Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater welcomes new commander

Rear Adm. Eric C. Jones, commander of the Coast Guard 7th District, addresses a crowd June 27, 2019, during Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater’s change of command ceremony in Clearwater, Florida. Jones presided over the ceremony in which Capt. Edward W. Sandlin transferred command of Air Station Clearwater to Capt. Joseph T. McGilley. (U.S. Coast Guard photos by Petty Officer 3rd Class Ryan Dickinson).

CLEARWATER, Fla.​ — Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater welcomed a new commanding officer Thursday during a change-of-command ceremony at Air Station Clearwater.

Capt. Joseph McGilley relieved Capt. Edward Sandlin from the duties and responsibilities of commanding officer during the ceremony.​

McGilley reports to Clearwater after serving at the Coast Guard 9th District headquarters in Cleveland, where he served as the chief of response for the district, which coordinates and executes all Coast Guard search and rescue, environmental, security and maritime law enforcement actions in the Great Lakes region.​

Sandlin has served as the commanding officer of the air station since 2016. He formally retired from military service after over 27 years.

The change-of-command ceremony is a time-honored tradition. It represents a total transfer of responsibility, authority and accountability from one individual to another.​

The event ensures the continuity of leadership and operations within the air station’s area of responsibility.​ ​

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Coast Guard assists disabled, overdue vessel east of Port Canaveral

U.S. Coast Guard photo

 JACKSONVILLE, Fla — The Coast Guard assisted a disabled and overdue vessel Saturday off the coast of Port Canaveral.

At approximately 6 p.m., Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville command center watchstanders were notified of an overdue 27-foot vessel with three people aboard participating in a fishing tournament offshore.

A Coast Guard Station Ponce De Leon Inlet​ 45-foot Response Boat – Medium crew and an Air Station Clearwater HC-130 Hercules aircraft crew launched to search and assist.

At 8:25 p.m., the RB-M crew sighted a red flare off the bow, arrived on scene with the disabled vessel and safely towed the vessel to Station Ponce.

"The boaters used their flares appropriately allowing the boat crew to locate them instantly, completely eliminating search time and ensuring swift assistance,"​ said Mark Visconti, command center controller at Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville. “Just like radios and emergency position-indicating radio beacons, flares can help vector rescue crews to your position and are a vital piece of equipment to have on your vessel.”

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Coast Guard responding to vessel adrift in Gulf of Mexico

MH-60 Jayhawk ©USCG (archive)

NEW ORLEANS -- The Coast Guard is responding to a vessel adrift in the Gulf of Mexico approximately 80 nautical miles south of Cape San Blas, Florida, Wednesday.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Mobile received a report at approximately 2 p.m. from crewmembers aboard a NOAA ship, the Gordon Gunter, that a 30-foot white sailboat named My Time appeared to be floating adrift.

Members aboard the Gordon Gunter reported that the My Time appeared to have electronics operating, sails stowed, and did not respond to radio calls or the ship’s horn. Due to the sea state the NOAA vessel was not able to deploy their small boat for further investigation.

Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater launched a Sikorsky HH-60 Jayhawk air crew to investigate, but due to deteriorating weather they returned to base. Coast Guard Cutter Marlin crewmembers and an Aviation Training Center Mobile HC-144 Ocean Sentry air crew have plans to launch to investigate as soon as weather permits.

Anyone who may have information regarding this case is requested to call the Sector Mobile Command Center at 251-441-6211.

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