MarineLog is reporting that Viking Life-Saving Equipment has proposed a new, integrated way of providing life boats and getting the people into them that appears to incorporate something similar to the slides seen on airliners.
As a former 327 sailor I’d like to thank the crew of Decisive for their work on the Ingham (WHEC-35/WPG-35). Coast Guard Compass has the story.
The keepers of the Ingham, MIAMI-DADE HISTORICAL MARITIME MUSEUM INC, are trying to raise money to keep the old girl in shape. If you can help, this is the place to go. Donations are tax deductible and must be made by credit card.
This is their short history of the ship,
U.S. COAST GUARD CUTTER INGHAM (WHEC-35)
Maritime Museum & National Historic Landmark National Memorial to Guardians Killed in Action In World War II and VietnamThe only Coast Guard Cutter afloat today to receive two
Presidential Unit Citations for extraordinary heroism
in action against an armed enemyWith over 50 years of service around the world, USCGC INGHAM is a quintessential portrait of Coast Guard history from 1936 to 1988.
This is an important memorial dedicated to the lives lost throughout the INGHAM’S service, and we are determined to preserve this memorial, but your help is necessary for our success. A ship of this size requires an astronomical amount of maintenance. It is and always will be a battle to keep this Museum afloat.
More Facts about the USCGC INGHAM
The USCGC INGHAM was built in 1935 and served until 1988. This 327 foot cutter is the most decorated cutter in history earning 27 medals and 13 battle stars for service from WWII through Viet-Nam. Highlights of her career are:
31 Convoys across the Atlantic in WWII and sinking of UBOAT 626, the only American War vessel afloat today to have sunk a German Sub.
Participated in 13 landing in the Pacific and flagship for 5, most notably the Flagship for General MacArthur’s return to Corregidor.
Flagship after WWII for the South China Naval Force under the Command of RADM Elliot Buckmaster, the former Captain of the USS YORKTOWN at the battle of Midway, the turning point of the battle in the Pacific.
Awarded two Presidential Unit Citation by President by President NIXON for Service in Viet-Nam.
Participated in the Mariel Boat lift in Key West to Cuba in 1980 saving many lives and vessels.
In 1985 was the most decorated and oldest serving Naval Vessel in U. S. Service receiving a letter from President Reagan attesting to her service.
Retired in 1988 after serving honorably for 52 years which at that time was 25% of our Nations’ History.
USCGC INGHAM was designated a NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK in 1992.
Navy Times is reporting the Navy is issuing new “flame proof” coveralls for use underway. Now will the Coast Guard follow suite?
“For the fleet’s top boss, this is personal. Gortney remembers being a lieutenant junior grade aboard the aircraft carrier Nimitz on the night in 1981 when a Prowler crashed into the flight deck, unleashing a fuel fire that cooked off bombs in a terrifying maelstrom. By the time it was extinguished two hours later, 14 people were dead, including the aircrew and first responders.
“’It kind of shapes you for the rest of your life: 50 sailors injured and we lost 14,’ Gortney recalled. ‘Discovered that night that if you’re going to have a major conflag[ration], there’s three things that occur: You’re either running to fight the fire, you’re trying to evade the fire or you’re trying to aid a shipmate in need. And you do that wearing what you got on.’
“’And so we have about one and a half major conflags a year, believe it or not, for the last 30 years,’ Gortney continued, defining this as a fire that exceeds the capability of the initial responders. ‘So it’s important that we put our sailors in outfits that they’re able to be the first person on the scene to deal with the fire that’s there.’
“Gortney said that’s what the new coveralls are designed to do. Their fabric is 100 percent cotton treated with flame-resistant coating, a combination that self-extinguishes and can protect its wearer’s skin from a blaze.”
Unfortunately, it seems the need for flame resistant clothing is a lesson that needs to be learned over and over again.
Just a note from the German Navy’s Marine Forum without attribution from their “Upcoming/Planned Events” section. Measurements reported in metric translate to 568.4 ft long, 111.5 ft or beam, 34.4 ft draft.
| “RUSSIA (05 Nov) Baltic Shipyard (St. Petersburg) on 05 Nov will formally start construction of “next.generation” nuclear powered Project 22220 ice breaker LK-60 … to become world’s largest ice breaker (173.3 x 34 x 10.5m; two-reactor power plants)” |
CIMSEC (Center for International Maritime Security) does a weekly podcast they call “Sea Control.” This week, they talk to James Daffer, a USCG Mobile Training Branch member about his experiences.
The Federal Register has recently published a request for agenda topics leading to development of a national maritime strategy.
“The Maritime Administration (MARAD) invites the public and other Marine Transportation System stakeholders to participate in a discussion intended to develop a robust national maritime strategy. The purpose of this public meeting is to gather ideas for improving the Nation’s cargo opportunities and sealift capacity while ensuring future sustainability. Speaker and topic proposals for the public meeting’s agenda are requested and may be submitted to the docket referenced above. The meeting agenda will be published in the docket and on the MARAD Web site at a later date, after consideration of responses received in the docket.”
Thanks to Maritime Memos for bringing this to my attention.
Looks like the Coast Guard may soon be dealing with an entirely different type of vessel, and perhaps needing to protect a new type of infrastructure target.
Cnet is reporting that Google may be building a floating data center in San Francisco Bay.
Chuck Hill's CG Blog 