Week 8

The Mohawk and her crew made their return into the familiar waters of the Atlantic Ocean this week.

The crew has overcome many obstacles in returning to the Atlantic. They have had to overcome another casualty in the engine room. Their number two turbo went out just before apprehending a small boat for a boarding. The cutter’s engineering department has worked continuously on the repairs getting the Mohawk ready for the Panama Canal transit.

The long transit through the Panama Canal was tiring for everyone as the Mohawk made the journey during the night. They started the much anticipated trip to the Atlantic at 8 p.m. and did not finish until 5 a.m. the next morning.

While this week was busy, there was also time for fun. The crew enjoyed a fish call that brought so many fish that even the least experienced fisherman was constantly pulling fish out of the ocean. The crew went with a catch and release program setting free their temporary captives and just enjoying the battle.

The Mohawk is now over half way finished with their journey and they are enjoying a couple of days in Panama making phone calls home, buying a few gifts, and relaxing on the pier.

Photos

Coast Guard Petty Officer Second Class Douglas A. Kipp stands by his fender detail in the Panama Canal on August 21, 2006.

Coast Guard Seaman Joshua S. Klunder watches as the Mohawk goes through the Panama Canal on August 21, 2006.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Third Class Lindsay E. Jones holds up a sign and points to the web camera in the Panama Canal on August 20, 2006.

Coast Guard Ensign Paul J. Miller (left) and Petty Officer Third Class Carson L. Corbin watch as the Mohawk is pulled by a locomotive through the Panama Canal on August 20, 2006.

Coast Guard Fireman Lance L. Siebert catches a fish during sunset in the Pacific Ocean near Balboa, Panama on August 19, 2006.

Coast Guard Fireman Lance L. Siebert casts at a dead tree floating in the Pacific Ocean near Balboa, Panama on August 19, 2006.

Coast Guard Fireman Lance L. Seibert looks up the exhaust after removing the number two turbo in the Pacific Ocean near Balboa, Panama on August 19, 2006.

Coast Guard Fireman Lance L. Seibert (left) gives Fireman Marcus Whitley (right) some war paint after they do battle with the number two turbo in the Pacific Ocean near Balboa, Panama on August 19, 2006.

Coast Guard Fireman Joshua K. Forsyth takes pieces off of the number two turbo in the Pacific Ocean near Balboa, Panama on August 19, 2006.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Second Class Justin E. McLaury (right) and Petty Officer Third Class Bryan S. Lewis (left) work together taking apart the number two turbo in the Pacific Ocean near Balboa, Panama on August 19, 2006.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Third Joshua Pollard (left) disassembles the number two turbo as Fireman Lance L. Seibert watches in the Pacific Ocean near Balboa, Panama on August 19, 2006.

Coast Guard Fireman Joshua K. Forsyth takes screws off the number two turbo after it stopped working in the Pacific Ocean near Balboa, Panama on August 19, 2006.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Third Class Evan D. Gailey stands by incase of a fire in the stack space in the Pacific Ocean near Balboa, Panama on August 19, 2006.

Coast Guard Seaman Joshua S. Klunder drops the sea painter line to the Mohawk's small boat in the Pacific Ocean on August 18, 2006.

Coast Guard Seaman Joshua S. Klunder paints the hull of the CGC Mohawk while they are moored in Manta, Ecuador on August 17, 2006.

The Mohawk's over-the-horizon small boat shadows the ship during small boat training in the Pacific Ocean on August 18, 2006.

Coast Guard Fireman Donald C. Mecomber tests the Mohawk's fuel for water during his watch in the Pacific Ocean on August 18, 2006.

The focsle team on the Mohawk relaxes for a minute during the cutter's Panama Canal transit on August 20, 2006.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Third Class Benjamin H. Goodner takes bearings off a small island as the Mohawk prepares to enter the Panama Canal on August 20, 2006.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Second Class Robert C. Smith enjoys a fish call in the Pacific Ocean near Balboa, Panama on August 19, 2006.