February 2005 - March 2005 Covering Coast Guard News in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, California, Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona

CGC Munro frees Thai hostages, apprehends hijackers Story by Ensign Adam Leggett, CGC Munro USCG photo by OS2 Cleavon Roberts GULF OF ADEN (Mar. 17, 2005) - What began as a day of routine training for the CGC Munro ended with three hijackers in custody and 24 hostages freed from captivity. During the previous night Munro’s crew learned that three men had hijacked the 110-foot Thai fishing vessel Sirichainava 12 with automatic weapons. The trio was demanding an $800,000 ransom for the roughly two-dozen crewmembers.  The vessel’s last known position was less than 50 nautical miles from Munro’s patrol area off the northern tip of the Horn of Africa, and intelligence indicated that the hijackers were heading in Munro’s direction.  Capt. Bret K. McGough, Munro’s commanding officer gave instructions to coordinate intelligence with the British destroyer HMS Nottingham, which was operating close by, to set a course to intercept the Thai vessel. A third Coalition Force ship, the British aircraft carrier Invincible, was also heading to intercept the hijacked vessel...full story

Mission Detection: The Underwater Port Security System Story by Petty Officer 1st Class Amy Thomas, Pacific Area Public Affairs Photos by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nathan Henise, PADET San Pedro Members of MSST 91103 perform a demonstration of the new IAS system Oct. 21, 2004. The system was officially unveiled on Feb. 2, 2005 during a press conference held at ISC San Pedro. The Coast Guard's newest wave of anti-terrorism tool is being unleashed on ports nationwide. The Underwater Port Security System (UPSS) can detect, track, classify and interdict intruders, and allows for the inspection of hulls and pier structures or anything that is underwater without an invitation. It adds an additional layer of protection to our ports, and is available in the U.S. anywhere and anytime. It can hear, see and talk underwater and it's compact enough fit in a large suitcase. "Terrorists are always looking for ways to attack elements of our infrastructure critical to our economy and our freedom," said Coast Guard Pacific Area Commander, Vice Adm. Harvey Johnson during a recent demonstration of the system in San Pedro, Calif. "Our ports are absolutely vital to this nation, and we are constantly looking for ways to improve our ability to protect them." The UPSS is composed of two elements: the Underwater Inspection System and the Integrated Anti-Swimmer System. The Underwater Inspection System uses divers who are trained to inspect ships' hulls, piers, as well as, to conduct ocean-bottom searches. It also includes Remotely Operated Vehicles that can be deployed underwater when it may be too dangerous to put a diver in the water...full story

Sea Marshals make record drug bust Story by Lt.j.g. Anthony Migliorini MSO/Group Los Angeles-Long Beach LOS ANGELES - A Marine Safety Office/Group Los Angeles-Long Beach Sea Marshal Boarding Team discovered and seized 96 kilos of cocaine from the tanker Reymar Feb. 11. LOS ANGELES - A 25-foot homeland security boat from Station Los Angeles stands by as the MSO/Group LA-LB Sea Marshal boarding team offloads duffle bags filled with cocaine from the tanker Reymar. Photo by Lt. Cmdr. Michael Trevett, MSO/Group LA-LB The unit received a report from the local office of the Drug Enforcement Agency of the possibility of narcotics being smuggled on board the Reymar inbound from Ecuador. Numerous District 11 assets, including a C-130 from Air Station Sacramento, the CGC Edisto from Sector San Diego, and the CGC Halibut of Marine Safety Office/Group Los Angeles-Long Beach, tracked the Reymar along its journey. A joint-agency boarding was conducted with Sea Marshals, Customs and Border Protection, and Maritime Safety and Security Team 91103 when the vessel arrived in Long Beach Feb. 9, but no evidence of narcotics was discovered. On Feb. 11, a Sea Marshal boarding team returned to the vessel to conduct a dock-side inspection of the rudder post compartment, an area not thoroughly examined during the initial boarding. The vessel offloaded cargo, enabling the Sea Marshal team to access the previously flooded rudderpost compartment from outside the vessel by climbing onto the exposed rudder. Photo by OS1 Barry Mattson,FIST LA-LB Once inside the compartment the team discovered three duffle bags and a backpack containing narcotics tied to hand rails. "Perseverance was definitely the key to the bust," said Lt.j.g. Stephen West, Sea Marshal supervisor. "Our guys went the extra mile by conducting the second inspection." The narcotics weres turned over to the DEA for official quantification and processing. The narcotics were determined to be cocaine with an estimated street value of over $2 million. The last drug seizure made by the unit was in October 2003, when 23 kilos of cocaine and two kilos of heroin were discovered onboard the M/V Stena Venture. This latest drug seizure is the largest in the Marine Safety Office/Group's history.

Homeward Bound Story by PA1 Amy Thomas, Pacific Area PA2 Brooksann Anderson, District 14 A journey that started last fall to the sound of bagpipes began its final leg Feb. 12, when the Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star left Antarctica and headed home to Seattle, after a six-month deployment marked by tragedy, frustrating hurdles and historical firsts. Polar Star, a 399-foot polar icebreaker, and its 160 crewmembers departed Seattle Nov. 4, 2004, for the Coast Guard's 50th Antarctic mission in support of Operation Deep Freeze. Polar Star makes the 28,700-mile journey...full story

All the World's a Stage for Coast Guard Reservist Story and photos by PA1 Amy Thomas, Pacific Area Public Affairs There are many things the audience might expect to see and hear at the theater, both on and off the stage: a set, lights, the proscenium arch, an orchestra pit, elaborate architecture, a grand curtain. They'll see actors and musicians, costumes and makeup, props and set dressing. They'll hear monologues and dialogues, solos and duets, quartets and choral pieces. If they venture backstage to the dressing room area, they'll likely find full time actors, and part time food servers, artists, administrative assistants, students, sales clerks, cashiers, and writers. The halls would be filled with the sounds of singers warming up their vocal chords, actors running lines together, and band members tuning their instruments. The adrenaline would almost be tangible as everyone prepared for the evening's show...full story

Inspiration from Inspiration Story and photos by PA2 Brooksann Anderson, D14 Public Affairs Smiles shine on every face. Every teenager in the room looks like they could stay here forever-enjoying activities like football, jenga, dancing, food, and friends. It is a beautiful Saturday afternoon in March and it is hard to believe that this is their first trip outside the Institute for Human Services in Honolulu, a shelter for disadvantaged families, since they moved in. "This is the best day ever," said one of the many happy 16-year-olds. Who do they have to thank for this break in the usual routine? Fresh out of high school, 18-years-old and having graduated Coast Guard boot camp just short of a year ago, Seaman Angelina Holland, who has organized every detail of the trip and even paid for it all on her own...full story

Staying Sharp Story by PA3 Sabrina Arrayan, D11 Public Affairs Air Station San Francisco successfully completed rescue surf training March 3 in 8-foot waves and 65-degree waters off the coast of northern California's Ocean Beach. The air station continually practices surf operations for an hour once a month to keep the aircrew experienced and ready to make a surf rescue at any time. Training involves a coordinated effort between the pilot, flight mechanic, rescue swimmer, ground crew members and a communications watch center...full story

Also in this issue... Activities Far East dedicates new building to leader in U.S.-Southeast Asia communications The U.S. Coast Guard Activities Far East (FEACT) Singapore Detachment held a ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony March 4 to honor the achievements and contributions of the late Capt. Frank M. Meals, U.S. Coast Guard, retired, and to celebrate moving to a new office. The past meets the present on the black sands of Iwo Jima In the hot and humid air on the small pork-chop shaped island, a grey-haired 79-year-old Coast Guard veteran takes slow but sure steps in the black volcanic sand on the beach. Marvin J. Perrett is back on Iwo Jima - 60 years after one of the fiercest and most memorable battles in American history. Barge Millicoma equipped with large blowers, refloated Salvage crews are making final preparations to refloat and free the barge Millicoma from its grounded position in a rocky cove below North Head Lighthouse. Tow wires connecting the vessel Salvage Chief to the barge have been rigged. The Salvage Chief will begin operating its towing winch as high tide occurs this morning. The tide will reach its highest point at about 10:30 a.m. Coast Guard medevacs man from ferry Kennicott A Coast Guard Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Sitka airlifted a 69-year-old man from the Alaska Marine Highways System ferry Kennicott 65-miles northwest of Cape Spencer this morning.

Visit us at www.uscgpacificarea.com for a complete list of feature stories, news and images

Pacific Area Public Affairs Staff: Lt. Cmdr. Glynn Smith, Public Affairs Officer Senior Chief Bruce Pimental, Assistant Public Affairs Officer Petty Officer 1st Class Amy Thomas Petty Officer 3rd Class Mariana O'Leary Petty Officer 3rd Class Brian Leshak	Commander (Pcp) Coast Guard Island Bldg. 42 Alameda, CA 94501 Phone (510) 437-3375 Fax (510) 437-5918

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