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Pentagon Channel Follows as Coast Guard Patrols Perilous Passage (This One's for You Tonk!)
American Forces Press Service ^
| David Mays
Posted on 08/30/2007 4:52:11 PM PDT by SandRat
WASHINGTON, Aug. 30, 2007 The September edition of the Pentagon Channels monthly documentary Recon will focus on the Coast Guards efforts in the Caribbean Seas most perilous waterway.
Small-boat crews from the Coast Guard cutter Escanaba transfer Haitian migrants from an overloaded sail freighter to the Escanaba. The 101 Haitian migrants eventually were repatriated to Cap Haitien, Haiti. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Joseph Newland (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. |
|
The show, titled Perilous Passage, will provide an inside look at the men and women of the Coast Guard who patrol Mona Passage, a treacherous 80-mile strait separating the islands of Hispaniola and Puerto Rico. Refugees crammed into tiny boats, known as yolas, risk their lives to navigate this passage.
Weve seen 35-foot vessels with well over 100 people on board, said Lt. Molly Waters, executive officer of the Coast Guard cutter Sapelo. And when theyre loaded to that extent, they become very top-heavy and unstable, especially in rough seas.
The danger of Mona Passage was tragically demonstrated in December 2004, when human smugglers packed 91 immigrants onto a tiny yola bound for Puerto Rico. Within sight of shore, the boat capsized, and eight passengers perished in the crashing surf. Five Dominican men were convicted of human smuggling and sent to prison. At the time, holding smugglers responsible for putting human lives at grave risk was rare.
Critically crowded conditions aboard the yolas are painfully evident on video shot by Coast Guard members during actual rescue operations and provided to the Pentagon Channel.
The show will debut Sept. 3 at noon eastern time on the Pentagon Channel and will encore throughout September. |
TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: coastguard; maritime; passage; patrols; perilous; refugees; uscg
1
posted on
08/30/2007 4:52:16 PM PDT
by
SandRat
To: StarCMC; Bethbg79; EsmeraldaA; MoJo2001; Kathy in Alaska; Brad's Gramma; laurenmarlowe; ...
7-JUL-2003 Sunbird Photos by Don Boyd
USCG Cutter SAPELO (WPB 1314) Coast Guard stock photo #5165 USCG Base Key West, FL
Number in service throughout the Coast Guard: 41
Length: 110 feet
Beam: 21 feet
Displacement: 154 tons
Power plant: 2 diesel engines
Commissioned: 1986-1992
110-foot Island-class Patrol Boats are a Coast Guard modification of a highly successful British-designed patrol boat. With excellent range and seakeeping capabilities, the Island Class, all named after U.S. islands, replaced the older 95-foot Cape-class patrol boats. These cutters are equipped with advanced electronics and navigation equipment.
2
posted on
08/30/2007 4:54:30 PM PDT
by
SandRat
(Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
To: SandRat
Wonderful sentiment. Thanks!!
3
posted on
08/30/2007 5:08:02 PM PDT
by
CH3CN
To: SandRat; All
WE MISS YOU TONK!
GODSPEED AND PLEASANT WINDS!
4
posted on
08/30/2007 5:09:47 PM PDT
by
alpha-8-25-02
("SAVED BY GRACE AND GRACE ALONE")
To: SandRat; Kathy in Alaska; AZamericonnie; Soaring Feather; Bethbg79; bitt; blackie; Boazo; ...
5
posted on
08/30/2007 6:55:43 PM PDT
by
Lady Jag
(The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself.)
To: Lady Jag
The Coasties dont get enough credit
6
posted on
08/30/2007 6:57:37 PM PDT
by
mylife
(The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
To: SandRat
7
posted on
08/30/2007 7:03:03 PM PDT
by
Jet Jaguar
(Who would the terrorists vote for?)
To: Lady Jag; devolve; SandRat
I miss Tonkin too. Thank you for pinging LJ!
8
posted on
08/30/2007 7:03:26 PM PDT
by
potlatch
(MIZARU_ooo_‹(•¿•)›_ooo_MIKAZARU_ooo_‹(•¿•)›_ooo_MAZARU_ooo_‹(•¿•)›_ooo_))
To: Jet Jaguar
Another bump for Tonk.
Has there ever been a freeper more missed than Tonk?
Quidam?
Nope.
We all miss Tonk.
9
posted on
08/30/2007 7:09:27 PM PDT
by
ladyjane
To: mylife
If they got more press they could get more credit.
Tonk’s voice alone showed how much the Coast Guard does.
10
posted on
08/30/2007 7:27:03 PM PDT
by
Lady Jag
(The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself.)
To: potlatch
11
posted on
08/30/2007 7:28:02 PM PDT
by
Lady Jag
(The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself.)
To: Lady Jag
Yup. They do a lot of dangerous boarding missions
12
posted on
08/30/2007 7:29:30 PM PDT
by
mylife
(The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
To: mylife
Yep, and they keep all the ports open in winter.
The Coast Guard Cutter Tackle
Clears Bath harbor to the Kennebec River
13
posted on
08/30/2007 7:44:42 PM PDT
by
Lady Jag
(The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself.)
To: Lady Jag
Wish I had a boat like that.
Looks like a tug to me
14
posted on
08/30/2007 7:46:57 PM PDT
by
mylife
(The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
To: mylife
Yes, I thought I had better photos - they're probably on another computer.
This is the Coast Guard Cutter Sundew in Duluth, MN.
15
posted on
08/30/2007 8:10:00 PM PDT
by
Lady Jag
(The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself.)
To: SandRat
Absodamnlutely. God, I miss Tonk, he never missed a trick.
16
posted on
08/30/2007 10:03:11 PM PDT
by
Right Winged American
(No matter how Cynical I get, I just can't keep up!)
To: SandRat
BTTT
Tonk would have loved it.
17
posted on
08/30/2007 10:25:01 PM PDT
by
StarCMC
(http://cannoneerno4.wordpress.com/2007/08/11/school-of-the-counterpropagandist/)
To: Lady Jag
18
posted on
08/31/2007 2:56:24 AM PDT
by
E.G.C.
To: Lady Jag; mylife
19
posted on
08/31/2007 4:10:42 AM PDT
by
Calpernia
(Hunters Rangers - Raising the Bar of Integrity http://www.barofintegrity.us)
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