Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton crew conducts Hurricane Irma relief efforts

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 09/13/2017 10:35 AM EDT

united states coast guard 

News Release  

Sept. 13, 2017
U.S. Coast Guard 7th District PA Detachment Jacksonville
Contact: Coast Guard PA Detachment Jacksonville
Office: (904) 714-7606/7607
After Hours: (305) 318-1864

Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton crew conducts Hurricane Irma relief efforts

The Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton underway off the coast of Mayport, Florida, Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2017. The Hamilton crew surveyed the Port of Jacksonville, assessed the status of aids to navigation and surveyed the waterways for hazards in order to provide a clear picture of the damage caused by Hurricane Irma for Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville. (U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy of Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton)The Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton's Long Range Interceptor small boat crew underway off the coast of Mayport, Florida, Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2017. The Hamilton crew surveyed the Port of Jacksonville, assessed the status of aids to navigation and surveyed the waterways for hazards in order to provide a clear picture of the damage caused by Hurricane Irma for Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville. (U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy of Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton) A Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton crewmember observes damage during an assessment of the St. John's River in Mayport, Florida, Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2017. The Hamilton crew surveyed the Port of Jacksonville, assessed the status of aids to navigation and surveyed the waterways for hazards in order to provide a clear picture of the damage caused by Hurricane Irma for Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville. (U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy of Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton)Damaged observed during an assessment of the St. John's River by the Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton crew in Mayport, Florida, Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2017. The Hamilton crew surveyed the Port of Jacksonville, assessed the status of aids to navigation and surveyed the waterways for hazards in order to provide a clear picture of the damage caused by Hurricane Irma for Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville. (U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy of Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton) Damaged observed during an assessment of the St. John's River by the Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton crew in Mayport, Florida, Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2017. The Hamilton crew surveyed the Port of Jacksonville, assessed the status of aids to navigation and surveyed the waterways for hazards in order to provide a clear picture of the damage caused by Hurricane Irma for Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville. (U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy of Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton)The Coast Guard Cutter Maria Bray works aids to navigation alonsid the Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton in the St. John's River in Mayport, Florida, Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2017. The Hamilton crew surveyed the Port of Jacksonville, assessed the status of aids to navigation and surveyed the waterways for hazards in order to provide a clear picture of the damage caused by Hurricane Irma for Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville. (U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy of Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton) An aids to navigation buoy surveyed by the Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton off the coast of Mayport, Florida, Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2017. The Hamilton crew surveyed the Port of Jacksonville, assessed the status of aids to navigation and surveyed the waterways for hazards in order to provide a clear picture of the damage caused by Hurricane Irma for Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville. (U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy of Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton)

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

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton began conducting Hurricane Irma relief efforts Tuesday on the east coast of Florida.

The Hamilton crew arrived off the coast of Jacksonville early Tuesday morning, after battling through the narrow band of more than 15-foot seas between Hurricane Irma and Jose throughout the weekend. Upon arrival, the crew began conducting a preliminary assessment of the entrance to the St. Johns River in Jacksonville.

The Hamilton crew deployed its 35-ft Long Range Interceptor small boat to survey the port, whose five man crew traveled up the river, assessed the status of aids to navigation, surveyed the waterway for hazards and made contact with Coast Guard Station Mayport, in order to provide a clear picture of the damage for Sector Jacksonville.

“The Hamilton, one of the newest National Security Cutters in the Coast Guard fleet, is already demonstrating its value and capabilities in its ability to provide helicopter support, small boat operations, medical support, and command and control from off-shore as the cutter and crew respond to the needs of Florida’s citizens following the devastating impact of Hurricane Irma,” said Capt. Mark Gordon, the commanding officer of the Hamilton.

Hamilton is one of two 418-foot National Security Cutters homeported in Charleston, S.C.

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IMPORTANT LINKS

U.S. Coast Guard Hurricane Irma Response News

FEMA Hurricane Irma Resources

Official U.S. Coast Guard Hurricane Irma video and imagery