Federal News Radio reports on an interview with the Commandant that the Coast Guard cannot deal with more than one more month operating under a continuing resolution.

Military.Com has a post reviewing the Coast Guard’s last year, including how the CG has been viewed and funded. It is a great read. It will make you proud of the service and its leadership.

NSC 5 James on builders trials in the Gulf of Mexico March 30, 2015.

The 2017 “Hopley Yeaton Cutter Excellence and Superior Cutterman” awards have been announced. 

R 211106 DEC 17

FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-7//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS //N01650//
ALCOAST 360/17
COMDTNOTE 1650
SUBJ:  WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT – 2017 HOPLEY YEATON CUTTER EXCELLENCE AND SUPERIOR CUTTERMAN AWARDS
1. The Douglas Munro Chapter of the Surface Navy Association is honored to announce and congratulate the recipients of the 2017 Hopley Yeaton Cutter
Excellence and Superior Cutterman Awards. Each of the winners was selected from amongst a superb group of highly deserving candidates by a diverse panel of officer and enlisted Cuttermen. The winners selected for this year are:
A. Cutter Excellence Award (Large Cutter): CGC JAMES (WMSL 754)
B. Cutter Excellence Award (Small Cutter): CGC JOHN MCCORMICK (WPC 1121)
C. Superior Cutterman Award (Officer): LTJG Anna Ruth – CGC HAMILTON
D. Superior Cutterman Award (Enlisted): MK2 Jason Tribeck – CGC DILIGENCE
2. Hopley Yeaton Cutter Excellence Award (Large):
A. CGC JAMES (WMSL 754) led 22 successful drug interdictions, spearheaded hurricane relief and recovery efforts as Command Task Unit (CTU) Maria,
aggressively pursued opportunities for community involvement, and exemplified dedication to their crewmembers’ personal well-being. On their first patrol, the JAMES made an unprecedented AUF interdiction of three go-fast vessels, over 40 NM apart within a two hour window. When JIATF-S was forced to evacuate ahead of Hurricane Irma, JAMES assumed Alpha Victor (AV), taking TACON of all assets in the Eastern Pacific for a week. As AV, JAMES facilitated 61 cases through 11 partner nations, five interagency entities, 12 surface assets, and over 24 flight missions. This resulted in the interdiction of 10,881 kgs of cocaine and 747 kgs of marijuana, and set a new benchmark for WMSL capabilities.
B. Honorable Mentions for the Large Cutter Award were:
CGC ALEX HALEY
CGC CYPRESS
CGC NORTHLAND
3. Hopley Yeaton Cutter Excellence Award (Small):
A. As the first Fast Response Cutter (FRC) assigned to District 17, CGC JOHN MCCORMICK (WPC 1121) set lofty standards in crew readiness and training. This ensured JOHN MCCORMICK’s safe and timely transit of more than 6,000 NM from Key West to homeport of Ketchikan, and the crew’s rapid response to engineering and damage control casualties along the way. Upon arrival at homeport, JOHN MCCORMICK was an immediate asset to D17 where the crew conducted 77 fisheries boardings, saved 10 lives, and developed close bonds with the community.
B. Honorable Mentions for the Small Cutter Award were:
CGC BISCAYNE BAY
CGC JOSEPH TEZANOS
CGC WASHINGTON
4. Hopley Yeaton Superior Cutterman Award (Officer):
A. While serving as Combat Systems Officer aboard CGC HAMILTON, LTJG Anna Ruth led her cutter’s pursuit and boarding teams on all 19 of HAMILTON’s drug interdictions, netting over $500 million worth of cocaine in 2017. Shortly after reporting aboard, LTJG Ruth set about correcting 38 mission critical electronics casualties, ensuring the cutter’s full suite of sensors was available for its first patrol. Additionally, LTJG Ruth helped re-establish Naval Weapons Station Charleston, SC for use in ammunition onloads. LTJG Ruth served as a sought-after mentor and role-model for junior shipmates, streamlined the onboard qualification process, and promoted the afloat career path to others.
B. Honorable Mentions for the Superior Cutterman Award (Officer) were:
LCDR Amy Lockwood – CGC WAESCHE
LT Daniel Halsig – CGC CONFIDENCE
LT Paul Ledbetter – CGC SHERMAN
5. Hopley Yeaton Superior Cutterman Award (Enlisted):
A. MK2 Jason Tribeck epitomized dogged perseverance and showcased his ingenuity on numerous troubleshooting and repair efforts. MK2 Tribeck meticulously prepared DILIGENCE for AVSTAN, which earned high praise by Aviation Training Center Ship-Helo Branch throughout the inspection. His attention to detail played a critical role in his success as a government quality assurance inspector for $545K in dockside availability work. Additionally, MK2 Tribeck’s dedication and drive were on full display when he earned his Underway Engineer of the Watch (EOW) qualification, helping his shipmates through a heavy transfer season by improving the watch rotation.
B. Honorable Mentions for the Superior Cutterman Award (Enlisted) were:
MK1 Michael Hilbert – CGC HAMILTON
EM1 Shaun Ryan – CGC LIBERTY
ME1 Daniel Brooks – CGC SHERMAN
6. Awards will be presented in Washington, DC in conjunction with the January 2018 Surface Navy Association National Symposium. If a unit representative is not available to receive the Cutter Excellence Award at the symposium, the award will be sent to the winning cutter’s OPCON for presentation. The Surface Navy Association (SNA) will contact award winners to discuss and coordinate their travel and symposium arrangements. Please contact SNA at navysna@aol.com with any questions or concerns.
7. We applaud all of the deserving nominees for their phenomenal performance. There were an especially large number of nominations this year, all of which represented highly deserving candidates and made the selection of a single winner in any category especially challenging. We also thank the commanding officers and supervisors who took the time to submit high quality nominations for their deserving units and personnel, as well as ADCON units for reviewing and screening nominations.
8. RDML Michael P. Ryan, Assistant Commandant for Capability, sends.
9. Internet release authorized.

“Coast Guard Cutter John F. McCormick (WPC 1121), March 4, 2017. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Loumania Stewart”

Reuters is reporting that a collision between a loaded Iranian owned tanker and a Chinese freighter has resulted in a fire and possibly the loss of all 32 aboard the Iranian vessel. The tanker was carrying 136,000 tons of condensate, an ultra-light crude.

There was relatively minor damage to the Chinese freighter, and apparently no serious injuries. .

Statistically 2017 was the best year yet for this blog. We had 215,180 views and 54,412 visits. Both represent a least modest increases over previous years. I have wondered occasionally, if I was running out of things to say, but there is always seems to be something new. Fortunately, I get a lot of help from readers who share their expertise and experience in the comments.

There were 259 posts this year, growing the total archive for this blog to 1,935 posts.

We continue to have an international readership. The US Is of course the largest with 158,165 views but, aside from the US, 15 countries had more than 1,000 views and 40 had more than 200. Aside from the US, the top 10 were the UK (8,807), Philippines, Canada, Japan, Australia, Spain, Netherlands, Ireland, Chile, and Germany (1,976). We even had a few readers from Russia (#16 with 968 views) and China (#30.Hong Kong SAR China with 294 views and #33 China with 282).

The next statistic (top posts of 2017) is a bit deceptive in that, because of the way the blog is structured, most of the time, posts are read on the homepage. The figures below are for the times a post has been accessed directly.

1. What Does It Take to Sink a Ship (March 2011)(4,086 views)
2. If They Ditch the LCS, Perhaps the OPC as Frigate (April 2017)
3. Three Nations Share German OPV Design (April 2014)
4. Administration Considers Cancelling NSC#9 (March 2017)
5. Case for the Five Inch Gun (November 2012)
6. ALaMO–Making the 57mm Round Smart (April 2016)
7. Battle of the Paracel Islands, 16 January 1974 (September 2017)
8. New 40 mm Gun (October 2016)
9. What Might Coast Guard Cutters Do in Wartime, Part 2, Coast Guard Roles (February 2012)
10. National Security Cutter as Navy Patrol Frigate (August 2010)(759 views)

I would also like to particularly thank Center for International Maritime Security (CIMSEC) “Next War Blog”, Eaglespeak, and Thinkdefence, for linking to this website and bringing more readers here.

Thanks for the interest.

I wish you all a happy New Year with just the right blend of adventure, excitement,  romance, and a sense of belonging.

Chuck

The Naval War College has updated and expanded its Law of Naval Operations Handbook. Below is their press release quoted in full including a link to download the handbook. Thanks to Bryant’s Maritime Consulting Blog for bringing this to my attention.

Story Number: NNS171221-08Release Date: 12/21/2017 10:54:00 AM  By Daniel S. Marciniak

NEWPORT, R.I. (NNS) — The U.S. Naval War College Stockton Center for the Study of International Law has announced the release of an updated and revised version of “The Commander’s Handbook on the Law of Naval Operations,” Dec. 20.

Last updated in 2007, the handbook is one of the preeminent legal resources addressing international law and naval operations, and is a joint-service effort coordinated among the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.

The revision updates and expands upon various topics regarding the law of the sea and law of war. In particular, the handbook:

– Updates the history of U.S. Senate consideration of the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, to include its 2012 hearings;

– Emphasizes that islands, rocks and low-tide elevations are naturally formed and that engineering, construction and land reclamation cannot convert their legal status;

– Provides more detail on U.S. sovereign immunity policy for Military Sealift Command chartered vessels and for responding to foreign requests for health inspections and medical information;

– Removes language indicating that all U.S. Navy and Coast Guard vessels under command of a noncommissioned officer are auxiliary vessels;

– Emphasizes that only warships may exercise belligerent rights during international armed conflicts;

– Adds a description of U.S.-Chinese bilateral and multilateral agreements promoting air and maritime safety;

– Updates the international law applicable to vessels seeking a place of refuge;

– Updates the description of vessels assimilated to vessels without nationality;

– Provides detailed descriptions of the five types of international straits;

– States the U.S. position on the legal status of the Northwest Passage and Northern Sea Route;

– Updates the list of international duties in outer space;

– Updates the law regarding the right of safe harbor;

– Adds “honor” as a law of war principle;

– Adds information about weapons reviews in the Department of the Navy;

– Updates the law regarding unprivileged enemy belligerents;

– Includes information about the U.S. position on the use of landmines;

– Expands on the discussion of the International Criminal Court;

– Updates the law of targeting.

The handbook will serve as the benchmark for the law of naval warfare and maritime security and be a vital resource for commanders, practitioners and academics.

The handbook can be downloaded and viewed at http://usnwc.libguides.com/ld.php?content_id=38386466.

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy or www.twitter.com/usnavy.

MarineLink brings word that at least one company is looking at using drones to pass the messenger between a towing vessel and the vessel to be assisted.

With KOTUG’s drone solution, the messenger line would be delivered to a predetermined location with object recognition software. Instead of picking up the heaving line of the assisted ship, the messenger line of the tug will be brought to the assisted ship in a more controlled manner. This will allow the tug to safely sail beside the assisted ship instead of in front of the assisted ship.

I normally try to stay on topic, but in view of the season, thought I would pass this along. 10,000 Japanese singing Beethoven’s Ode to Joy in German. This began in World War One when Germans being held in a Japanese POW camp sang it. It has become an annual tradition.

We can all use a little more joy.

There is a new 2017-2018 edition of Coast Guard Outlook. You can see it on-line here.