One of the less glamorous and certainly less rewarding missions the Coast Guard does is alien migrant interdiction operations (AMIO). It seems to come in waves but it never goes away completely.

Other countries have similar operations. We’ve talked about the problems the Italians have been having.

The Australians are having similar problems but their geography works against them. Plus they are trying to address this problem with vessels that simply may not be up to the job, at least not they way they are doing it.

Their workhorse for this mission are ten Armidale Class patrol boats, based in Darwin. These vessels are longer than the Fast Response Cutters, but because of their aluminum hulls, they are actually much lighter displacement. Their range and crew size are similar. They are slightly slower at 25 knots.

The problem is that the emigrants are not trying to come directly to continental Australia, they are trying to get to Australian territory in the form of islands close to Indonesia but distant from mainland Australia, The Cocos Islands or Christmas Island.

The Cocos Islands are less than 600 miles from Indonesia but over 2,000 miles from the boats’ base in Darwin.

Christmas Island is less than 200 miles from Indonesia, but over 1500 miles from Darwin.

These relatively small patrol craft have to transit about 1,500 miles before they can even start to work. The Australian Navy has recently gotten into a bit of hot water over entering Indonesian waters as they try to enforce their immigration laws.

I was interviewed on a pod-cast for Center for International Maritime Security (CIMSEC) talking about Corvettes and Offshore Patrol Vessels, and the series of posts that I managed for them. You can hear the pod-cast here: Sea Control 18 – Naval Corvettes

You can find the original posts in the series here:

http://cimsec.org/corvette-next/

http://cimsec.org/corvettes-persian-gulf-strategic-survey-paul-pryce/

http://cimsec.org/corvette-exists-przemyslaw-krajewski/

http://cimsec.org/opv-missions-wartime/

http://cimsec.org/philippine-navy-frigate-program-opv-name/

http://cimsec.org/corvettes-support-global-seapower/

http://cimsec.org/cheaper-corvettes-coop-stuft-like/

http://cimsec.org/case-pickets/

http://cimsec.org/offshore-patrol-cutters-opc-lcs/

http://cimsec.org/look-corvettes-air-defense/

http://cimsec.org/seafighters-will-never-operate-logistics-free-world-2/

“The sheets were frozen hard, and they cut the naked hand;
The decks were like a slide, where a seaman scarce could stand;

The wind was a nor’wester, blowing squally off the sea;
And cliffs and spouting breakers were the only things a-lee.

They heard the surf a-roaring before the break of day;
But ’twas only with the peep of light we saw how ill we lay.

We tumbled every hand on deck instanter, with a shout,
And we gave her the maintops’l, and stood by to go about.

All day we tacked and tacked between the South Head and the North;
All day we hauled the frozen sheets, and got no further forth;

All day as cold as charity, in bitter pain and dread,
For very life and nature we tacked from head to head.

We gave the South a wider berth, for there the tide-race roared;
But every tack we made we brought the North Head close aboard:

So’s we saw the cliffs and houses, and the breakers running high,
And the coastguard in his garden, with his glass against his eye.

The frost was on the village roofs as white as ocean foam;
The good red fires were burning bright in every ‘longshore home;

The windows sparkled clear, and the chimneys volleyed out;
And I vow we sniffed the victuals as the vessel went about.

The bells upon the church were rung with a mighty jovial cheer;
For it’s just that I should tell you how (of all days in the year)

This day of our adversity was blessed Christmas morn,
And the house above the coastguard’s was the house where I was born.

O well I saw the pleasant room, the pleasant faces there,
My mother’s silver spectacles, my father’s silver hair;

And well I saw the firelight, like a flight of homely elves,
Go dancing round the china-plates that stand upon the shelves.

And well I knew the talk they had, the talk that was of me,
Of the shadow on the household and the son that went to sea;

And O the wicked fool I seemed, in every kind of way,
To be here and hauling frozen ropes on blessed Christmas Day.

They lit the high sea-light, and the dark began to fall.
“All hands to loose topgallant sails,” I heard the captain call.

“By the Lord, she’ll never stand it,” our first mate, Jackson, cried. . . .
“It’s the one way or the other, Mr. Jackson,” he replied.

She staggered to her bearings, but the sails were new and good,
And the ship smelt up to windward just as though she understood.

As the winter’s day was ending, in the entry of the night,
We cleared the weary headland, and passed below the light.

And they heaved a mighty breath, every soul on board but me,
As they saw her nose again pointing handsome out to sea;

But all that I could think of, in the darkness and the cold,
Was just that I was leaving home and my folks were growing old.”

Thanks to Peter Lane and Historic Ship Geek

MarineLog is reporting the purchase of five new patrol boats, three 61 foot and two 70 foot, for the NYPD. They are also specially adapted for diver support. Details are provided for the 61 foot boats which are capable of 35 knots.

This is a Coast Guard news release quoted in its entirety.

Coast Guard mourns passing of shipmate

Petty Officer Third Class Travis Obendorf died in a Seattle hospital Dec. 18 as a result of injuries he sustained during search and rescue operations near Amak Island, Alaska, Nov. 11, while serving aboard Coast Guard Cutter Waesche. Photo courtesy Coast Guard Cutter Waesche.

ALAMEDA – Petty Officer Third Class Travis Obendorf died in a Seattle hospital Dec. 18 as a result of injuries he sustained during search and rescue operations near Amak Island, Alaska, Nov. 11, while serving aboard Coast Guard Cutter Waesche.

Obendorf’s family was by his side when he passed away in Swedish Hospital following surgery.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Petty Officer Obendorf’s family and his shipmates aboard Coast Guard Cutter Waesche during this difficult time,” said Vice Adm. Paul Zukunft, commander, U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area.

At the time of his injury, Waesche personnel were conducting small boat operations to assist the disabled fishing vessel Alaska Mist with 22 mariners aboard. During the first transfer of passengers, Obendorf was injured while recovering the small boat. A Coast Guard helicopter crew transported him to Cold Bay for a commercial medevac to Anchorage and further medical care. Obendorf’s family arrived in Anchorage shortly thereafter.  He was then transferred to Swedish Hospital Dec. 6 for continued medical care.

“Petty Officer Obendorf’s selfless actions directly contributed to rescuing five mariners in distress.  His willingness to assist others, even amidst the dangerous environment of the Bering Sea, truly embodies the Coast Guard’s core values,” said Waesche’s commanding officer, Capt. John McKinley. “Travis will be sadly missed.”

The Coast Guard is investigating the incident.

For information about the Alaska Mist search and rescue case, please see http://www.uscgnews.com/go/doc/4007/1962946/.

But really, I should have consulted my Combat Fleets of the World, because the Indian Coast Guard already had another 26 similar vessels:

5 Rani Abbakka Class, 51.1 meters, 34 knots

7 Sarojini Naidu Class, 48.14 meters, 35 knots

8 Priyadarshini Class, 46 meters, 24 knots

6 Tara Bai Class, 44.9 meter, 26 knots.

All are lighter than the Webber Class. All entered service since 1987 and all but seven are newer than our newest 110 (34 meter, 29.5 knots).

U.S. Coast Guard photo

The Acquisition Directorate’s Blog is reporting that the Coast Guard is ordering four Long Range Interceptors. These are 11 meter boats specifically for operation from the stern ramp of Bertholf Class National Security Cutters. This is a second generation boat replacing the Coast Guard’s first effort.

“The LRI-II is 35 feet long with a range of over 220 nautical miles and capable of achieving speeds in excess of 38 knots. The stern-launched LRI-II’s high speed and extended range significantly enhances its host cutter’s ability to execute missions while underway, particularly in migrant interdiction and law enforcement operations where teams need to be put on scene quickly. Its ability to extend the reach of its host cutter is also critical to search and rescue operations, enabling NSC cutter crews to patrol larger search areas. The LRI-II can carry up to 15 passengers, including crew, and safely operate in seas up to 13 feet.”