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July 10, 2026

Coast Guard attends keel authentication ceremony for next generation heavy weather surf boats

SEATTLE – The U.S. Coast Guard and Rozema Boat Works authenticated the keel for the first special purpose craft – heavy weather (SPC-HWX II) during a ceremony July 8 in Mount Vernon, Washington, marking a significant construction milestone on a vessel that will enhance the Coast Guard’s ability to operate in extreme weather and surf conditions in the Pacific Northwest.

Coast Guard Cmdr. Wesley Jones, executive officer of Coast Guard Air Station Sitka, speaks at the change-of-command ceremony of the air station in Sitka, Alaska, July 10, 2026. A change-of-command ceremony is a time-honored tradition that represents the passing of authority from one commanding officer to the next.

(Courtesy photo by Auxiliarist Don Kluting)

July 10, 2026

Coast Guard Air Station Sitka conducts change-of-command ceremony

JUNEAU, Alaska — Coast Guard Cmdr. Joseph Plunkett assumed command of Coast Guard Air Station

Capt. Stanley Fields, the outgoing Coast Guard Sector Southeast Alaska commander, left, and Capt. Ginny Nadolny, the incoming sector commander, right, sit during a change of command ceremony at Coast Guard Station Juneau, Alaska, July 10, 2026.

July 10, 2026

Coast Guard Sector Southeast Alaska holds change-of-command ceremony in Juneau, Alaska

JUNEAU, Alaska — U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Ginny Nadolny relieved Capt. Stanley Fields

U.S. Coast Guardsmen (l-r), Capt. Dave W. Ratner, Vice Adm. Joseph R. Buzzella, Capt. Tyson J. Scofield, stand together for a photo at the change-of-command ceremony for USCGC Waesche (WMSL 751) at Coast Guard Island in Alameda, California, July 9, 2026. The change-of-command ceremony is a time honored tradition that formally transfers authority, responsibility, and accountability from one commanding officer to another. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Danish Khan.)

July 10, 2026

Coast Guard Cutter Waesche holds change-of-command ceremony

ALAMEDA, Calif. — The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche (WMSL 751) held a change-of-command ceremony on Thursday at Base Alameda. Vice Adm. Joseph Buzzella, commander, Coast Guard Pacific Area, presided over the ceremony in which Capt. Dave Ratner relieved Capt. Tyson Scofield as Waesche’s commanding officer.

Coast Guard Capt. Justin O. Vanden Heuvel assumes command of the USCGC Polar Star (WAGB 10) during the cutter's change-of-command ceremony at Coast Guard Base Seattle, June 29, 2026. Vanden Heuvel previously served as the Leadership Development Center's school chief of command and operations. (US. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Adrian Sanchez Villa)

July 10, 2026

Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star holds change-of-command ceremony

SEATTLE – The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star (WAGB 10) held a change-of-command ceremony on June 29 at Base Seattle. Rear Adm. Jeffrey Novak, deputy commander of Coast Guard Pacific Area and commander of Coast Guard District Southwest, presided over the ceremony in which Capt. Justin Vanden Heuvel relieved Capt. Jeffery Rasnake as the Polar Star’s commanding officer.

An aerial view of ongoing construction at Coast Guard Base Charleston, where the Coast Guard recently awarded a $230 million contract for new operational support facilities as part of a multi-year infrastructure expansion plan. Recent projects include construction of a 90,000-square-foot engineering complex, a 120,000-square-foot multifunctional building, a new parking structure, recapitalization of Pier Mike, and a new medical and dental facility. These efforts are part of more than $440 million in upgrades to transform Base Charleston into a premier East Coast operational base. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)

July 10, 2026

U.S. Coast Guard announces $230 million contract for Base Charleston facilities, awarding over $440 million in recent infrastructure upgrades

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Coast Guard awarded a $230 million design-build contract for new operational support facilities at Coast Guard Base Charleston, South Carolina, marking the latest phase of a comprehensive, multi-year infrastructure expansion plan at the base.

July 10, 2026

U.S. Coast Guard reopens Port of Tinian to daylight operations, VHF comms remain limited

SANTA RITA, Guam — The U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port (COTP) for Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands reset a modified Port Heavy Weather Condition (PHWC) WHISKEY for the Port of Tinian, effective at noon ChST on Friday, July 10, reopening the port to daylight-only commercial traffic and cargo operations. All operators must coordinate operations with the Commonwealth Ports Authority. Following assessments Thursday and Friday, including work by an aids to navigation positioner deployed with the USCGC Myrtle Hazard (WPC 1139) to determine positions, the COTP was able to partially lift restrictions, restoring maritime commerce flow to Tinian. Simultaneously, crews restored connectivity to the Mt. Alutom communications tower on Guam with the help of a FEMA generator, improving VHF coverage in part of the region. The towers on Rota and Saipan remain offline. Additionally, the team at the Rota Emergency Operations Center informed the U.S. Coast Guard that the VHF tower on Rota was damaged by Super Typhoon Bavi, further limiting near-shore VHF radio coverage. “My thanks to the team and partners for the coordination as we reopen ports across the Marianas, enabling the maritime flow of critical supplies,” said Capt. Jessica Worst, commander, U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam and Captain of the Port Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. “As heavy weather conditions subside and people begin to take to the water, I cannot overstress the importance of taking multiple forms of communication and letting someone on shore know where you are going and when you will be back. We have significant VHF communications outages across the islands. Our team is working to restore coverage, but many of these solutions require equipment from off-island, and it will take time.”

July 9, 2026

Coast Guard interdicts 8 aliens near Point Loma

SAN DIEGO — Coast Guard Maritime Security and Safety Team Honolulu (MSST) crew members interdicted eight suspected aliens aboard a 25-foot panga-style vessel, approximately 4 miles off the coast of Point Loma, Thursday morning.

Coast Guard Cutter Venturous (WMEC-625) arrives to offload illegal narcotics at Base Miami Beach, Florida, May 2, 2025. The seized contraband was the result of four interdictions in the Caribbean Sea by the crews of USCGC Diligence (WMEC-616) and HNLMS Groningen (P843) with an embarked Coast Guard law enforcement detachment. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jessica Walker)

July 9, 2026

MEDIA ADVISORY: Coast Guard Cutter Venturous to arrive at new homeport in Portsmouth

MEDIA ADVISORY: Coast Guard Cutter Venturous to arrive at new homeport in Portsmouth PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The Coast Guard is scheduled to welcome the Reliance-class medium endurance cutter USCGC Venturous (WMEC 625) to its new homeport at Base Portsmouth, July 10, 2026.

July 9, 2026

U.S. Coast Guard reopens Port of Guam, works to clear channel hazards as Northern Marianas port assessments continue

SANTA RITA, Guam — The U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port for Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands reset Port Heavy Weather Condition (PHWC) WHISKEY for the Port of Guam, effective 2 p.m. ChST on Thursday, July 9, reopening the port to 24/7 commercial traffic and cargo operations without waterway restrictions. All operators must coordinate operations with the Port of Guam and the harbormaster. A U.S. Coast Guard Station Apra Harbor 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew working with U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit Five removed Buoy 2 at the Outer Apra Harbor entrance, which moved off station during the storm into the channel, where vessels expect safe water. “Our thanks to our partners at EOD for assisting with freeing Buoy 2 and working alongside our Station Apra Harbor crew to relocate it,” said Capt. Jessica Worst, commander, U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam and Captain of the Port Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. “Their efforts not only allowed us to reopen the waterway and get commerce flowing but also freed up our U.S. Coast Guard divers to head north and begin to address discrepancies in Tinian and Rota.” The U.S. Coast Guard continues to work with the Port of Guam, the Commonwealth Ports Authority, and commercial partners to reopen ports and address all discrepancies caused by the storm.