PHOTO RELEASE: Coast Guard Cutter Aspen maintains navigation aids in the Pacific Northwest

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 08/23/2019 05:54 PM EDT

united states coast guard 

News Release  

U.S. Coast Guard 13th District PA Detachment Astoria
Contact: Coast Guard PA Detachment Astoria
Office: (503) 861-6380
After Hours: (206) 251-3237
PA Detachment Astoria online newsroom

Coast Guard Cutter Aspen maintains navigation aids in the Pacific Northwest

The USCGC Aspen (WLB 208) and crew finish placing a buoy marking the entrance to Tillamook Bay, Oregon, Aug. 17, 2019. The Aspen is a 225-foot seagoing buoy tender currently maintaining aids to navigation in the Pacific Northwest. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Steve Strohmaier. USCGC Aspen crew maintains navigation aids in the Pacific Northwest Coast Guard Cutter Aspen maintains navigation aids in the Pacific Northwest
Coast Guard Cutter Aspen maintains navigation aids in the Pacific Northwest USCGC Aspen crew maintains navigation aids in the Pacific Northwest Coast Guard Cutter Aspen maintains navigation aids in the Pacific Northwest

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

SEATTLE — Coast Guard members established missing aids to navigation and realigned the entrance to Tillamook Bay this week during an ongoing mission along the Pacific Northwest coast.

Coast Guard Cutter Aspen, a 225-foot seagoing buoy tender homeported in San Francisco, transited the Oregon Coast last week correcting several buoy discrepancies. One such error was correcting the radio transmitter beacon for the buoy marking the entrance to the Columbia River.

The Aspen is currently the only heavy-lift capable buoy tender along the western coast of the United States. Coast Guard Cutter Elm normally handles buoy work in the Pacific Northwest; however, due to routine scheduled maintenance, they were unable to attend to any of the aids.

“We’re glad to ensure mariners in the Pacific Northwest have properly operating navigation aids to safely transit these notoriously rough waters,” said Lt. Cmdr. Jeffrey West, commanding officer of the Aspen. “The Oregon and Washington coasts are beautiful, but they present unique dangers, and the crew is proud to keep boaters safe. It has been a rewarding trip.”

Managing fixed and floating aids to navigation are one of the 11 statutory missions of the U.S. Coast Guard. The Aspens’ main area of responsibility is the San Francisco Bay Area and the California coast. The crew also performs various law enforcement and environmental missions, including oil spill response.

-USCG-