to the boys' sailing instructor at the Redwood City Marina. At about 5:00 p.m., the instructor contacted the Coast Guard after finding the overturned Hobie Cat in two pieces and without the boys.

The Coast Guard diverted an HH-65 helicopter from Air Station San Francisco to the area at about 5:20 p.m. A 41-foot motor lifeboat from Station San Francisco and two Coast Guard Auxiliary boats were also on scene. In addition, a second helicopter from the Air Station was launched shortly after 7:00 p.m. The Redwood City Fire Department, two San Mateo Fire Department jet skis, and a Menlo Park airboat were among the other agencies and assets involved in the search, along with numerous Good Samaritans.

Coast Guard Helicopter Crew Rescues Downed Pilot

ALAMEDA, Calif. (June 17, 2006) -- The pilot of a small aircraft was rescued from the waters of the San Francisco Bay today by a Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco helicopter crew.At approximately 11:45 a.m. today, a Coast Guard Auxiliary unit reported seeing a small plane go into the water two miles northeast of the San Carlos Airport. The Coast Guard aircrew, who were already patrolling in the area due to an airshow, arrived onscene to find a man swimming away from the downed plane.

After lowering a rescue basket and lifting the man to safety; the crew of the helicopter transferred the man to a waiting EMS crew at the San Carlos Airport.

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Source: U.S. Coast Guard