Welcome HAMILTON family and friends. We invite you to join us on our voyage to become the first 378’ High Endurance Cutter to operate in the Arctic. With the current global issue of receding ice caps, the Arctic will become an ever more important area with highly valuable trade routes and resources. HAMILTON is currently extending US Maritime Safety and Security into this new frontier. We appreciate your continued support as HAMILTON enters the history books. If you have any questions or comments, please send them to Kevin Edes.

21 AUG 2008 by Capt. Vincent Delaurentis, Commanding Officer

Moored Dutch Harbor, Unalaska for brief stop for fuel, logistics and to repair ship's evaporator...it is good to be making our own water again!

2017 (Alaska Local Time) - HAMILTON underway from Dutch Harbor with the quest to become the first major multi-mission cutter to conduct a safety and security patrol in the Arctic.

2040 (ALT) - HAMILTON I secured and cradled for sea. Crew observed a fin whale breach off the starboard beam as we cleared the channel...a good sign...4,000 nautical miles to go!


22 AUG 2008 by BM2 Jessica Young

On Friday morning at approximately 0210 BM3 Troyer and I stood on the bridge wing conducting our GAR for the upcoming evolution (GAR stands for Green Amber Red, which is a model for determining the risk vs. benefit of a certain ship’s evolution). As we stood there we peered through the fog attempting to see CGC JARVIS, who was less than 1NM away. We could not see her.

Once the GAR was completed we headed to the main deck where we embarked aboard HAM 1. As we were lowered into the water, the JARVIS turned on their spotlight and deck lights. Off in the distance we could see her, looming in the fog and darkness.

We approached the JARVIS and made our transfer of packages. We gave them some Maneuvering Boards and they gave us a part for the one of the Turbines. As we pulled away from the JARVIS, the fog cleared, and HAMILTON stood proud and tall, illuminated in the darkness.

After a brief stop for logistics in Dutch Harbor, we proudly left on our mission to the Arctic. In an excellent display of teamwork, stamina and professionalism, at “O-Dark Thirty” the Bridge Team, Small Boat Team and the Boat Deck Team worked flawlessly together to quickly and safely get over to JARVIS, retrieve a repair part and return, all while the rest of the crew rested up for the next day. ~ CDR Michael T. Rorstad, (XO)

August 23, 2008 by BM3 Kevin Moore

Today was a typical Saturday at sea on board the HAMILTON. The morning and early afternoon were spent in a Field Day of the ship. After the cleaning was done, Quarters were held on the flight deck. Information was passed in regards to our VIP's who will be arriving tomorrow morning via the HELO. Our transit north to the Arctic has been a very calm one with few swells and relatively calm winds. The weather over the last few days has treated us well. Throughout the patrol we have encountered mostly fog with the occasional rain showers. Since we have been heading north, the sun has come out and the skies have cleared.

The HAMILTON is currently on a course of 009 off the coast of St. Lawrence Island, and heading towards the small town of Nome where we will pick up our VIP's. All hands are looking forward to the next few weeks and the adventure that awaits us. In the Operations Department, the Navigation BM's have spent many hours preparing the many charts for this exciting voyage. The charts are ready and the cold weather awaits us.

The crew has done an excellent job preparing for this historic journey, training in their mission areas and preparing for our guests. On 24 August, RADM Brooks, the Commander, Seventeenth Coast Guards District (D17); the D17 Command Master Chief, MKCM Vanderwerf, the D17 Tribal Liaison, Joel Casto (MCPO Ret), and Victor Gronmyr, CDR, Canadian Coast Guard are scheduled to embark HAMILTON. Getting more acclimated to the Arctic temperatures, the crew donned mustang exposure suits to give the ship a much needed fresh water wash down. ~ CDR Michael T. Rorstad, (XO)

August 24, 2008 by BM3 Adam Herpin

Today was not your typical Sunday for the crew of USCGC HAMILTON. First, there is hardly ever a reveille pipe on Sunday so I was not accustomed to seeing so many shipmates up and about at 0800. Sunday morning breakfast was held at the usual time but again, there was a rather large amount of people present on the mess deck on this day of Sabbath. The reason for the change in the normal swing of things is that everyone was up preparing for what was going to be a long morning of Flight Quarters.

The first flight of the day we said farewell to the first professor ever to embark on this cutter for the purpose of teaching a college level course (US History). Shortly after the helicopter took off, we were in five minute standby, awaiting the return of our HELO with a very special guest. The flight deck party was an extra diligent in performing their Flying Object Debris (FOD) walk down, taking extreme care to ensure there was no debris on deck that could become a potential hazard to the helicopter and the ground crew. The Tie-downs and Landing Safety Officer (LSO) were aware that they would be the first impression Rear Admiral Brooks would have of Coast Guard Cutter HAMILTON and they wanted to make it a positive one.

Shortly after the FOD walk down, one of the tie-downs shouted "TALLY HO!" which is a phrase used to inform everyone the HELO is in sight. The helicopter made its usual fly-by of the ship and took station off the starboard quarter. The helicopter was then signaled by ENS Beck, the break-in LSO to commence the landing. As soon as the HELO touched down on deck and the TALON engaged, the signal was given and the Tie-downs dashed out onto the flight deck, under the blades of the helicopter to strap it down. The Tie-downs in training, under the watchful eyes of YN2 Hockler, SN Morgan, SN Domholt, and me, hooked the HELO to the deck and ADM Brooks stepped onboard the HAMILTON. There were two more flight evolutions to receive more distinguished guests, including a Commander from the Canadian Coast Guard.

Once onboard, the Admiral addressed the crew, informing us of the importance of the Coast Guard extending it's reach into the Arctic. He highlighted the fact that although there are disagreements as to how much of the Arctic Territory belongs to the United States, we will still do our job of enforcing America's laws and conducting Search and Rescue wherever required. The Coast Guard showed its colors after Hurricane Katrina when we were saving lives before anyone else knew what was going on. Now keeping with that tradition, the Coast Guard is showing the world that we do not know what parts of this new Arctic Frontier belongs to whom, but we will be up there for whoever needs

August 25, 2008 by MK1 Keith Madle

At approximately 1510 MK3 Judson Goodwin was doing a round of the engine room when he found the inboard side of the #1 Main Diesel Engine (MDE) exhaust had caught on fire and was shooting flames out of the exhaust. MK3 Goodwin immediately punched out (secured) the MDE and notified the EOW. I grabbed a PKP fire extinguisher and proceeded to extinguish the fire on the main diesel engine. The EOW called to the bridge to set General Emergency (GE) for a fire in the engine room. The HAMILTON crew manned up their GE billets to prepare to fight the fire in ample time. Over the past month, we have been tirelessly training to prepare and fight any causality that may arise. The crew acted promptly and all the hard work paid off. The fire was immediately put out with the PKP extinguisher and we stood down from GE after conformation that the fire was out. The Main Propulsion personal then commenced rebuilding the #1 MDE exhaust system to get the HAMILTON ready to dodge ice burgs as we enter the Arctic Circle this evening. The engineers have been working constantly to ensure our propulsion is ready to handle any emergencies that may arise in this area of the world that no other Coast Guard 378' has gone before. We are charting new territory for the Coast Guard's homeland security mission and we fully realized that as we cross into the Arctic Ocean. The Engineering Department runs training for these situations twice a week, just to be prepared for a fire in the engine room, one of the worst casualties a Coast Guard Cutter could have.

Photos

Whale lookout. Members of Deck Force keep a watchful eye on the Foc’sle for whales on HAMILTON’s outbound transit.

Smallboat. Lowering the small boat in preparation of Flight Quarters.

Rock band. MKC John Franco on drums, ET2 Steven Grant on guitar, and YN2 James Hockler on vocals during the Rock Band competition.

RADM Brooks arriving.

RADM Brooks gets to know the bridge team as he talks with SN Christina Warner.

ENS Taylor Kellogg and ENS Ryan Beck discuss their plan to exit Dutch Harbor as Conning Officers.

HAMILTON departs Dutch Harbor, AK on a historic patrol as the first 378’ High Endurance Cutter to transit through the Arctic Circle.

BM3 Philip Risher is the small boat coxswain as he maneuvers around HAMILTON during the outbound transit.

FS2 Emily West stands watch on the Foc’sle during Special Sea Detail performing as the Foc’sle lookout.

(L-R) SN Dunbar, SN Hyde, SN Stewart, SN Fleming, SN Morgan, SN White, SN Domholt, SN Kreske bid farewell to Dutch Harbor.

Sunrise 15NM off the coast of Nome, AK.