Coast Guard demobilizes St. Paul, Cold Bay, Alaska, forward operating locations

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Charly Hengen (archive).

KODIAK, Alaska​ — Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak aircrews demobilized forward operating locations in St. Paul and Cold Bay, March 15, concluding the supplemental coverage of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Chain.

The aircrews deployed on two-week rotations to increase readiness and decrease response times to the Bering Sea fishing fleet during periods of increased maritime activity.

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Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrews deployed to Cold Bay from Oct. 20 to Nov. 20, 2018, and then again from Jan. 15 to Feb. 19, 2019. Aircrews​ later deployed to St. Paul from Feb. 17 to March 15, 2019, in support of Coast Guard operations in the Bering Sea to provide search and rescue and maritime law enforcement coverage.

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In addition to​ the deployed Jayhawk aircrew,​ the Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley, the Coast Guard Cutter Douglas Munro, and the Coast Guard Cutter John Midgett, with an an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew embarked, provided supplemental SAR support and maritime law enforcement coverage in the Bering Sea.

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Throughout the three-month season,​ Coast Guard assets and crews​ conducted​ 24 SAR cases providing over​ 114 total SAR hours, resulting in 19 lives saved and​ 29 assisted.

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Due to the fishing fleet moving further north in the Bering Sea, and to augment the Coast Guard cutter presence, Air Station Kodiak increased its readiness by deploying crews to St. Paul. Before re-opening the St. Paul FOL, it had been without a deployed crew since 2014.​

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To meet mission requirements, aircrews performed 15 HC-130 Hercules airplane logistics flights, totaling​ more than​ 90 flight hours from Kodiak to St. Paul. While forward-deployed, St. Paul MH-60 aircrews responded to two cases, resulting in one life saved and five assisted.

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“This has been a great Bering Sea deployment season, and as the fleet shifted further north, it was an all-hands-on-deck evolution to mobilize our crews and reopen our facility in St. Paul mid-season,” said Lt. Cmdr. Tom Huntley, Air Station Kodiak Jayhawk assistant operations officer. “This shift allowed us to maintain our search and rescue posture and protect our critical fishing industry, and it allowed us to be ready and responsive when called upon.”

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Both FOLs are part of the Coast Guard's mobile presence, and as such, are focused on performing the services’ statutory missions to ensure maritime safety, security and stewardship throughout Alaska.

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To follow the fishing fleet and to prepare for the projected increased summer maritime activity, Jayhawk​ aircrews are scheduled to deploy to FOLs in both Cordova and Kotzebue.

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Lauren Dean (archive).

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Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley Returns to Port after Bearing Sea Patrol

JUNEAU, Alaska — The Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley returned to homeport in Kodiak, Alaska, Thursday, following a 66-day multi-mission patrol.

The Alex Haley spent the last two months patrolling the Bering Sea and the Aleutian chain. The crew conducted boarding evolutions on the Alaskan crabbing and fishing fleet, and responded to four separate search and rescue cases. 

During the Alex Haley’s patrol they conducted 25 fisheries boarding evolutions ensuring the safety of the crews, vessels, and the protection of the Bering Sea living-marine resources.

“Following a transfer season that saw a large crew turnover, this patrol provided quality training and operational opportunities across a broad spectrum of Coast Guard missions,” said Cmdr. Jon Kreischer, commanding officer of the Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley. “We are returning from a highly productive winter season Bering Sea patrol, and I am pleased with the favorable search and rescue case outcomes because they will brighten the holiday season for those families involved.”

The Alex Haley is a 282-foot Medium Endurance Cutter with 100 personnel assigned aboard it. The cutter steamed more than 8,735 miles throughout the last two months, traveling as far west as Adak along the Aleutian chain and as far north as St. Lawrence Island. The crew’s time underway was in support of those who make their livelihood on the Bering Sea. The return to their homeport of Kodiak, Alaska, provides the cutter’s crew to be with their families and friends for the holiday season.

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