Welcome HAMILTON family and friends. Over the past couple weeks since we left the Arctic, the crew of HAMILTON has been in full operation and exploring many different parts of Alaska. On August 30, we added another first to the HAMILTON list as we became the first 378’ to conduct a boarding in the Arctic Circle. In less than pleasant seas, we launched our boarding team to conduct a safety inspection of a pleasure craft at the tail end of its Northwestern Passage transit. Once we completed our Arctic mission, we sailed to Dutch Harbor, AK for a brief one night stop. USCGC JARVIS was moored in Dutch at the time for maintenance resulting with us mooring on the outboard side of the JARVIS. It is an attention-grabbing evolution to moor up to another 378’, especially when the two bridges are close enough for a few Academy classmates to exchange handshakes from their respective ships.

After a brief stop in Dutch Harbor we began our transit to Kodiak. After a short transit with our first true port call in over 3 weeks, the crew was able to do some hiking to stretch the legs and eat at some of Kodiak’s restaurants. Only two hours after setting sail out of Kodiak we conducted helicopter operations with an HH-60 Jayhawk from Air Station Kodiak. The flight deck team performed superbly as they rigged cargo 300 lbs to the belly of a 9,000 lb helicopter while it was hovered no more than 5 feet above them. After a few hours of Vertical Replenishments (VERTREPs) and Helicopter In Flight Refueling (HIFRs), another hard days work was complete.

We were all treated to a port call in Juneau, AK where we all were able to see a different side to the Alaskan waterways while transiting through the Inside Passages. These narrow channels were full of whales and breathtaking views of the Alaskan wilderness. We were able to hone our navigating skills while partaking in some of the best sights Alaska has to offer. Many of us were able to take a trip to see a glacier in the Juneau area as well as partake in the town’s “old-fashioned” lifestyle as many cruise ships also shared our experiences.

After Juneau, we began our transit back to some warm weather and sunshine in San Diego. The crew felt a sense of accomplishment on the transit home as we have explored areas the majority of the ship has never seen. In what turned out to be a rewarding patrol, the crew of HAMILTON will have plenty of stories to share over a few days of well deserved rest. ~ ENS Kevin Edes

GM1s - GM1 Wilson (author)

WHEC Hamilton was about to make Coast Guard History as I finished the evening the meal and headed towards the Armory. Just as I got comfortable in my favorite chair the bridge began to pipe “Now set the LE Bill, set the LE Bill. Blue Team on Deck, Boarding Team consists of LTJG Brook, ENS Edes, CWO Haldeman, GM1 Schoknecht, and GM1 Wilson.” Immediately GM1 Schoknecht and I raced up to the LE Staging Area, donned our MSD-900s, and waited to be issued our Law Enforcement Gear. At first it seemed like a typical boarding that presented no particular challenges to our highly experienced boarding team. Some of the team members have conducted hundreds of boardings pertaining to various types of CG missions such as Fisheries Enforcement, Recreational Boating Safety, and Drug Interdiction. “This is different. You are making history Wilson. No Coast Guard Cutter has done a Law Enforcement Boarding in the Artic since the Cutter Bear of the Revenue Cutter Service,” CWO Haldeman said. As things started to sink in about all the hype, I realized we might be making history but really this was no different than any other time we go out. You’ve got to stay focused, fall back on your training, and make the mission happen.

As I headed down the Jacob’s ladder into the Over the Horizon Small Boat I got a better idea of what the sea condition was actually like. It was sloppy with four to seven foot waves, and it goes with out saying that the water is cold up here. Finally, we were away. BM1 Young, the Coxswain, raced the team over to the vessel Geraldine home ported out of Alameda, CA. Once on scene we realized the 47 foot vessel was too small for the whole team to embark. LTJG Brook, Boarding Officer, made the call and instructed the team that the Assistant Boarding Officer, ENS Edes, and I would be the only ones to go over. The Coxswain skillfully pulled our small boat along side. In a matter of seconds all three of us were over the rail safely. “It would have been something you would have seen in an action movie like Bad Boys,” said GM1 Schoknecht. Once onboard we greeted the skipper and crew of the Geraldine. As the BO and ABO started with all the formalities I began to climb down into the engine room and commence the Initial Safety Inspection. Both Engines were immaculate, and there was barely any water in the bilge. I was impressed. It was almost like the boat had never left port before. By now the skipper informed LTJG Brook and ENS Edes of his recent engine troubles, particularly a possible governor malfunction. The governor malfunction prevented the vessel Geraldine from coming down to idle speed by freezing the throttle controls. Quickly, LTJG Brook called over to the Cutter asking for assistance. Hamilton answered the call and sent over a highly experienced small boat mechanic, MK2 Angulo. As the small boat raced back and fourth between the Cutter and vessel Geraldine, the boarding team continued with the boarding. I started to check for all required safety gear, immersion suits, pyrotechnics, and life rafts to ensure the vessel would be able to respond to any type of emergency. As we wrapped things up, MK2 Angulo arrived on scene. He spoke with the skipper and vessel’s engineer to see if we could offer assistance. Of course MK2 Angulo decided to climb down into the engine room and get a better look at the problem. I was impressed as I tried to offer him a hand. MK2 had a vast knowledge of the vessel’s configuration as he inspected the governor malfunction thoroughly. It felt like a hundred degrees down there and with the sea condition being less than tolerable, MK2 struggled but continued on. “That is what we are out here to do. Help people!” said ENS Edes. Finally, after MK2 completed his inspection, and offered the vessel engineer on how to correct the malfunction. This problem was deemed not as threatening as it first appeared and that they could fix it at their next port of call, Nome. The call was made to disembark the vessel. Prior to leaving, the skipper and all crewmembers thanked us for the help and praised us for our service to our Country. And with that, the first ever CG law enforcement boarding of a vessel in the Arctic Ocean by a modern High Endurance Cutter came to an end.

Photos

HAMILTON Boarding Team “Blue” goes on to produce the first boarding by a 378’ in the Arctic.

ENS Mark Byrne looks to avoid ice bergs from the bridge.

ENS Al Sowers gives commands to the gun crews during General Quarters.

Mendenhal Glacier in Juneau, AK.

SN Ryan Kelley and FS2 Cory Legnetti fire the 25mm during a gun shoot.

The 76mm lights up the sky during a gun exercise.

HAMILTON navigating an ice field before departing the Arctic.

A tie-down crew hooks up a 300 lb load to the belly of an HH-60J during Vertical Replenishment exercises. (Tie-down crew L-R: SN Joscelyn Greenwell, SA Fabian Gonzalez, SA John Gentry, BM3 Phillip Risher.)

Handshakes are exchanged across bridge wings after HAMILTON moored successfully to JARVIS.

San Diego, CA and Honolulu, HI meeting in Dutch Harbor, AK.

HAMILTON approaching the Coast Guard Pier in Juneau, AK.

SN Charlie King stands lookout as the fog rolls in outside of Juneau, AK.

HAMILTON throwing lines over to JARVIS in Dutch Harbor, AK.

CAPT DeLaurentis shows off his 200lb Halibut catch with MK1 Keith Madle.