Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star docks at Mare Island Dry Dock in Vallejo, California, on April 3, 2024, for the fourth phase of its service life extension program. U.S. Coast Guard photo.

The Coast Guard has initiated the fourth of five planned phases of Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star’s service life extension program (SLEP). The work is part of the In-Service Vessel Sustainment Program and is being completed at Mare Island Dry Dock in Vallejo, California.

The SLEP is being conducted in phases to take advantage of the planned maintenance availabilities that follow the cutter’s annual deployment to the polar regions. Polar Star completed a 138-day deployment to Antarctica, including operating for 51 days below the Antarctic Circle, in support of Operation Deep Freeze 2024, the annual joint military logistics mission to support the National Science Foundation, the lead federal agency with responsibility for management of scientific research that comprises the U.S. Antarctic Program. Polar Star and crew contribute to this yearly effort through icebreaking to clear the channel for supply vessels.

Phase 4 work began on April 1, 2024, and targets three systems:

• The heating, ventilation and air conditioning system is undergoing a refurbishment/overhaul of the ventilation trunks, fans and heaters that supply berthing areas of the ship.

• All of the boiler support systems will be recapitalized/redesigned, including the electrical control station that is used to operate them.

A complete recapitalization/redesign of the flooding alarm system will occur from bow to stern to monitor machinery spaces for flooding.

The boiler system of Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star, which will receive a recapitalization/redesign. U.S. Coast Guard photo.

A section of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, which is undergoing a refurbishment/overhaul of the ventilation trunks, fans and heaters that supply berthing areas of the ship. U.S. Coast Guard photo.

This phase of the SLEP is scheduled to be completed by August 2024 to enable Polar Star to meet its commitment to Operation Deep Freeze 2025.

The Polar Star SLEP addresses targeted systems such as propulsion, communication and machinery control systems for recapitalization. Major maintenance extends the service life of Polar Star beyond that of its original design. By replacing obsolete, unsupportable or maintenance-intensive equipment, the Coast Guard is mitigating the risk of lost operational days due to unplanned maintenance or system failures. The contracted SLEP work items and recurring maintenance is taking place within a five-year, annually phased production schedule running from 2021 through 2025.

Polar Star is the Coast Guard’s only active heavy polar icebreaker. The Coast Guard is investing in a new fleet of polar security cutters that will sustain the service’s capabilities to meet mission needs in both the Arctic and Antarctic regions.

For more information: In-Service Vessel Sustainment Program page and Polar Security Cutter Program page.

June 5, 2024

First female and first Latino to take the helm of Key West Joint military command

Coast Guard Rear Admiral Jo-Ann F. Burdian assumed command of Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATFS) today, in a change of command ceremony at the Tennessee Williams Theater in Key West, FL. JIATFS is a U.S. Department of Defense entity that detects and monitors illegal drug trafficking in international waters and air within the Western hemisphere, in support of regional security.

Rear Admiral Burdian is the eighteenth director of the 35-year-old task force, the first female, and first latino assuming command from the previous JIATFS director, Coast Guard Rear Admiral Mark J. Fedor.

A native of Queens NY, Rear Admiral Burdian is a 1997 graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Government. She also holds a Masters in Public Administration from Florida State University. She has been awarded numerous personal, unit, campaign, and service awards.

The Change of Command ceremony was presided over by General Laura J. Richardson, Commander of U.S. Southern Command.

Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATFS), organized under U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), conducts detection and monitoring operations throughout its joint operations area to facilitate the interdiction of illicit trafficking in support of national and partner nation security. For more information about JIATFS, visit http://www.jiatfs.southcom.mil. For more information about SOUTHCOM, visit: http://www.southcom.mil.

The Coast Guard and its Homeland Security Task Force – Southeast federal, state, local, and international partners will continue to patrol by land, air and sea to rescue and repatriate anyone attempting to enter the U.S. unlawfully by sea.

The crews of Coast Guard Cutter Raymond Evans and Cutter Richard Etheridge transferred 109 people to the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, Sunday, following an interdiction near Anguilla Cay, Bahamas. U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations (CBP-AMO) aircrews notified Coast Guard Sector Key West watchstanders of a migrant venture near Anguilla Cay and crews diverted to interdict them.

The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Thetis repatriated 196 people to Haiti, Monday, following two migrant voyage interdictions on June 5 and June 6. A CBP-AMO aircrew notified Coast Guard District Seven watchstanders, Wednesday, of a migrant venture north of Cap-Haitien, Haiti. Another CBP-AMO aircrew notified Coast Guard District Seven watchstanders, Thursday, of a migrant venture north of Île de la Tortue, Haiti. Crews diverted to interdict both vessels.

“Irregular maritime migration is unlawful and extremely dangerous. The OVS maritime border security mission is often equal parts law enforcement and humanitarian response, especially as we enter hurricane season and marine weather becomes more severe and unpredictable,” said Lt. Nick Fujimoto, Coast Guard District Seven enforcement officer. “The Coast Guard urges any potential migrants considering the journey: don’t take to the sea and risk your life just to be sent back. Use the safe, orderly and lawful pathways available like the CHNV process.”

Once aboard a Coast Guard cutter, migrants are processed to determine their identity and are provided food, water, shelter, and basic medical attention before repatriation to their country of origin or return to the country from which they departed.

For more information about Operation Vigilant Sentry including imagery, visit these links:

• HSTF-SE performs OVS migrant interdiction mission in the Caribbean Basin
• HSTF-SE OVS maritime migration interdiction and repatriation b-roll video
• HSTF-SE OVS maritime migration detection and interdiction b-roll video

On June 5, the Department of Homeland Security announced that U.S. immigration enforcement and asylum procedures across the southern border are more strict. Last Tuesday, the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Attorney General jointly issued an interim final rule that generally restricts asylum eligibility for those who irregularly enter across the southern border – including the southwest land border and the southern coastal borders. These new measures are designed to increase the processing and consequences for those who cross our borders irregularly or who attempt to present themselves at Ports of Entry without authorization, allowing DHS to more quickly remove individuals who do not establish a legal basis to remain in the United States.

For more information, follow these links to Department of Homeland Security fact sheets:

• Securing the Border | Homeland Security (dhs.gov)
• DHS Continues to Strengthen Border Security, Reduce Irregular Migration, and Mobilize International Partnerships
• Presidential Proclamation to Suspend and Limit Entry and Joint DHS-DOJ Interim Final Rule to Restrict Asylum During High Encounters at the Southern Border
• CBP One Facilitated Over 170,000 Appointments in Six Months, and Continues to be a Safe, Orderly, and Humane Tool for Border Management
• Data From First Six Months of Parole Processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans Shows That Lawful Pathways Work

For breaking news, follow us on X (formerly Twitter). For Task Force updates, follow @HSTF_Southeast on X. For additional information, find us on Facebook and Instagram.

MAIZURU, Japan – U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche (WMSL 751) departed Maizuru, Japan, June 6, following several engagements with the Japan Coast Guard, Republic of Korea Coast Guard and multiple Japanese dignitaries. Once underway, the Waesche, the Japan Coast Guard vessel Wakasa (PL 93), and the Republic of Korea Coast Guard patrol vessel Taepyongyang (KCG 3016) conducted a joint search and rescue exercise at sea.

Waesche arrived on June 3 and is the first U.S. Coast Guard cutter to pull into Maizuru.

While moored in Maizuru, the Waesche crew attended a reception to commemorate the first joint search and rescue exercise between the three coast guards. Capt. Tyson Scofield, U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche commanding officer, met with Rear Adm. Hisada Takahiro, Japan Coast Guard 8th Regional commander and Maizuru Mayor Akitsu Kamota to discuss the continued cooperation between the three nations, specifically recognizing the importance search and rescue response efforts.

“This joint search and rescue exercise with the Japan Coast Guard, Republic of Korea Coast Guard and U.S. Coast Guard highlights the strong bond between our maritime nations,” said Tyson. “Increasing interoperability to assist mariners at sea, highlights the strength of our maritime cooperation. Together, we continue to build strong relationships with like-minded nations throughout the Indo-Pacific.”

During the search and rescue exercise, officers from the three coast guards joined as observers on each nation’s ship to share best practices and learn from each other. This provided each coast guard an opportunity to work together with each other’s crews during the exercise.

Waesche is proud to support the United States’ continued efforts to facilitate force-multiplying partnerships in the region to bolster interoperability across the Indo-Pacific.

Waesche is assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy’s largest DESRON and the U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface force. DESRON 15 regularly assumes tactical control of surface units operating in the area.

Commissioned in 2010, Waesche is the second legend-class national security cutter and is homeported in Alameda, California. National security cutters are 418-feet long, 54-feet wide, and have a 4,600 long-ton displacement. They have a top speed in excess of 28 knots, a range of 12,000 nautical miles, and can hold a crew of up to 170. The advanced technologies of the national security cutter class ships are designed to support global operations and missions.