Personnel from Coast Guard Sector Columbia River and members of the Columbia River Steamship Operators Association gather together during the CRSOA's tour of Sector Columbia River facilities, Nov. 17, 2015.
Members of CRSOA toured three Coast Guard units and learned the many roles of the Coast Guard as it pertains to the Columbia River maritime industry.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Levi Read.
Cmdr. James Harkins, engineering officer at Coast Guard Sector Columbia River informs members of the Columbia River Steamship Operators Association about the Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter during the CRSOA's tour of Sector Columbia River facilities, Nov. 17, 2015.
Members of CRSOA toured three Coast Guard units and learned the many roles of the Coast Guard as it pertains to the Columbia River maritime industry.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Levi Read.
Chief Petty Officer Christopher Sheppard, the officer in change at Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Team Astoria, talks about different light signals used by the Coast Guard during a visit from members of the Columbia River Steamship Operators Association in Astoria, Ore., Nov. 17, 2015.
Members of CRSOA toured several units and learned about the Coast Guard’s many roles and missions.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jonathan Klingenberg.
Chief Petty Officer Christopher Sheppard, the officer in change at Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Team Astoria, gives a tour of the boathouse to visiting members of the Columbia River Steamship Operators Association in Astoria, Ore., Nov. 17, 2015.
During the tour, Sheppard went over the many role and capabilities of the Aids to Navigation Team Astoria.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jonathan Klingenberg.
WARRENTON, Ore. — Coast Guard Sector Columbia River, in Warrenton, hosted members of the Columbia River Steamship Operators' Association for a tour of the unit and a briefing on Coast Guard responsibilities and missions in the Columbia river area, Tuesday.
The visit, which included a Sector Columbia River information briefing, a tour of the sector's command center, helicopter hanger and a trip to Coast Guard Station Cape Disappointment in Illwaco, Washington, and Aids to Navigation Team Astoria at Tongue Point in Astoria.
"The Columbia River Steamship Operators' Association, Inc. was delighted to have the opportunity to participate in Missions Day and to learn from our partners at Sector Columbia River and to develop a better understanding of the complex and challenging roles and missions that the men and women of the Coast Guard respond to," said Kate Mickelson, executive director of CRSOA. "It is through the continued outreach and participation such as this that really shows the USCG's commitment to their maritime stakeholders including CRSOA members in deep draft shipping, ports and terminals, and tug and towboat business."
The Columbia River Steamship Operators’ Association, Inc., established in 1922 as the Portland Steamship Operators’ Association, includes members representing ship owners, operators, agents, towing, and bunkering, as well as facilities and ports along the Columbia/Willamette/Snake River and Oregon Coast River Systems.
"We are always to striving to build strong, lasting partnerships with all our partners in the maritime industry in order to protect and use the Columbia River system effectively and efficiently," said Capt. David Berliner, deputy commander at Sector Columbia River. "The Columbia River is the lifeblood of our regional economy and it is in everyone's best interest for the Coast Guard to have a strong working relationship with the maritime industry, which is represented today by the members of CRSOA."