New England based Coast Guard cutter, air crews deploy for Hurricane Irma

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 09/10/2017 03:12 PM EDT

united states coast guard 

News Release  

Sept. 10, 2017
U.S. Coast Guard 1st District Northeast
Contact: 1st District Public Affairs
Office: (617) 223-8515
After Hours: (617) 717-9609

New England based Coast Guard cutter, air crews deploy for Hurricane Irma

A crew member from Coast Guard cutter Oak arrives to the ship after being recalled to deploy for Hurricane Irma, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017, Newport, Rhode Island. The crew loaded 137,000 lbs of chain and sinkers to bring down south to repair buoys that are effected by the hurricane. (Petty Officer 3rd Class Nicole J. Groll) Coast Guard cutter Oak crew members lower gear into the cargo hold on of the ship Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017, in Newport, Rhode Island. The Oak deployed to assist in restoring waterways in the wake of Hurricane Irma. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nicole J. Groll)
Coast Guard cutter Oak crew members pull the brow onto the ship in order to crew to deploy down south on Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017, in Newport, Rhode Island. The cutter deployed to assist in revitilizing the waterways in wake of Hurricane Irma. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nicole J. Groll) Coast Guard cutter Oak deploys for the south to assist with Hurricane Irma rescue efforts Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017, in Newport, Rhode Island. The cutter loaded 137,000 lbs of gear to repair damaged and off-station buoys. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nicole J. Groll)

 

Editors' Note: Click on images to download high resolution version.

BOSTON — A Newport, Rhode Island Coast Guard cutter crew and three air crews from Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod deployed in support of anticipated Hurricane Irma rescue and recovery operations.

Sunday, the crew aboard Coast Guard Cutter Oak loaded the cutter’s buoy deck and cargo hold with nearly 137,000 pounds of aids-to-navigation gear including buoy chain, sinkers, and other hardware, which will be used after the storm to restore impacted waterways and facilitate the flow of maritime commerce.  

"We anticipate repairing and relocating damaged and detached buoys in the major shipping lanes,” said Cmdr. Mark Chrysler commanding officer of Coast Guard cutter Oak. He said the cutter will make an additional stop Monday at Coast Guard Base Portsmouth, Virginia, to load additional gear and supplies. 

Saturday, Air Station Cape Cod deployed a HC-144 Ocean Sentry airplane and crew, and one MH-60 Jawhawk Helicopter with two crews aboard. They are currently pre-staged at the forward operating base at Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina, awaiting further orders in the event of mass rescue operations. 

 

 

 

-USCG-