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CG Auxiliary Turns 70
Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Thad Allen presented the Auxiliary with a Coast Guard Unit Commendation award on June 23, at Coast Guard Headquarters as part of the a celebration of the Auxiliary's 70th anniversary. "The Coast Guard Auxiliary is the finest all-volunteer organization in our nation," said Adm. Allen. "It is an integral part of our Coast Guard. We simply could not meet the challenges we face or conduct the missions we do on a day-to-day basis without their selfless devotion to duty." For the past decade, Coast Guard Auxiliary efforts have accounted for more than 3,100 lives saved, assistance to more than 91,000 boaters in distress, the prevention of the loss of more than $437m in property and the education of more than 1.6 million boaters through boating safety courses. Coast Guard Auxiliarists accomplished these feats by volunteering more than 36 million hours of their time. The Coast Guard Auxiliary was founded June 23, 1939, when Congress authorized legislation that established a volunteer civilian component of the Coast Guard to promote boating safety and to facilitate operations of the Coast Guard. Auxiliary members initially conducted safety and security patrols and helped enforce provisions of the 1940 Federal Boating and Espionage Acts. In 1996, the Auxiliary's role was expanded to allow members to assist in any Coast Guard mission, with the exceptions of law enforcement and military operations. The Coast Guard Auxiliary, with the motto "America's volunteer guardians," is one of the largest volunteer marine safety organizations in the nation. 2009 World Maritime Day Parallel Events Commandant Thad Allen, recently announced that the United States will host the 2009 World Maritime Day Parallel Event being held in New York City and around the country on October 16. The theme this year is "Climate Change: A Challenge for IMO too!"
USMI Launches SOC
United States Marine, Inc. (USMI), launched the first of two MKV Special Operations Craft in a contract with the Naval Sea Systems Command, (NAVSEA). The first craft will undergo dock and sea trials leading to a July delivery. The second MKV is to be launched and completed in August 2009 and delivered later to NAVSEA in September. The design is owned jointly by USMI and VT Halter and is part of an original contract awarded in 1990's for USSOCOM. These two craft will eventually be used by the Bahrain Navy through a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. Built of aluminum, the MKV SOC has seating for five crew and up to 16 passengers, all in shock mitigating seats. The boat will carry tactical radio, navigation, communications and ship control in an integrated console. There is a stern ramp for rapid deployment and recovery of AVON F470 boats. The MKV SOC has a MK38 25mm weapon system aft with four additional gun stations that can accommodate M2HB .50 Cal or M60/M240 machine guns. The aluminum hull, deck and cabin top are built by the sub-contractor Trinity Yachts at their New Orleans facility. These sections are then transported to USMI's facility in Gulfport for final assembly, outfitting, painting, sea trials and delivery.
Specifications Length, o.a. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82 ft Beam, max . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17.5 ft Draft (max static) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 ft Displacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57 tons (approx) Cruise Speed (SS3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25-35 knots Max. Speed (SS2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45+ knots Main Engines . . . . . . . . . . . .Twin MTU 12V396TE94 Waterjets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rolls Royce 50SII
20 MN
July 2009