NEW YORK - Petty Officer 2nd Class Bruce Wright adds ceviche to serving plates during the Land and Sea Iron Chef Competition at Staten Island, N.Y., Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012. The competition was held between chefs from the Marines Corps and Coast Guard, in which the audience votes for the winning dish. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Jetta H. Disco.

NEW YORK - Petty Officer 1st Class Tera Ashmore, Petty Officers 2nd Class Bruce Wright and Niuam Beckett, from left, race against the clock to plate and serve 100 audience members during the Land and Sea Iron Chef Competition at Staten Island, N.Y., Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012. Chefs from the Marines Corps and Coast Guard had 15 minutes to serve a meal that their team prepared in advance, based on preselected ingredients and one surprise ingredient -- artichokes. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Jetta H. Disco.

NEW YORK - Petty Officer 1st Class Tera Ashmore, Petty Officers 2nd Class Bruce Wright and Niuam Beckett, from left, race against the clock to plate and serve 100 audience members during the Land and Sea Iron Chef Competition at Staten Island, N.Y., Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012. Chefs from the Marines Corps and Coast Guard had 15 minutes to serve a meal their team prepared in advance, based on preselected ingredients and one surprise ingredient -- artichokes. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Jetta H. Disco.

There was no yelling or loud banging of pots and pans, nor was there food flying everywhere and tempers flaring. However, there was a dish, influenced by some of the great chefs of the past and present that pleased the palate of some of the toughest judges.

Four food service specialists, Petty Officer 1^st Class Tera Ashmore, Petty Officers 2^nd Class Bruce Wright and Niuam Beckett and Petty Officer 3^rd Class Robert Runn (who wasn’t able to attend the competition due to duty cooking) believed they had the passion and skills to take on the challenge. The petty officers, who work together every day at Sector New York's dining facility, were up against a team from the U.S. Marine Corps, stationed at Fort Hamilton, Brooklyn, N.Y in the 2012 Iron Chef-style competition.

“We’ve been working together for two years at sector,” said Ashmore. “In the kitchen setting, you get to know each other pretty well. We are pretty much a family. We really have to communicate and stick together in order to be successful.”

The two teams were presented with a basket of food including fresh shrimp, chicken, onions, carrots, celery tomatoes, potatoes, parsnips, herbs and of course, the mystery ingredient, which would be announced the morning of the competition – artichoke hearts. Using these ingredients, the teams had to create a surf ‘n’ turf dish. Whichever team incorporated the artichoke hearts into their dish would win an additional prize of $500.

The Coast Guard team quickly worked together to come up with a dish that contained the secret ingredient, but would also be easy to prepare, serve and, of course, please the audience.

The real challenge came when the team had to work together to prepare and plate 100 hungry audience members and win them over with a Caribbean-themed dish that was carefully planned to warm the body from the inside out, all within 15 minutes.

As soon as the announcer said go, the Coast Guard team fluidly worked together first layering white rice on the small plastic plate. The next member scooped a spoonful of savory chicken curry, then made room for the last member to add the vital side dish, ceviche, which contained the secret ingredient - artichoke hearts.

In unison, the announcer and audience counted down the last 10 seconds on the clock. The Coast Guard and Marine teams, just feet away from each other, worked swiftly to put out their last dish.

“Stop what you’re doing and put everything down!” the announcer called. “Judging by the amount of plates and food still here, I’d say it looks like the Coast Guard may have won this competition. But, unfortunately it’s not up to me. Audience, by a show of your paper, blue for Coast Guard and red for the Marines, who do you think won this competition? Well, it looks like we’ll release the results tomorrow.”

The audience, a sea of red and blue, cheered for their favorite dish. But, the official winner of the Land and Sea Iron Chef competition will be printed in the local Sunday newspaper.

“I think everything went pretty darn good,” said Beckett, about the competition. 

NEW YORK - Rear Adm. Linda Fagan, center, Commander of Coast Guard Sector New York, smiles as her daughters remove her old shoulder-boards from her uniform after her promotion today to the rank of rear admiral lower half in a ceremony held at Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island, N.Y.  The ceremony was presided over by Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard Vice Adm. Sally Brice-O’Hara.  Fagan serves as Captain of the Port of New York and New Jersey, which oversees Coast Guard missions in the New York and northern New Jersey region.  The Port of New York and New Jersey is the third largest in the nation, and fully one third of the country - 100 million people - rely on the 175 billion dollars of cargo flowing through the region.  U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1^st Class Thomas McKenzie.

NEW YORK - Rear Adm. Linda Fagan, center, Commander of Coast Guard Sector New York, is congratulated by her daughters after being promoted today to the rank of rear admiral lower half in a ceremony held at Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island, N.Y.  The ceremony was presided over by Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard Vice Adm. Sally Brice-O’Hara.  Fagan serves as Captain of the Port of New York and New Jersey, which oversees Coast Guard missions in the New York and northern New Jersey region.  The Port of New York and New Jersey is the third largest in the nation, and fully one third of the country - 100 million people - rely on the 175 billion dollars of cargo flowing through the region.  U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1^st Class Thomas McKenzie.

NEW YORK - Rear Adm. Linda Fagan, left, Commander of Coast Guard Sector New York, accepts a one-star flag after being promoted today to the rank of rear admiral lower half in a ceremony held at Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island, N.Y.  The ceremony was presided over by Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard Vice Adm. Sally Brice-O’Hara.  Fagan serves as Captain of the Port of New York and New Jersey, which oversees Coast Guard missions in the New York and northern New Jersey region.  The Port of New York and New Jersey is the third largest in the nation, and fully one third of the country - 100 million people - rely on the 175 billion dollars of cargo flowing through the region.  U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1^st Class Thomas McKenzie.

 

NEW YORK – Coast Guard and two fishing crews aided the crew of a fishing vessel taking on water near New London Ledge Light, Conn., today.

The Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound, Conn., command center received a distress call at 5:15 a.m. from the crew aboard the 38-foot fishing vessel Decisive, stating they were taking on water. An urgent marine information broadcast was issued requesting any vessels in the area to assist.

The command center instructed the crew to put on their lifejackets and launched a rescue boat crew from Coast Guard Station New London, who responded along with two nearby fishing vessel crews.

“Once we arrived on scene we were able to determined the vessel was sea worthy so we transferred a crewmember over to assist in dewatering,” said Petty Officer 2^nd Class Matthew Vail, the Coast Guard boat coxswain. “We escorted the vessel while a Good Samaritan towed it back to port.”

A Coast Guard crewmember was transferred to the vessel to de-water and render assistance. The vessel was de-watered then taken in tow by one of the fishing vessels. The Coast Guard crew escorted the boats to Shaw Cove Marina where it was safely moored.

BOSTON — Recreational boating and paddling fatalities on waters of the northeastern U.S. have remained nearly the same for the second year in a row.

The 1st Coast Guard District recorded a preliminary total of 51 deaths during 2011. There were 50 fatalities in 2009 and 51 fatalities in 2010. Capsizing or falling overboard while not wearing a life jacket were the main factors resulting in fatalities.

Boating fatalities were divided between 29 deaths on motorized vessels and 22 deaths on non-motorized vessels.

Due to the tremendous growth in kayaking over the past decade, and the long-standing interest in canoeing, northeastern paddle-sport fatalities are typically double the national average.

Out of the 51 deaths last year, 44 of the boaters were not wearing lifejackets.

"Lifejackets save lives," said Walt Taylor, recreational boating safety specialist, 1st Coast Guard District "Take a boating education course, ensure you have all the required safety equipment to have a safe and fun boating season next year."

One memorable case in 2011 involved the death of N.Y. Police Department officer Patrick Luca who drowned while kayaking with his son off Long Island (Click here for original release). The high-profile nature of the case captured public interest and emphasized the significance of simple decisions, like wearing a life jacket.

"It's extremely important to get these statistics out," said Lt. Joe Klinker, 1st Coast Guard District public affairs officer. "But it's even more important for all of us to realize that these aren't just numbers. They were friends, parents, spouses, sons and daughters. They were neighbors in a very close maritime community."

While the Coast Guard continues to deliver the message of safe boating, this year, said Klinker. The Coast Guard is making a special plea to the friends and families of all boaters: Hold your loved ones accountable and make sure they take the right steps to come home safe.

RESOURCES:

For a geographic breakdown and overall numbers of incidents and fatalities in 2011, click here.

For boating safety information, click here.

As the Coast Guard records the national statistics for 2011, the 2010 information is available here.

Safe-boating courses are available through the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and U.S. Power Squadrons. Course information may be found at:

U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
U.S. Power Squadrons
U.S. Coast Guard Office of Auxiliary and Boating Safety
National Association of State Boating Law Administrators

NEW YORK - Coast Guard Captain Joseph Vojvodich, Commander of Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound, Conn., awards a certificate of appreciation to Liberty Landing dockmaster Michelle Boggs for her dedicated support of Coast Guard Cutter Ridley by providing fuel and additional resources from her Jersey City, N.J., facility to the crew prior to Tropical Storm Irene impacting the port of New York and New Jersey in 2011.  U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Thomas McKenzie

NEW YORK - Liberty Landing dockmaster Michelle Boggs holds a challenge coin presented to her by Coast Guard Captain Joseph Vojvodich, Commander of Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound, Conn., Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2012.  Boggs also received a certificate of appreciation for her dedicated support of Coast Guard Cutter Ridley by providing fuel and additional resources from her Jersey City, N.J., facility to the crew prior to Tropical Storm Irene impacting the port of New York and New Jersey in 2011. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Thomas McKenzie

Click for high-res version

NORTH ATLANTIC - A member of a Coast Guard HC-130J Hercules aircrew attached to Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., drops a wreath over the at-sea memorial site of the RMS Titanic on April 15, 2011. U.S. Coast Guard video by Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Bob Laura.

LABRADOR SEA, CANADA – Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Monty Nijjar, stationed at Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., looks out over an ice pack that stretches to the coast of Labrador as he pilots an HC-130J Hercules aircraft transporting members of the Coast Guard International Ice Patrol, April 7, 2011. Members of the Ice Patrol will send data gathered on ice conditions, icebergs and their movements to the International Ice Patrol headquarters in New London, Conn.  This data is made available to ships traveling the North Atlantic shipping lanes. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Petty Officer Bob Laura.

ST JOHNS, NEWFOUNDLAND – Crew members aboard an HC-130J Hercules aircraft from Elizabeth City Air Station, N.C., wait to be towed into a hanger after a long day with the members of the Coast Guard’s International Ice Patrol, April 10, 2011.  They were searching for icebergs in the North Atlantic which could affect the shipping lanes.  U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Petty Officer Bob Laura.

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NEW YORK – The Coast Guard is offering accredited representatives of the media seats aboard Coast Guard aircraft during International Ice Patrol flights and the at-sea centennial commemorative wreath-layings over the RMS Titanic resting site, beginning Feb. 1, 2012.

The mission of the International Ice Patrol is to monitor the iceberg danger near the Grand Banks of Newfoundland and provide the iceberg limit to the maritime community.

The RMS Titanic sank on April 15, 1912, after striking an iceberg near the Grand Banks of Newfoundland in the North Atlantic Ocean. The tremendous loss of life in this preventable tragedy led to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea in 1914.

International Ice Patrol was conducted by the Revenue Cutter Service starting in 1913 and was formally established by the SOLAS convention. The sole purpose of the International Ice Patrol is to promote the safe navigation of the Northwest Atlantic Ocean when the danger of iceberg collision exists.

Since the 1960s, International Ice Patrol has commemorated the sinking of the Titanic by dropping wreaths near the location of the sinking.

WHO: accredited members of the news media

WHAT: limited seating aboard Coast Guard aircraft to accredited representatives of the media seats aboard Coast Guard aircraft during International Ice Patrol flights and the at-sea centennial commemorative wreath-layings over the RMS Titanic resting site

WHERE: Flights are aboard U.S. Coast Guard HC-130J aircraft and depart from St. John’s, Newfoundland, CAN

WHEN: Feb. 1 - 9, 2012 
             Mar. 28 – Apr. 5, 2012
             Apr. 11 – Apr. 19, 2012 - centennial wreath laying

Please be advised of the following groundrules:

No electronic equipment (audio or video recording devices, cellular phone, etc.) with the ability to transmit or receive a signal will be permitted aboard the aircraft for safety reasons. Video and audio capture must be direct to cassette. This includes lavaliere microphones.

Flights departing St John’s for the mission flights and at-sea memorial may be delayed due to adverse weather conditions, visibility or aircraft casualty.  Members of the media are advised to make lodging arrangements in St. John’s.

There is limited seating available aboard each flight, 8-10 seats maximum.

Media are responsible for their own transportation to St. John’s.

Interested members of the media should contact Petty Officer 1st Class Thomas McKenzie at 212-668-7114

View Coast Guard transports three to shore near Shinnecock, N.Y. in a larger map

NEW YORK – The Coast Guard transported three people to shore after they abandoned ship 12 miles south of Shinnecock, Long Island, N.Y., Sunday.

EATON’S NECK, N.Y., - Crewmembers from Coast Guard Station Eaton’s Neck stand in formation next to seated guests during the unit’s boathouse ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony, Wednesday, December 14, 2011. The new boathouse replaces the previous building, which was destroyed by a fire on Christmas Eve 2008. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Jetta H. Disco.

EATON’S NECK, N.Y., - (from left) Capt. George Bonner, Brad Slappey, Chief Warrant Officer Stephen Pollock and Rear Adm. Daniel Neptun cut the ribbon of Coast Guard Station Eaton’s Neck’s newly constructed boathouse, Wednesday, December 14, 2011. The new boathouse replaces the previous building, which was destroyed by a fire on Christmas Eve 2008. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Jetta H. Disco.

EATON’S NECK, N.Y., The dedication plaque for Coast Guard Station Eaton’s Neck’s new boathouse rest on a stand during the ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony Wednesday, December 14, 2011. The new boathouse replaces the previous building, which was destroyed by a fire on Christmas Eve 2008. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Jetta H. Disco.

NEW YORK – The Coast Guard presented Unionwear a Certificate of Appreciation at their Newark, N.J., factory today, for providing on-time delivery of the Coast Guard’s new standard uniform ball cap.

Members of the Coast Guard Personnel Service Center, Coast Guard Community Service Command and the Coast Guard Exchange, including Rear Adm. Daniel R. May, Commander of Personnel Service Center, met with Mitch Cahn, the President of Unionwear, to commend him and his team for a job well done.

Unionwear produced a total of 60,000 ball caps on time and met the needs of the Coast Guard’s active duty and reserve personnel to transition to the new standard ball cap by Oct. 1, 2011.

“The Coast Guard takes pride in supporting its local businesses,” said Capt. Robert Mckenna, Commander of Coast Guard Community Services Command. “We hope the business generated has left a positive impact on the Newark community and economy.”

WHO: Coast Guard Station Eaton’s Neck

WHAT: Dedication ceremony.

WHEN: Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2011 at 2:30 p.m.

WHERE: Coast Guard Station Eaton’s Neck
               12 Lighthouse Road
               Northport, NY 11768

The crew of Coast Guard Station Eaton’s Neck welcomes you to the dedication ceremony of their new 10,000 square foot state-of-the-art boathouse. This boathouse replaces the previous, which was destroyed by a fire Christmas Eve 2008.

The new boathouse, funded by the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, includes a drive-through boat bay, a new launching ramp, maintenance shops and offices for personnel. The new building is designed to resemble the previous boathouse, built in 1936, and blend with the existing historical buildings on site.

 ***Media wishing to attend the dedication ceremony are asked to R.S.V.P. by 4 p.m., Tuesday, December 13, to Petty Officer 2^nd Class Jetta Disco at (212) 668-7114. Attendees are asked to arrive no later than 2 p.m.***

View Coast Guard boarding team terminates vessel voyage for safety concerns in a larger map

NEW YORK – A Coast Guard boarding team terminated a vessel voyage in the waters near Sandy Hook, N.J., today.

While performing a routine vessel safety check four miles from Sandy Hook, a boarding team from the Coast Guard Cutter Bainbridge Island noted one violation – the 36-foot commercial fishing vessel had only one immersion suit for the two people aboard. 

“Our primary concern is for the safety of the maritime community,” said Patrick Petrarca, an operations specialist with Coast Guard Sector New York.  “Winter conditions on the water can be dangerous, and it is important that mariners are properly equipped to handle those challenges.”

The Coast Guard crew escorted the vessel to Sandy Hook, and will follow up with the owner to ensure the correction of violation. 

The Coast Guard stresses the importance of having the required safety equipment on-board commercial and recreational vessels at all times.

View Coast Guard terminates vessel voyage for safety concerns in a larger map

NEW YORK – A Coast Guard boarding team from Station New Haven, Conn., terminated a vessel voyage in the New Haven Harbor today.

While performing routine vessel safety checks, the Coast Guard boarding team noted three violations: the 40-foot commercial fishing vessel had inadequate firefighting equipment, expired signal flares and excessive fuel in its bilges.

“Our primary concern is always the safety of the maritime community,” said John Olsen, a Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound, Conn., command duty officer. “Winter conditions on the water can be dangerous here; it’s important mariners are properly equipped to handle the challenges on the water.”

The Coast Guard towed the vessel to its homeport in New Haven after it became disabled during the safety boarding. The Coast Guard will follow up with the owner to ensure the correction of violations.

The Coast Guard stresses the importance of having the required safety equipment on board commercial and recreational vessels at all times.

View Coast Guard rescues man in Long Island Sound in a larger map

NEW YORK – The Coast Guard rescued a man who was experiencing chest pains aboard his boat in Long Island Sound south of East Haven, Conn., today.

The Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound command center in New Haven received notification from the Branford, Conn., Police Department of the 50-year-old mariner in distress, who was also reporting that his sail was fouled and there was water in his vessel’s bilge.  The command center deployed a rescue boat crew from Coast Guard Station New Haven with an emergency medical specialist aboard.

Once on scene, the Coast Guard rescue crew observed that the 24-foot sailing vessel’s electrical system was not operating properly, the radio was inoperable and the bilge pumps were not functioning.  The mariner was able to call for help on his cell phone.  Weather conditions on scene were reported as 4- to 6-foot waves with wind at 15 to 30 knots and poor visibility.

The patient was taken aboard the Coast Guard boat and was transferred to the Branford town dock to waiting emergency medical specialists.  His condition was reported as stable.

“Sometimes things happen on the water.  That’s why we’re here,” said Mark Averill, a command duty officer with the Coast Guard command center in New Haven.

The Coast Guard strongly recommends that mariners, both commercial and recreational, maintain their vessel’s safety equipment and overall readiness.  It is vitally important to inspect the vessel’s radio before getting underway.

View Coast Guard terminates vessel voyage for safety concerns in a larger map

NEW YORK – A Coast Guard boarding team from Station New Haven, Conn., terminated a vessel voyage in the waters south of Sachem Head, near Guilford, Conn., today.

While conducting a joint agency operation with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), a boarding team comprised of Coast Guard and DEEP personnel noted three violations: the 40-foot fishing vessel was missing a fire extinguisher, had no day shapes and no sound-producing device.

“We work closely with the Department of Environmental Protection,” said Mark Averill, a command duty officer with the Coast Guard command center in New Haven, Conn.  “Our primary concern in this instance was the safety of the fishing vessel; the voyage was terminated due to safety issues.”

The vessel was escorted to its homeport of Guilford Harbor.  The Coast Guard will follow up with the owner to ensure the correction of violations.

The Coast Guard stresses the importance of having the required safety equipment on board commercial and recreational vessels at all times.

NEW YORK – The Coast Guard terminated the voyage of a fishing vessel due to safety concerns 13 miles east of Long Branch, N.J., today.

A boarding team from the Coast Guard Cutter Tybee noted that there was inadequate safety gear aboard the 78-foot Jaime Mae and terminated their voyage. A boatcrew from Station Manasquan Inlet, N.J., escorted the vessel to its home port of Point Pleasant, N.J.

“The vessel’s voyage was terminated because this was a violation that could not be corrected on the spot,” said Chief Petty Officer Rodger Krass, command duty officer with the Coast Guard’s Sector New York command center.

Vessesl operators must ensure they have the proper safety equipment on board and to know how to use the gear that could save their life if an emergency were to occur. 

This was the vessel’s second voyage termination this month. The previous violations were corrected, which enabled the crew to get underway.

The Coast Guard Cutter Tybee is homeported in Woods Hole, Mass.

NEW YORK – The U.S. Coast Guard is seeking public comments about Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s proposal to modify the Bayonne Bridge, across Kill Van Kull between Staten Island, N.Y., and Bayonne, N.J.

Members of the Coast Guard’s bridges office in New York are reviewing the project to increase the navigational clearance beneath the bridge.

The public may comment until Dec. 9, 2011, in writing to

First District Bridge Branch:
First Coast Guard District (dpb)
Battery Park Bldg, 1 South Street
New York, NY 10004

For more information about the proposed bridge modification plan, visit: http://goo.gl/ap9Ql.

View MORICHES RESCUE in a larger map

NEW YORK – A boat crew from Coast Guard Station East Moriches, N.Y., rescued a 49-year-old man from the water near Moriches Inlet today.

At approximately 2:45 p.m., a Good Samaritan reported a capsized vessel with one person in the water. The rescue boat crew from the station was already underway nearby and immediately diverted to the scene.

The boat crew rescued the man from the water and assessed him for injuries and hypothermia.

The man was not wearing a life jacket.

"As the air and water temperatures drop, its important for boaters to remember to carry the proper safety equipment on board their vessel and wear a life jacket," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Fusco, the officer of the day at Station Shinnecock, parent command for Station East Moriches. "This boater got lucky that someone was in the area to call for help."  

NEW YORK – Lt. Cmdr. Jon Bartel, from Coast Guard Sector San Diego, signs his autograph for fans at the NBC Today Show in New York, Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011. Bartel is a rescue helicopter pilot who is featured in the new reality series “Coast Guard Alaska,” which highlights search and rescue cases that occurred off the coast of Alaska. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Jetta H. Disco.

NEW YORK – Chief Petty Officer Charley Fowler and Capt. Bill Deal, of Air Station Kodiak, Alaska, are interviewed by Natalie Morales of the Today Show, Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011. The Coast Guard members appear in the new reality series “Coast Guard Alaska,” which highlights search and rescue cases that occurred off the coast of Alaska. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Jetta H. Disco.

NEW YORK – Al Roker, President and CEO of Al Roker Entertainment, and Chief Petty Officer Charley Fowler, of Air Station Kodiak, Alaska, answer questions from local news affiliates about the Coast Guard missions in Alaska, Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011. Fowler appears in the new reality series “Coast Guard Alaska,” which highlights search and rescue cases that occurred off the coast of Alaska. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Jetta H. Disco.