Well .. our second week away from home and our first real week “underway” has been action-packed and interesting for all NORTHLAND sailors! We were able to jump right into our mission almost immediately after departing Mayport, Florida. While on lookout watch, SN McGhee spotted a Go-Fast vessel, however, as we began to approach it, it speed up and ducked into Cuban territorial waters, so we were forced to continue on our way looking for the next big event. The good news, however, is that our sighting led to the eventual disruption of the drug smugglers’ plans. While not quite as satisfying as making the bust ourselves the assist in keeping a load of drugs from making it onto the streets of America was very gratifying.

Next, we were tasked with assisting another ship in the area with the boarding of a suspicious fishing vessel. When we arrived on scene, that boarding team had already found the contraband, but we were able to help them out by transporting the contraband, vessel, and the detainees. As we headed into port to turn over the contraband and detainees to federal law enforcement authorities we were able to take the contraband and detainees off another ship working with us so that they could get to a port call on time.

With a vessel in tow, our crew has been stretched thin, posting additional security guards with the contraband and smugglers as well as a tow watch 24 hours a day. We also must have a “custody crew” onboard the towed vessel, to make sure it is safe as well. Various crewmembers have rotated through this very interesting experience. And, as expected, the engineers have been staying quite busy keeping everything running on NORTHLAND as well as the vessel in tow. Everyone is a little tired, but happy to be out at sea performing our very important missions!

The crew of NORTHLAND did manage, to find some time to celebrate one of our favorite holidays…Halloween! The evening was complete with a Halloween costume contest, games, and of course trick-or-treating! Everyone is having a great time so far, and looking forward to our next port call!

SK3 Fullmore takes down the National Ensign after we get underway from Mayport

GM3 Rios standing by during Special Sea Detail as we get underway from Mayport, FL.

SN Zitman and ET3 Newsome taking a break on the flight deck.

YN3 Murrell hard at work in the Ship’s Office

SN Hatchell learning the basics of the security round.

CDR Austin and ENS Seniuk out on the bridge wing of the mighty NORTHLAND as we conduct operations

IT2 Clark & ET3 Newsome take the opportunity to get some photos out at sea

SN Musica, BMC Woodill & SN Degner pose for a quick on the fantail before boat ops

SN Gavisk, SN Pullman & SN Hatchell during boat ops

Deck force during one of our many boat ops

The seized vessel NORTHLAND has been towing ALL WEEK…

The “custody crew” returning from the seized vessel for a little break back on NORTHLAND

MK2 Winer, YN1 Pata and MK1 Paglia are happy to be back on NORTHLAND & ready to take a shower!

The winners of the Halloween costume contest, SN Iulo and his “husband,” MK3 Moore

Our Captain, CDR Austin, got dressed up too!

ENS Tillman is “Hou-rah” for the contest!

SK1 Ball struts the “runway” as a grandma

SN McGhee shows off his polyester

ENS Ferreira and ENS Kapusta show off their moves as “Peaches and Big Daddy”

FN Neely strikes a pose for the judges of the contest

ENS Seniuk and ENS Tillman are quite the pair in their costumes