The USCGC Oliver Henry (WPC 1140) crew arrives in Manus, Papua New Guinea, on Aug. 14, 2022, from Guam as part of a patrol headed south to assist partner nations in upholding and asserting their sovereignty while protecting U.S. national interests. The U.S. Coast Guard is participating with partners to support the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency-led Operation Island Chief and the larger Operation Blue Pacific through patrols in the Western Pacific in August and September 2022. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by SW3 Victor Villanueva, NMCB-FOUR)

US Naval Institute News Service reports,

In an effort to push back China’s influence and expand its presence in Oceania, the U.S. is renovating Lombrum Naval Base on the Island of Los Negros in Papua New Guinea.

Los Negros is attached by bridge to the larger island of Manus. For information on the significance of Naval Base Manus during WWII, check this out.

Map of Manus and Los Negros during World War II. Source: Building the Navy’s Bases in World War II, Volume II.

Parts of the report suggest this may be of significance to the Coast Guard.

“The existing facilities at the base include a 410-foot wharf and a 278-foot wharf. While they’re insufficient to support most of the U.S. Navy’s surface combatants, they can accommodate U.S. Coast Guard vessels, such as Sentinel-class cutters based out of Naval Base Guam. (emphasis applied–Chuck) Larger ships can anchor in Lombrum Bay, a natural harbor.

A 410 foot wharf could probably also accommodate a 270 foot WMEC and maybe something larger.

“In its current form, the base is well situated to support joint law enforcement patrols (emphasis applied–Chuck) to counter Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing that has plagued the region, though it would need more investments to host many of Australia and America’s naval vessels.”

The project includes, “… a 7,556-square-foot Regional Maritime Training Center; a 7,351-square-foot small Boat Team and Boson Facility; and overhauling a 118-foot-long deteriorated small boat jetty.”