United States Coast Guard Station Eatons Neck is located on the northern tip of Eatons Neck on Long Island, New York. Founded originally in 1849 by the New York Lifesaving Benevolent Association it is the oldest Coast Guard Station in New York and the fourth oldest in the United States. Consequently, the Eatons Neck Lighthouse, which is located on the station’s grounds, is the second oldest lighthouse on Long Island and the sixth oldest in the United States.

Station Eatons Neck has a complement of 33 active duty service members and 18 reservists. To carry out its primary missions of search and rescue and maritime law enforcement the station is equipped with two 41-foot utility boats and two 25-foot response boats.  The station also mans a radio watch night and day so they can immediately answer any calls for assistance. 

The station’s area of responsibility includes the middle portion of Long Island Sound from the Port Jefferson-Bridgeport line to just East of New York City. 

SECTOR NEW YORK (01-37040) 
212 COAST GUARD DR
STATEN ISLAND, NY 10305 
Primary Phone: 718-354-4037 
Emergency Phone: 718-354-4353 
Fax Number: 718-354-4009 

Homeport site: http://homeport.uscg.mil/newyork

Coast Guard Sector New York is the largest operational field command in the Coast Guard. Its area of responsibility stretches from Long Branch New Jersey to New York City up the Hudson River, to just south of Lake Champlain, up the East River to the Long Island Sound/Connecticut border.  The Sector itself is located on historical Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island.

More than 641 active duty service members, 77 civilians and 353 reserve personnel assist in carrying out the sector’s many missions which are: port waterway and coastal security; maritime security/law enforcement; port safety, prevention and compliance; marine distress response; commercial vessel inspection; waterways management; vessel traffic system and control; marine environmental protection; marine casualty investigation; merchant marine licensing; boating safety and anti-terrorism/force protection.

Sector New York has multiple units under its command including three small boat stations, two aids to navigation teams and eight cutters.

Sector Long Island Sound General Information

General Information

The United States Coast Guard is a multi-missioned maritime service and one of our Nation's five Armed Services. Its purpose is to protect the Public, the environment, and U.S. economic interests - in the Nation's ports and waterways, along the coast, on international waters, or in any maritime region as required in supporting national security. The Coast Guard's core roles are Maritime Security, Maritime Safety, Maritime Mobility, Protection of Natural Resources and National Defense..

The Coast Guard on the Sound

Coast Guard operations for Long Island Sound, including the south shore of Long Island and along coastal Connecticut are coordinated from a single command center located at Sector Long Island Sound, on the eastern side of New Haven Harbor. Nine other field subunits, strategically located throughout the Sound, work for this office. This includes approximately 500 active duty, 200 reservists, and 1200 volunteer CG Auxiliary members.

Search & Rescue and Maritime Law Enforcement

Search & Rescue and Law Enforcement response efforts are coordinated through one command center at Sector Long Island Sound and responded to by eight Small Boat Stations and one summer detachment. Stations are manned 24 hours a day to quickly respond to marine distress calls and enforce federal laws & regulations. Also, our four Coast Guard Cutters, the 140-foot MORRO BAY, the 87-foot CHINOOK, the 65-foot BOLLARD, and the 87-foot RIDLEY perform the same work.

Commercial Vessel Safety and Environmental Protection

To protect the environment we emphasize prevention to avoid chemical and oil spills from occurring in the first place. This includes inspection of oil tankers, chemical barges and cargo ships to ensure seaworthiness and compliance with federal and international laws. We share this responsibility with our Marine Safety Detachment located in Coram, NY as we inspect larger vessels visiting NY and CT ports within the Sound. We also monitor oil transfer and hazardous cargo operations to prevent pollution along the CT coastline and both the North & South shores of Long Island. Our Coram, NY field unit monitors those areas for Long Island while the main office in New Haven monitors them for CT.

Maritime Homeland Security

In the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Homeland Security became a U.S. defense priority, including the maritime security of America's "homeland waters" extending from our inland waters to the high sea. The Coast Guard works closely with Federal, State, Local and Industry authorities to ensure the security and integrity of the maritime domain through awareness, prevention, response, and consequence management. This maritime security effort includes monitoring and safeguarding ports, harbors, and waterways, various waterfront facilities including a nuclear power plant, bridges, vessels, personnel, and property from accidental or intentional damage, disruption, destruction or injury.

We work closely with the U.S. Navy to protect vital national defense interests in the Thames River such as the Naval Submarine Base, General Dynamics and submarine transits.

Icebreaking

In winter, waterways can freeze and become impassable for maritime commerce. Our 65-foot Cutter BOLLARD breaks ice up to 12 inches thick and our 140-foot Cutter MORRO BAY breaks ice up to 30 inches thick.

Aids To Navigation

Our two Aids to Navigation Teams, and the Cutters MORRO BAY and BOLLARD, service and position over 1240 aids including buoys, beacons, range lights and lighthouses throughout the Sound and its rivers. This includes securing heavy sinkers, changing lights, and repainting the navigation aids.

Did You Know - on average annually?

• Respond to 1300 marine distress cases
• Conduct 100 marine accident investigations
• Inspect over 75 foreign vessels, 500 U.S. vessels (commercial towing, fishing and passenger vessels), & 50 tank facilities,
• Respond to 160 pollution cases

In addition, we ensure maritime safety and security in many marine events including fireworks displays, marine demonstrations, regattas, and marine festivals such as Operation Sail CT. Through the Coast Guard Auxiliary we offer educational services such as boating safety courses and free vessel safety checks for recreational and commercial fishing vessels.

When Should I Call the Coast Guard?

If you feel your or others' maritime safety or security may be at risk call the Coast Guard. If on the water the Coast Guard can be reached on VHF radio channel 16. If landside you are encouraged to contact us via cell or landlines. A cell phone is a great tool but not all rescue assets carry them. Cell phones are one-on-one calls while VHF are broadcast calls. If you're in need of assistance, a broadcast VHF call can alert nearby mariners along with the CG that you need help.

Boat Safe - Boat Smart!

• Boating Safety Courses: In CT all boat or personal watercraft operators must have a Safe Boating Certificate certifying successful completion of an approved basic boating safety course. Education is mandatory! (860) 434-8638.
• Vessel Safety Checks: You must ensure your vessel is in compliance before operating it. The CG Auxiliary offers free dockside safety checks to boaters to ensure their boats meet all federal & state requirements. They will check for all required items. If everything is present and in good working order, they will award a decal for your boat. These safety checks are meant to be an educational experience; therefore, you will not be penalized if your vessel is not in compliance.
• Float Plan: Boaters are urged to prepare a Float Plan before starting a trip and leave it ashore with a yacht club, marina, friend or relative. Be specific in your Plan and check-in regularly by radio or phone at each point specified in the Plan. See a sample Plan at the CG Boating Safety website: www.uscgboating.org/reg/reg_fr_SafetyTips1.asp
• Personal Flotation Device (PFD): All boats must carry one PFD (type I, II, III or V) for each person aboard. Any boat 16 feet and longer (except canoes and kayaks) must also carry one throwable PFD (type IV).
• Boating Under the Influence: It is unlawful in every state to operate a boat while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

When in doubt, call!

Sector Long Island Sound
120 Woodward Avenue
New Haven, CT 06512

Phone: (800) 774-8724 or (203) 468-4401
Fax: (203) 468-4418

Sector Long Island Sound - Units

• ANT Long Island Sound
• ANT Moriches
• ESD
• ISD
• Sector Field Office Moriches
• Station East Moriches (small)
• Station Eaton's Neck
• Station Fire Island
• Station Jones Beach
• Station Montauk
• Station New Haven
• Station New London
• Station Shinnecock
• USCGC Bollard
• USCGC Chinook
• USCGC Morro Bay
• USCGC Ridley

In commission since January 4, 1985, the Penobscot Bay is one of two icebreaking cutters homeported at Bayonne Ocean Terminal in New Jersey.  Its area of responsibility includes New York Harbor, as well as the Hudson River up to Albany, N.Y.

Penobscot Bay’s crew of three officers and 16 enlisted members work together to carry out various missions throughout the year.  Warm weather missions include law enforcement, search and rescue, aids to navigation, cadet training, and port, waterways, and coastal security.  During the winter months, the cutter and crew conducts icebreaking operations on the Hudson River to assist commercial ship and barge traffic as far north as Albany, N.Y.

Over her quarter-century of service, the Penobscot Bay and her crew have earned many formal awards and recognition for their operational accomplishments and community relations efforts.  Some of the awards received include four Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendations, two Coast Guard Unit Commendations, a First District Unit Award for Mission Excellence and a Special Operations Service Ribbon.

Address

Commanding Officer
USCGC PENOBSCOT BAY (WTGB 107)
85 Port Terminal Blvd., Slip 2
Bayonne, NJ 07002

Phone numbers

Inport: (201) 443-6417/19
Fax: (201) 443-6422
Ship's cellular phone: (551) 655-5928

Coast Guard Sector Field Office Moriches is located on the south shore of Long Island, approximately 60 miles east of New York City.

Sector Field Office (SFO) Moriches is under the command of Sector Long Island Sound as a logistical detachment. The SFO supervisor works directly for the Sector LIS logistics department head. Fifty five active duty and reserve members are attached to the SFO in a variety of ratings.  

Co-located on the SFO Moriches grounds are the Sector Ready for Operations (RFO) Team, Station East Moriches, a detachment of nearby Station Shinnecock, and Electronics Support Detachment Moriches.

SFO Moriches offers engineering, medical, storekeeper and administrative support to all units and personnel on Long Island. All of the members of SFO Moriches conduct regular visits to outlying units as part of their daily routine to help tackle issues that arise in the field. They also assist in preparing units for inspections. Corpsman review medical records, administer vaccinations, resolve insurance issues and offer first aid training. Storekeepers assist in reconciling unit budgets and assist them with purchases. A few of the items addressed by the yeoman staff include pay and personnel issues including travel orders, advancements and retirements. The engineers support both naval and civil engineering issues, including the maintenance of all Coast Guard vessels and the 89 government owned homes on Long Island. 

Units of Sector Field Office Moriches

The following list contains the units directly managed by Sector Field Office Moriches

Sector Units:

• Station Jones Beach
• Station Fire Island
• Station Moriches
• Station Shinnecock
• Station Montauk

Aids to Navigation Unit (ANT) Long Island Sound's area of responsibility (AOR) covers 240 miles of coastline on Long Island Sound and connecting tributaries. In all, ANT Long Island Sounds operating area includes approximately 1,000 square miles.

The more than 1,500 navigational aids assigned to the Aids to Navigation Team include 564 primary aids which are 513 buoys, 20 lighthouses, 31 light structures.  The unit also services 290 secondary aids and 697 federally permitted private aids.

Many of the lighthouses are historic and were built in the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries. Although unmanned, the lighthouses use automated lights to warn mariners of navigational hazards.

To get the job done ANT Long Island Sound's crew use three different boats, which are a 49-foot buoy utility stern loading (BUSL) boat, a 23-foot and 21-foot trailerable aids to navigation boat.

The crew’s dedication to their work is derived from the unit’s vision statement which is: We will remain vigilant in our duties. We will be forever mindful of the men and women who served Aids to Navigation Team Long Island Sound before us and continue their legacy of pride, professionalism, and excellence. We will diligently support the missions of the U.S. Coast Guard through a posture of readiness and training. We will care for our workforce with a nurturing hand, promoting team unity and individual growth. And, we will be responsible custodians of the public trust.

Station New York is located in the City of New York in the Rosebank section of Staten Island, just north of the Verrazano Narrows Bridge. Its area of responsibility includes the waters of New York Harbor, the waterways around Staten Island, the Port of Newark, the East River, the lower Hudson River, Jamaica Bay and a portion of the lower New York Harbor below the Verrazano Narrows Bridge.

Station New York is recognized as the busiest Coast Guard station in the nation. During a single month, the crew of the station may complete over 150 search and rescue cases, several hundred vessel boardings, as well as security boardings of large merchant vessels entering the Port of New York and New Jersey. The crews regularly conduct security patrols at sensitive maritime locations in the New York area. It is not unusual for crews to log over 2,000 boat-hours per month.

Station New York often works joint operations with the New York Police Department and the New York Fire Department marine assets. This strong partnership allows Station New York to concentrate even harder on the Waterways of New York and New Jersey, which are responsible for bringing in 30 percent of the nation's goods.

Station Kings Point is located 18 miles east of New York City in the village of Kings Point, New York. Station Kings Point shares the campus and facilities of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. The station is dedicated to the memory of Lt. Cmdr. Gilbert F. Granados, USCGR, who lost his life on September 11, 2001 in the World Trade Center terrorist attack.

Originally commissioned as a small boat station under the command of Coast Guard Station New York, Station Kings Point was commissioned as a fully independent station, staffed by 25 active duty and 19 reserve members, on October 1, 2004. The station has a small boat fleet consisting of three 25' response boats to cover their area of responsibility, which encompasses the waters of the East River, off Midtown Manhattan, to the New York/Connecticut border in the western part of Long Island Sound.

Station Kings Point's missions include Port Waterway, Coastal Security (PWCS) patrols, search and rescue missions, and maritime law enforcement boardings.  Unit personnel also provide security for UN General Assembly Meeting, New York City Fleet Week and the Macy's Fourth of July celebration.

Coast Guard Station Montauk was built in 1955 and is located on Star Island off the southern tip of Long Island.  The station’s crew of 25 active duty personnel and 7 reservists is responsible for the waters around the south fork of Eastern Long Island and from Montauk towards Block Island.

The station crew uses two 47-foot motor life boats and one 25-foot response boat to carry out their primary missions of maritime law enforcement and search and rescue.  When not engaged in operations the crew is highly involved in the local community.  The station hosts an annual open house and field trips for local schools.  

Aids to Navigation (ANT) Unit Moriches, established in 1998 when ANT units at Station Shinnecock and Station Fire Island merged, is a detached unit under the direction the of the captain of the port of Long Island Sound.  The 13 Coast Guard members at the unit are responsible for the area west of the eastern tip of Long Island Sound.  Within their area of responsibility, they service 386 aids to navigation, which include lighthouses, day beacons, lights and buoys.  While most aids are on the water, some aids, such as lighthouses and jetty lights are serviceable from shore.  Servicing these aids is mainly the responsibility of the unit's lone electrician's mate.

In order to maintain the aids not serviceable from land, the team uses a 49-foot buoy utility stern loading (BUSL) boat to set and remove many of the larger buoys, a 45-foot BUSL boat, and a 26-foot trailerable aids to navigation boat, which gives the team the flexibility needed to respond quickly to isolated incidents.

When not servicing the navigational aids, ANT Moriches members are involved with the local community. Marching in parades, and assisting schools and service organizations have become an integral part of the team's support in local, non-Coast Guard, activities.