Office of External Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard

Date: Sept. 18, 2008

Contact: (409) 723-6500 ext. 6589

Coast Guard to hold media availability in Port Arthur

PORT ARTHUR, Texas - The Coast Guard plans to host a media availability day at its Marine Safety Unit located in Port Arthur, Texas, Thursday.

Coast Guard Capt. John Plunkett, MSU commanding officer and Cmdr. Randal Ogrydziak, MSU executive officer will be on hand along with Coast Guard public information officers to answer questions regarding the ongoing operations in the area.

WHO: Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur

WHAT: Media availability for Coast Guard operations

WHEN: 3 p.m. Thursday

WHERE: MSU Port Arthur,  2901 Turtle Creek Dr.,  Suite 200, Port Arthur, Texas 77642.

***MEDIA NOTE***

All media wishing to attend are requested to RSVP by 1 p.m. Sept. 18, 2008 at (409) 723-6500 ext. 6589.

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Saving Lives and Guarding the Coast Since 1790.
The United States Coast Guard -- Proud History. Powerful Future.

Office of External Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard

Date: Sep. 15, 2008

Contact: (281) 237-1614

Coast Guard begins re-opening waterways

KATY, Texas - The Coast Guard Captain of the Port of Houston-Galveston has re-opened portions of the Gulf Intercoastal Waterway and Houston Channel to commercial vessel traffic, with some restrictions. 

The following openings and restrictions are in effect:

- The Houston Channel is open to outbound commercial vessels with a draft of 12-feet or less.

- The Gulf Intracoastal Waterway is open to from the Houston and Galveston area, west toward Corpus Christi, Texas.

- All vessels are required to exercise the slowest safe speed to minimize wake.

All other waterway restrictions in the Houston-Galveston area remain in place until ongoing post-hurricane assessments for aids to navigation, pollution and navigational hazards are completed.

"Our Port Coordination Team efforts with port stakeholders are essential for a quick and efficient assessment of all captain of the port zone waterways. Partnering with industry to restore navigation on waterways is essential in the process of reopening this economically critical port. An emphasis on safety is paramount to eliminate ant further marine casualties during this period of navigation uncertainty," said Capt. William Diehl, Captain of the Port Houston-Galveston.

For Ship Channel information please use the following link: http://www.d8externalaffairs.com/go/page/425/25407/

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Saving Lives and Guarding the Coast Since 1790.
The United States Coast Guard -- Proud History. Powerful Future.

Office of External Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard

Date: Sep. 14, 2008

Contact:  (281) 237-1614

Coast Guard continues response to Hurricane Ike

KATY, Texas - The Coast Guard rescued 95 people yesterday as part of post-Hurricane Ike operatikons. In addition, 103 were brought to safety on Friday afternoon by helicopter crews from  The Coast Guard, Texas Air National Guard, Texas Task 1, and the California Air National Guard before the hurricane hit.

The Coast Guard is continuing its responses to Hurricane Ike on Sunday. Assessment teams, which were staged inland at the Coast Guard Continuity of Operation (COOP) facility in Katy, have deployed to the field. They will conduct waterway assessments on small boats to identify areas of concern in the ports and in the ship channel. In addition, the teams will assess aids to navigation to identify any repositioning of buoys.

"The Coast Guard's number one priority continues to be search and rescue. However, today's focus will begin shifting to assessment," said Capt. Bill Diehl, Sector Houston-Galveston commander. "We recognize that getting the port open as quickly as possible is a top priority. Once we determine what we need to do to get it reopened, we will send aids to navigation teams in the reset any buoys that may have been knocked out of position." 

On Saturday morning, as weather conditions began to improve, Coast Guard helicopters that were repositioned at air stations throughout the gulf region, were ordered in to the Houston-Galveston area to join other agencies to begin search and rescue. Ninety-five people were rescued yesterday. In addition, 103 were brought to safety on Friday afternoon before Hurricane Ike hit by helicopter crews from  The Coast Guard, Texas Air National Guard, Texas Task 1, and the California Air National Guard.

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Saving Lives and Guarding the Coast Since 1790.
The United States Coast Guard -- Proud History. Powerful Future.

Office of Public Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard

Date: Sep. 11, 2008

Contact: (281) 237-1614

Members of the Coast Guard stood up an incident command center (ICS) here Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008. The ICS was set up to prepare for Hurricane Ike. The ICS is designed to organize responses to any crises resulting from Hurricane Ike. (U.S. Coast Guard photo/ Petty Officer 3rd Class Ayla Stevens)

Click the above image to obtain a high-resolution version.

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Saving Lives and Guarding the Coast Since 1790.
The United States Coast Guard -- Proud History. Powerful Future.