Sector Lake Michigan Press Releases

07-22-08 GOOD SAMARITAN AIDES COAST GUARD IN RESCUING 5 PEOPLE

2008-07-22T23:21:41Z

Sector Lake Michigan
U.S. Coast Guard

Press Release

Date: July 22, 2008

Contact: Lt. Kristie Cabanting
(414) 349-5109, phone

GOOD SAMARITAN AIDES COAST GUARD IN RESCUING FIVE PEOPLE

HOLLAND, Mich. -- A Good Samaritan rescued five people that were hanging onto their overturned 20-foot boat, today, five miles southwest of here.

The five individuals were hanging to their vessel for approximately two hours.

The Good Samaritan took the five people on board his sailing vessel, Wings, and later transferred them to a Coast Guard Station Holland 25-foot response boat. All five people were safely transported to Station Holland where an Emergency Medical Services ambulance was waiting.

Tow Boat US towed the overturned vessel into Saugatuck Harbor, Mich.

"The Coast Guard appreciates the assistance of the sailing vessel Wings and encourages all people who live, work and recreate on the Great Lakes to participate in the America's Waterways Watch program," said Lt. David French, Ninth Coast Guard District External Affairs Officer.

The America's Waterway Watch program encourages all people to report distress boaters or suspicious maritime activity to the Coast Guard and/or other law enforcement agencies.

For images of today's incident, click PICTURE #1 or PICTURE #2.

For further information, contact the Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan Public Affairs Officer, Lt. Kristie Cabanting at (414) 349-5109.

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07-16-2008 COAST GURD RESPONDS TO GARBAGE ON MUSKEGON BEACHES

2008-07-17T01:41:55Z

Sector Lake Michigan
U.S. Coast Guard

Press Release

Date: July 16, 2008

Contact: Petty Officer Will Mitchell
(216) 310-2608, cell

COAST GUARD, MICH. DEQ RESPOND TO GARBAGE WASHING UP ON MUSKEGON BEACHES

MUSKEGON, Mich. - The Coast Guard, Mich. Department of Environmental Quality, and local agencies are responding to garbage that has washed up on a local beach, here.

This is the third multi-agency response to garbage washing ashore on the Lake Michigan shoreline.

Coast Guard Sector Field Office is investigating this incident to determine the source of the garbage. Mich. DEQ and local Muskegon response agencies are cleaning up the littered beach. An HH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station Traverse City, Mich., and a 30-foot Utility Boat from Station/Aids-to-Navigation Team Muskegon are providing reconnaissance in the area to determine the extent of the pollution.

Two earlier incidents affect the Lake Michigan shoreline earlier this week. On Monday, a ten-mile stretch of shoreline was littered with trash near Manistee, Mich.; and on Tuesday, private beaches near Holland, Mich. were littered with trash.

All three incidents are under investigation. It is too early to determine if the three incidents are related.

For further inquiries, contact Petty Officer William Mitchell, Ninth District Public Affairs Office, at (216) 310-2608.

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07-15-2008 COAST GUARD RESPONDS TO GARBAGE WASHING ON TO BEACHES

2008-07-15T19:45:51Z

Sector Lake Michigan
U.S. Coast Guard

Press Release

Date: July 15, 2008

Contact: Lt. Kristie Cabanting
(414) 349-5109, phone

USCG RESPONDS TO, INVESTIGATES GARBAGE WASHING
ON TO MICHIGAN BEACHES

MILWAUKEE - The U.S. Coast Guard and local agencies are responding to garbage washing up on Western Lake Michigan beaches, today.

This is the second report of garbage washing up on the Lake Michigan shoreline. A similar incident was reported to the Coast Guard, yesterday, when a ten-mile stretch of shoreline was littered with trash near Manistee, Mich.

City officials closed two public beaches in Manistee, yesterday, but later reopened one to the public. The 1^st Street Beach in Manistee remains closed by the Michigan Department of Health.

The Coast Guard is investigating both incidents.

Today's incident is affecting private beaches in Holland, Mich.; however, there is no information that the two incidents are related.

A Coast Guard HH-65 Dolphin helicopter, from Air Facility Waukegan, Mich., is flying reconnaissance in the area to determine the extent of pollution.

For further information, contact the Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan Public Affairs Officer, Lt. Kristie Cabanting at (414) 349-5109.

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(07-09-2008) UPDATE - COAST GUARD SUSPENDS SEARCH FOR POSSIBLE SMALL AIRCRAFT DOWN IN LAKE MICHIGAN

2008-07-09T23:29:22Z

Sector Lake Michigan
U.S. Coast Guard

Press Release

Date: July 9, 2008

Contact: Lt.Kristie Cabanting

(414) 349-5109

UPDATE - COAST GUARD SUSPENDS SEARCH FOR POSSIBLE SMALL AIRCRAFT DOWN IN LAKE MICHIGAN

MILWAUKEE - U.S. Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan has suspended a search commenced earlier this afternoon in response to reports from a land-based witness of a possible small plane crash into the waters of Lake Michigan approximately three miles off shore from Oak Creek, Wis. at 1:43 p.m. today.

A 25-foot small response boat and 41-foot utility boat were immediately dispatched from Coast Guard Station Milwaukee to the area of the reported incident.

Early in the search, a Coast Guard HH-65 rescue helicopter crew sighted what was believed to be debris of some type in the water. However, when rescue boats arrived on-scene they only found a small orange marker in the water which did not appear to be related in any way to an aircraft. A nearby small recreational boat reported to rescuers that they had not observed anything out of the ordinary.

Since the initial 911 call regarding the possible aircraft crash, there have been numerous, conflicting reports as to the type and number of aircraft that were seen in the area. Several eyewitnesses reported seeing small seaplanes land and then take off from the water in the vicinity of the reported crash.

The Coast Guard and the Coast Guard Auxiliary worked closely with a collection of law enforcement agencies on the search and investigation into eyewitness reports. These agencies include the Milwaukee Police Department, Milwaukee Fire Department, South Milwaukee Fire Department, Oak Creek Police Department and Oak Creek Fire Department.

After a comprehensive, four-hour search of the area under excellent search conditions, and in the absence of any information regarding missing or overdue aircraft, the Coast Guard has suspended the search pending further developments.

The Coast Guard thanks the numerous local law enforcement and emergency management agencies which quickly volunteered resources and expertise to assist with the search.

For further information, contact the Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan Public Affairs Officer, Lt. Kristie Cabanting at (414) 349-5109.

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(07-09-2008) COAST GUARD SEARCHES FOR POSSIBLE SMALL AIRCRAFT DOWN IN LAKE MICHIGAN

2008-07-09T20:25:23Z

Sector Lake Michigan
U.S. Coast Guard

Press Release

Date: July 9, 2008

Contact: Lt. Kristie Cabanting
(414) 349-5109, phone

COAST GUARD SEARCHES FOR POSSIBLE SMALL AIRCRAFT DOWN IN LAKE MICHIGAN

MILWAUKEE - The U.S. Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan commenced a search for a small aircraft today after an Oak Creek Power Plant WE Energies employee reported a small plane had gone down in the water approximately three miles off shore from Oak Creek, Wis.

An HH-65 rescue helicopter crew were able to confirm there is a debris field in the water.

A 25-foot small response boat and 41-foot utility boat were immediately dispatched to the area of where the plane was reported.

An aircraft matching the description of what the eyewitness saw matches the description of a plane that took off from a Kenosha airport this afternoon.

The Coast Guard and the Coast Guard Auxiliary are working closely with the Milwaukee Police Department to locate the plane and any survivors.

There is going to a press conference at Sector Lake Michigan at 4 p.m today; the sector is located at 2420 South Lincoln Memorial Dr. in Milwaukee.

For further information, contact the Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan Public Affairs Officer, Lt. Kristie Cabanting at (414) 349-5109.

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(06-27-2008) COAST GUARD RESPONSE TO FALSE MARITIME DISTRESS CALL COSTS ALL PARTIES INVOLVED

2008-06-27T15:16:22Z

Sector Lake Michigan
U.S. Coast Guard

Press Release

Date: June 27, 2008

Contact: Lt. K. Cabanting
(414) 349-5109

COAST GUARD RESPONSE TO FALSE MARITIME DISTRESS CALL COSTS ALL PARTIES INVOLVED

MILWAUKEE - During the month of June, Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan units have responded to several calls that were heard on VHF channel 16 by people claiming to be in distress on the water.

On June ¹, the Coast Guard responded to a radio call made by a child. The subsequent hour and a half search by a 25-foot small boat from Coast Guard Station Milwaukee and a HH-65 helicopter from Coast Guard Air Facility Waukegan for a supposed mariner in distress cost taxpayers an estimated $14,340.

For more than 210 years, the U.S. Coast Guard has responded to distress calls at sea and in local waterways. Usually the callers are truly in distress. But some of those calls are suspected or found to be false distress calls or hoaxes.

This causes concern because hoax calls hurt in the following ways: The Coast Guard by placing our people in danger by operating ships, boats and aircraft, responding to these false distress calls; the taxpayer by wasting hundreds of thousands of dollars annually; and those truly in distress by interfering with legitimate search-and-rescue cases.

It is a federal felony for anyone to knowingly and willfully communicates a false distress message to the Coast Guard or causes the Coast Guard to attempt to save lives and property when no help is needed. Penalties include up to six years in prison, $250,000 fine, $5,000 civil penalty, and possible reimbursement to the Coast Guard for costs of the search.

The Coast Guard must remain vigilant and take all distress calls seriously. The maritime environment is too dangerous to do otherwise. The perpetrator of a hoax call is fleecing America and the Coast Guard is working with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Department of Justice to prosecute and recover costs for the federal government on behalf of the taxpayer.

If you hear a hoax, or you have information that might lead to the perpetrator of a hoax, call the nearest U.S. Coast Guard unit or contact the FCC.

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(06-05-2008) Missing Kayaker Found

2008-06-05T19:48:36Z

Sector Lake Michigan
U.S. Coast Guard

Press Release

Date: June 5, 2008

Contact: Cmdr. Joseph Malinauskas
(414) 747-7145, phone

Missing Kayaker Found

Great Lakes, Ill. - Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan located the deceased body of a missing female kayaker today along the shore in Lake Bluff, a few miles south of the Great Lakes Naval Training Facility.

The kayak and a floating lifejacket were also recovered as a part of the search and rescue effort that consisted of two Coast Guard boats from Kenosha, Wis.and Wilmette Harbor, Ill. as well as a rescue helicopter from Waukegan, Ill. Recovery efforts were coordinated with the Lake Bluff Police and Fire Departments.

As kayaking and canoeing continue to rise in popularity among outdoor enthusiasts, particular attention should be given to precautionary measures that need to be taken with these types of water activities. Personal flotation devices such as lifejackets should always be worn properly at all times, and float or trip plans should be given to local marinas, family members, or friends.

In addition to lifejackets, appropriate clothing and/or foul weather gear should be utilized, especially during the early months of the summer when the water temperatures remain in the low fifties. In those conditions with the wrong type of clothing or protection, survival times can be limited to 2-6 hours.

The Coast Guard is committed to ensuing that the waters of Lake Michigan remain safe and enjoyable for all to use. Please visit the USCG Boating Safety website at http://www.uscgboating.org/ for additional information concerning safety equipment and safe boating practices.

For more information contact the Sector Lake Michigan Public Affairs Officer at (414) 747-7145

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(06-03-2008) COAST GUARD INVESTIGATES SINKING OF CHARTER FISHING VESSEL

2008-06-03T15:28:26Z

Sector Lake Michigan
U.S. Coast Guard

Press Release

Date: June 3, 2008

Contact: Lt. K. Cabanting
(414) 349-5109, phone

COAST GUARD INVESTIGATES SINKING OF CHARTER FISHING VESSEL

WAUKEGAN, Ill. - The Coast Guard is continuing its investigation to determine why the charter fishing vessel "Fin Seeker" sank in severe weather two miles off the coast of Waukegan, Ill. in Lake Michigan on May 30.

According to Cmdr. Richard Reinemann, deputy commander of Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan, the marine casualty investigation "will look closely at all possible contributing factors and communicate lessons learned to help prevent future incidents, as well as determine whether any violations of law or regulations have occurred and whether remedial actions need to be taken."

Reinemann as well stated that "information gathered in these investigations can play a role in changing or creating new laws or regulations, and in implementing new technologies to help prevent future casualties."

Shortly before the 36-foot vessel was swamped by six to 10-foot seas and sank in 70 feet of water, the captain and six passengers were able to don life jackets and make a mayday call to the Coast Guard. When a Coast Guard HH-65 helicopter from Air Facility Waukegan arrived on scene, it found two clusters of three survivors and a single seventh survivor, the vessel's Captain, struggling in the heavy seas. A rescue swimmer deployed from the helicopter into the seas, and finding the survivors becoming rapidly hypothermic, assisted in their rescue by the helicopter and by a Coast Guard rescue boat from Station Kenosha.

Coast Guard Capt. Bruce Jones, Captain of the Port for Lake Michigan, stated that "these seven survivors are alive today because they wore life jackets. In the majority of the roughly 700 fatalities which occur annually in U.S. small recreational and commercial vessel accidents, the failure to wear a life jacket is a significant factor."

Jones also said that "this was very nearly a tragedy with seven fatalities. We consider near-misses like this precursor events and will investigate thoroughly so all our maritime partners can benefit from what we learn. We are thankful for the expert response by our boat and air crews, which ensured the survival of these seven individuals."

The Coast Guard Captain of the Port for Sector Lake Michigan is located in Milwaukee and is responsible for the thorough investigation of marine casualties throughout all of Lake Michigan. For further information, contact the Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan Public Affairs Officer at (414) 349-5109.

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(05-23-2008) COAST GUARD SECTOR LAKE MICHIGAN CONDUCTED INTERAGENCY PORT SECURITY AND PREPAREDNESS EXERCISE

2008-05-23T14:31:31Z

Ninth District External Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard

Press Release

Date: May 23, 2008

Contact: Lt. Cabanting
(920) 743-9448

COAST GUARD SECTOR LAKE MICHIGAN CONDUCTED INTERAGENCY PORT SECURITY AND PREPAREDNESS EXERCISE

GREEN BAY, Wis. - Federal, state, local, non-governmental and private sector organizations conducted a full scale exercise at the Port of Green Bay on May 21, 2008 to practice, assess and improve the Lake Michigan Area Maritime Security Plan as well as the Lake Michigan Area Contingency Plan.

The port security exercise built on multiple interagency training workshops, planning sessions, and tabletop exercises held over the past year. Phase One, conducted 21-25 January, tested threat communications and intelligence information sharing among various agencies. Phase Two, on 30 April, tested the implementation of a Unified Command structure and development of an Incident Action Plan.

Yesterday's full scale exercise utilized a multi-faceted security, hazardous materials, and terrorism scenario. Multi-agency response teams conducted vessel boardings, dive operations, hazardous materials response, and casualty evacuations.

According to Coast Guard Lieutenant Commander Joe DuFresne, Commanding Officer Maritime Security Detachment Sturgeon Bay, said "This exercise demonstrated an outstanding ability of local resources, both private and public, to react and respond to a serious security and public safety threat in a collaborative, effective manner during the first critical hours of an incident. We were very pleased with the successful cooperation at all levels between local, state, federal, and commercial entities. The agencies involved met all of the exercise objectives and were able to develop several best practices to further refine incident response capability in the region."

Coast Guard Captain Bruce Jones, the Federal Maritime Security Coordinator for Lake Michigan said "a successful response to a serious man-made or natural disaster is a tremendous challenge, not least because of the sometimes conflicting, but equally important, requirements of safety, security, law enforcement, intelligence gathering, medical and investigatory organizations. Working together under a unified command structure, with open and transparent information sharing and goal-setting, provides the ability to most effectively deploy limited resources, quickly broker jurisdictional issues, and ensure the safety and security of the affected communities."

Agencies participating in the exercise included: USCG Sector Lake Michigan, USCG Marine Safety Detachment Sturgeon Bay, USCG Station Green Bay, USCG Station Sturgeon Bay, USCG Station Two Rivers, National Response Center, USCG Atlantic Strike Team, FBI, OSHA, CBP, EPA, Wisconsin Emergency Management, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Wisconsin National Guard Civil Support Team, Northeastern Regional Hazardous Materials Team, Northeastern Wisconsin Regional Dive Team, Brown County Sheriff, Brown County Emergency Management, Brown County Port Department, Green Bay Police Department, Green Bay Fire Department, Green Bay Regional Safety & Security Committee, Bellin Hospital, St. Mary's Hospital, St. Vincent Hospital, Aurora Hospital, 9 Maritime Commercial Facilities, and the Salvation Army.

For further information, contact the Sector Lake Michigan Public Affairs Officer at (414) 349-5109.

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(05-21-2008) COAST GUARD SECTOR LAKE MICHIGAN TO CONDUCT INTERAGENCY PORT SECURITY AND PREPAREDNESS EXERCISE

2008-05-21T12:34:20Z

Ninth District External Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard

Press Release

Date: May 21, 2008

Contact: Lt. K. Cabanting
(414) 349-5109

COAST GUARD SECTOR LAKE MICHIGAN TO CONDUCT INTERAGENCY PORT SECURITY AND PREPAREDNESS EXERCISE

GREEN BAY, Wis. - Federal, state, local, non-governmental and private sector organizations will conduct a full scale exercise at the Port of Green Bay on May 21, 2008 to practice, assess and improve the Lake Michigan Area Maritime Security Plan as well as the Lake Michigan Area Contingency Plan.

The port security exercise builds on multiple interagency training workshops, planning sessions, and tabletop exercises held over the past year. Phase One, conducted 21-25 January, tested threat communications and intelligence information sharing among various agencies. Phase Two, on 30 April, tested the implementation of a Unified Command structure and development of an Incident Action Plan.

Today's full scale exercise utilizes a multi-faceted security, hazardous materials, and terrorism scenario. Multi-agency response teams will conduct vessel boardings, dive operations, hazardous materials response, and casualty evacuations.

According to Coast Guard Captain Bruce Jones, the Federal Maritime Security Coordinator for Lake Michigan, "the exercise provides an invaluable opportunity to test interagency communications and coordination as well as joint response operations. We will be able to assess the thoroughness of initial notification, information sharing and updating, and mobilization of appropriate resources to respond to threats."

Captain Jones also said "a successful response to a serious man-made or natural disaster is a tremendous challenge, not least because of the sometimes conflicting, but equally important, requirements of safety, security, law enforcement, intelligence gathering, medical and investigatory organizations. Working together under a unified command structure, with open and transparent information sharing and goal-setting, provides the ability to most effectively deploy limited resources, quickly broker jurisdictional issues, and ensure the safety and security of the affected communities."

Agencies participating in the exercise include: USCG Sector Lake Michigan, USCG Marine Safety Detachment Sturgeon Bay, USCG Station Green Bay, USCG Station Sturgeon Bay, USCG Station Two Rivers, National Response Center, FBI, OSHA, CBP, EPA, Wisconsin Emergency Management, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Wisconsin National Guard Civil Support Team, Northeastern Regional Hazardous Materials Team, Northeastern Wisconsin Regional Dive Team, Brown County Sheriff, Brown County Emergency Management, Brown County Port Department, Green Bay Police Department, Green Bay Fire Department, Green Bay Regional Safety & Security Committee, Bellin Hospital, St. Mary's Hospital, St. Vincent Hospital, Aurora Hospital, 9 MTSA Regulated Facilities, and the Salvation Army.

Exercise observers, controllers and evaluators will be on scene throughout the exercise to document lessons learned. The media is invited to attend the exercise at the Green Bay Metro Boat Launch.

For further information, contact the Sector Lake Michigan Public Affairs Officer at (414) 349-5109 or Kristen Paquet with Brown County and Leonard & Finco Public Relations at (920) 965-7750.

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