REPOSTED BY PERMISSION

CG e-Newsletter
January 27, 2005

The CG e-Newsletter is designed to keep you informed of issues and programs that affect the United States Coast Guard. It includes links to commercial news materials that do not represent official Coast Guard positions or policies. If you are unable to open any of these links, if you want to be removed from our distribution list for this weekly message, or if you know someone who wants to be added, please e-mail LRWilliams@comdt.uscg.mil. The CG e-Newsletter is also available at:  http://www.uscg.mil/overview/USCG%20e-Newsletter.htm 

 In this week's newsletter:

Coast Guard interdictions tops in decade

Miami, FL, Jan. 19 (UPI) -- Figures released by the Coast Guard in Miami show 10,696 potential illegal immigrants were intercepted at sea last year, the most since 1994.

http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20050119-105351-4928r.htm

Coast Guard hazmat team joins tsunami relief effort

By Juliana Gittler, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Friday, January 21, 2005

UTAPAO, Thailand - A specialized Coast Guard team arrived to South Asia with the wave of U.S. forces this month to offer a different type of life-saving aid to Operation Unified Assistance.

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=25748&archive=true

Coast Guard to Protect Cruise Ships Super Bowl Week

Last Update: 1/25/2005 1:05:10 PM

The U.S. Coast Guard is revving up to protect Jacksonville by sea when the Super Bowl comes to town. 

http://www.wtev.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=8A22DCCD-F144-4554-9F32-E5E1FE54EAA7

DHS personnel system unveiled

By Shawn Zeller
szeller@govexec.com

The Homeland Security Department will limit the scope of union bargaining, make it easier for managers to discipline poor performers and, over the next four years, dismantle the General Schedule pay system, under new regulations to be published soon in the Federal Register.

http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0105/012605sz1.htm

River accidents spur Coast Guard to impose new reporting rules

Wednesday, January 19, 2005

By Mike Bucsko, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A fatal towboat accident 10 days ago and several recent breakaway barge incidents prompted the Coast Guard commander in Pittsburgh to announce yesterday that he will shut down operations of marine companies involved in future accidents until the companies provide detailed reports.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05019/444590.stm

Towboat in fatal crash had prior power failure

By Mike Wereschagin
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, January 27, 2005

The towboat that crashed over a Beaver County dam killing four crewmen was involved in a "loss of power incident" in September, a U.S. Coast Guard official said Wednesday.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/trib/regional/s_297356.html

Huge crude oil spill fouls Kentucky River
Pipeline break estimated at 63,000 gallons

By Bruce Schreiner
ASSOCIATED PRESS

CARROLLTON - A ruptured pipeline spilled thousands of gallons of crude oil into the Kentucky River yesterday, forming a slick 12 miles long.

http://www.kentucky.com/mld/heraldleader/10744883.htm

Calif. Investigators Seek Oil Spill Source
Thu Jan 20,11:56 PM ET

By TIM MOLLOY, Associated Press Writer

LOS ANGELES - Investigators are testing oil wiped from the coated bodies of birds to try to determine the origin of a mysterious oil spill somewhere along a 90-mile stretch of the Southern California coast.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=519&u=/ap/20050121/ap_on_re_us/mystery_oil_spill_1&printer=1

Four stowaways caught near port

BY DAN GARCIA
FLORIDA TODAY

Four men, believed to be stowaways from Colombia, were detained at Port Canaveral late Tuesday, caught because of increased security in the wake of Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, a sheriff's agent said.

http://www.floridatoday.com/!NEWSROOM/localstoryMAIN0127STOWA.htm

Coast Guard imposes security zone at port
Area will keep boats from military ships

JIM SZYMANSKI THE OLYMPIAN

A city councilman and anti-war activists are taking the U.S. Coast Guard and Port of Olympia officials to task for not better publicizing a new permanent West Bay security zone for future military shipments.

http://www.theolympian.com/home/news/20050123/business/74103.shtml

Critics Doubt Liquefied Natural Gas Safety

By H. JOSEF HEBERT
The Associated Press
Saturday, January 22, 2005; 8:12 PM

WASHINGTON - When an explosion flattened a liquefied natural gas plant in Algeria, killing 30 workers, one might say the heat was felt half a world away - in coastal towns in New England, Alabama and California. The Algerian inferno a year ago undermined industry arguments that the modern era of LNG transport is inherently safe. It also became rallying point for groups fighting proposed new LNG terminals in their towns.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A29394-2005Jan22?language=printer

Immediate action sought to protect Great Lakes from invasive species 

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) -- Most ships arriving in the Great Lakes are exempt from regulations meant to keep out invasive species capable of wreaking havoc on the ecosystem, the U.S. Coast Guard has acknowledged as it moves to tighten controls.

http://www.hollandsentinel.com/stories/011905/new_011905007.shtml

Captain pleads guilty to cruelty
Harbor City fishing charter captain was accused of shooting at sea lions during two cruises last year.

By Matt Krasnowski
Copley News Service

A Harbor City fishing charter captain pleaded guilty in federal court in Los Angeles on Monday to two misdemeanor counts in connection with allegations that he shot at and possibly killed sea lions during two cruises last year.

http://www.dailybreeze.com/news/articles/1362666.html

Shark fins ordered seized in San Diego

SIGNONSANDIEGO NEWS SERVICES

3:56 a.m. January 25, 2005

SAN DIEGO - A federal judge says that a U.S.-flagged ship that obtains shark fins, but no shark carcasses, from foreign vessels at sea is a "fishing vessel" in violation of the Shark Finning Prohibition Act.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20050125-0356-fins.html

North Dartmouth man charged with violating federal lobster laws

By Associated Press
Thursday, January 20, 2005

BOSTON - The captain of two New Bedford-based fishing vessels is facing charges he was ``scrubbing'' lobsters in violation of federal law.

http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=64494

Coast Guard sends aircraft, cutter to stricken research vessel

By: DAN JOLING - Associated Press

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- A "Semester at Sea" research ship with 990 people on board was temporarily disabled in the Pacific Ocean on Wednesday, and Coast Guard vessels and aircraft from Alaska and Hawaii were dispatched to help.

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2005/01/27/military/21_12_121_26_05.txt

Coast Guard Finds Drugs During Vessel Safety Inspection

U. S. Coast Guard
January 26, 2005

SEATTLE - The Coast Guard conducted a safety inspection of a 48-foot commercial fishing vessel Monday afternoon in Westport, Wash., resulting in the arrest of a crewmember for methamphetamine possession.

http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,uscg1_012605.00.html

Coast Guard takes ferry physicals on faith

BY BOB PORT
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

More sick or drugged-up captains like the pilot who crashed the Staten Island ferryboat could be sailing New York waters - and the Coast Guard would not necessarily know about it, a top official said yesterday.

http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/273163p-233738c.html

Hungarian captain guilty of operating ship while drunk

By TIM MCGLONE, The Virginian-Pilot
(c) January 20, 2005 | Last updated 9:11 PM Jan. 19

NORFOLK - A Hungarian ship captain was convicted Wednesday of operating a commercial vessel while under the influence of alcohol and was fined $3,000.

http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=80819&ran=67321

Coast Guard Recovers Fisherman's Body In Galveston Bay
Shrimp Boat Capsizes In Galveston Causeway

POSTED: 9:22 am EST January 20, 2005
UPDATED: 11:14 am EST January 20, 2005
HOUSTON -- A man helped U.S. Coast Guard search crews recover the body of a fisherman missing after the boat he was working on capsized and sank in the Galveston Causeway Thursday morning.

http://www.nbc5i.com/news/4111478/detail.html

Captain Missing After Tug Sinks Near Luling Bridge
POSTED: 7:45 am CST January 25, 2005
UPDATED: 4:33 pm CST January 25, 2005

LULING, La. -- A tugboat sank on the Mississippi River early Tuesday and the vessel's captain is missing.

http://www.theneworleanschannel.com/news/4126837/detail.html

Copter crashes off Va. Beach

BY KIMBALL PAYNE
247-4765

Published January 26, 2005

A minesweeping helicopter crashed during routine training exercises off Virginia Beach on Tuesday, forcing Coast Guard aircraft and Navy ships into a rescue operation for the eight people on board.

http://www.dailypress.com/news/local/dp-55490sy0jan26,0,6298148.story?coll=dp-news-local-final

Duck hunters are rescued from wintry weather

CHINCOTEAGUE -- Twice last week, duck hunters were rescued after running into problems during wintry weather.

http://www.delmarvanow.com/easternshore/stories/20050126/1916906.html

BODEGA BAY Coast Guard saves Occidental surfer

A 33-year-old Occidental surfer was rescued from the swift ocean currents off Salmon Creek on Saturday morning when the Bodega Bay Coast Guard plucked him out of the water by lifeboat.

http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050124/NEWS/501240332/1033/NEWS01

Coast Guard member saves life of Pax River policemen

by Bryan Jaffe
NAS Patuxent River Public Affairs

A boatswain's mate for Coast Guard Station, St. Inigoes, based at Webster Field, was honored Friday for saving a NAS Patuxent River Police officer from drowning Nov. 23, and was also recognized as the station's Sailor of the Quarter.

http://www.dcmilitary.com/navy/seaservices/10_03/local_news/32994-1.html

Lives that passed in the night

During his first time at sea, Coast Guardsman Roger Shine's life was forever altered when the cutter Blackthorn collided with a tanker near the Sunshine Skyway bridge.

By LANE DeGREGORY, Times Staff Writer
Published January 27, 2005

ST. PETERSBURG - It was dark when they finally pulled out of port.

http://www.sptimes.com/2005/01/27/Floridian/Lives_that_passed_in_.shtml

Coast Guard activates action plan for Mississippi River traffic
By BRETT TROXLER

btroxler@wbrz.com

2theadvocate.com staff
From a report by WBRZ's Ken Pastorick

The Mississippi River in Baton Rouge is two feet above flood stage, which means restrictions on barges will remain in effect in an effort to prevent any accidents.

http://www.2theadvocate.com/stories/012705/new_rivertraffic001.shtml

Neebish dispute averted by re-routing coal ship

By JACK STOREY/The Evening News

NEEBISH ISLAND - After some discussion of a very late coal delivery to the Carbide Dock in Sault Ste. Marie, Coast Guard officials on Wednesday opted to close the W. Neebish (or downbound) ship channel at 1 p.m. Saturday.

http://www.sooeveningnews.com/articles/2005/01/20/news/news780.txt

Families greet Decisive crew
Cutter left for Jamaica in December

By VIVIAN AUSTIN
THE SUN HERALD

PASCAGOULA - Jeremy Walley's family usually arrives at dockside to take him home when he and shipmates aboard the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Decisive return from a deployment - and that's just what they did early Sunday evening.

http://www.sunherald.com/mld/thesunherald/news/local/10717783.htm

Break time; Coast Guard frees boats from frozen harbor in Freeport

Leslie_Talmadge@TimesRecord.Com

01/26/2005

FREEPORT - It took six members of the U.S. Coast Guard and a 65-foot tug, the Shackle, about 90 minutes to break ice from the Harraseeket River and free up boats near the harbor in South Freeport Wednesday.

http://www.timesrecord.com/website/main.nsf/news.nsf/0/7FB6D2917521F08A05256F95005FDEF5?Opendocument

Vessel, crew clear way
Icebreaking "Wire" keeps Hudson open for navigation in winter

By BRUCE A. SCRUTON, Staff writer
First published: Thursday, January 27, 2005

Like most people, Chad Curth fought snow and ice getting to work Wednesday morning. Unlike others, he encountered no traffic along the way.

http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=327246&category=REGIONOTHER&BCCode=&newsdate=1/27/2005

Winter surf puts would-be heroes to the test

By Nancy Bartley

Seattle Times staff reporter

CAPE DISAPPOINTMENT, Pacific County - The daylight was already fading as Coast Guard crewman Dave Kendall piloted a rescue boat out into the treacherous waters where the Columbia River empties into the Pacific. His stomach tightened as the waves came fast off Peacock Spit.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002158411_newsurfmen.html

Firefighters practice ice rescues

By Jason Miller, The News-Dispatch

The fact that a group of grown men in neoprene suits they said reminded them of the cartoon character Gumby were splashing around in the icy water of Lake Michigan Tuesday doesn't mean they weren't doing their jobs.

http://www.michigancityin.com/articles/2005/01/26/news/news08.txt

TRAINING THE TRAINERS
Coast Guard crew members gain captaincy qualifications in Dundalk

by Marge Neal

When the U.S. Coast Guard barque Eagle leaves the Guard's Curtis Bay shipyard in Baltimore later this month - spiffed up and shiny after routine maintenance and some badly needed renovations - she will technically be under the direction of just one commanding officer, Capt. Eric J. Shaw.

http://dundalkeagle.com/articles/2005/01/13/news/news01.txt

Auxiliarists are taking the Plunge 

SEWARD, ALASKA-Members of the Seward Flotilla of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, as well as the crew of USCG Cutter Mustang, will participated in the Polar Bear Jump Off Festival in Seward that started on Jan. 21.

http://www.auxpa.org/releases/community/012405.html

Labonte ready to roll

By BUDDY SHACKLETTE
Staff Writer

Last update: January 25, 2005

DAYTONA BEACH -- Monday marked the last of a three-day Busch Series test and the final day of NASCAR's Preseason Thunder test session at Daytona International Speedway.

http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/Speed/NextelCup/03SpeedNEXT01012505.htm

Deepwater Newsletter-January

http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-a/deepwater/pdf/Jan05Newsletter.pdf

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