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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Working over the New Year, Cutter Resolute returned to its homeport in St. Petersburg, Thursday, following a 37-day south coast and Caribbean law enforcement patrol.
The crew transited more than 5,600 miles by patrolling the Caribbean Sea, Florida Straits and Atlantic Ocean.
Throughout the patrol, crewmembers aboard the Resolute targeted the flow of illegal immigration into the U.S. aiding in the interdiction, care and repatriation of 400 Cuban migrants. The crew worked closely with the service’s newest Fast Response Cutters, Maritime Patrol Aircraft other Medium Endurance ships to carry out the Coast Guard’s vital migrant interdiction mission.
“The crew performed fantastic in every demanding situation,” said Cmdr. Matthew Brown, the Resolute’s commanding officer. “One attribute that makes the Coast Guard so great is our broad authorities and resources to handle responsibilities across diverse mission sets for the people we serve.”
On the night of Jan. 5, crewmembers aboard the Resolute were alerted that a passing freighter discovered a small vessel disabled and adrift in rough sea conditions. Crewmembers responded and recovered 35 Cuban migrants in the Florida Straits. The crew rescued three children and 32 adults from an unseaworthy rustic vessel that was taking on water. Safety of life at sea is the Coast Guard’s top priority.
While patrolling the coast of Haiti, the crew of the Resolute worked in conjunction with an embarked Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter air crew from Traverse City, Michigan. The essential partnership supported counter drug operations, preserved life at sea and deterred against dangerous attempts of illegal immigration.
Crewmembers were on patrol over the New Year and were happy to receive care packages from a local elementary school. The generosity boosted crew morale, which carried through the entire patrol.
Since Oct. 1, the Coast Guard 7th District estimates that 1,981 Cubans have attempted to illegally migrate via the sea. These numbers represent the total number of at-sea interdictions, landings and disruptions in the Florida Straits, the Caribbean and Atlantic.For latest information on Cuban migration and repatriation, click here.
For more information on how to legally immigrate to the U.S., call U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) at 1-800-375-5283 or visit the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov
Resolute and the other 26 aging medium endurance cutters are slated for replacement by a new class of cutters. More on Cutter Resolute is at http://www.uscg.mil/lantarea/cgcResolute/default.asp
The new Offshore Patrol Cutter will operate more than 50 miles from land, carrying out the Coast Guard's maritime security and safety activities in support of national interests. The OPC will be an economical, multi-mission ship, providing pursuit boat and helicopter capabilities and interoperability with other military and federal partners, superior to the cutters they replace. Equipped with modern sensors, the OPC will provide the enhanced surveillance necessary to detect threats far from U.S. shores and meet the demands of the Coast Guard’s homeland security, search and rescue, law enforcement and other vital missions.
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Press release: **PHOTOS AVAILABLE** Coast Guard repatriates more than 150 Cuban migrants