Proceedings magazine is a communication tool for the Coast Guard's Marine Safety & Security Council. Each quarterly magazine focuses on a specific theme of interest to the marine industry.
Issue link: https://uscgproceedings.epubxp.com/i/149372
Arctic Region Challenges The Big Chill Working to overcome logistical support challenges in the Arctic. byCAPTADAMSHAW Chief of Prevention U.S. Coast Guard District 17 CDRDAVIDJ.GODFREY Commanding Offcer U.S. Coast Guard Electronic Systems Support Unit Juneau InanticipationofexpandingdynamicArcticmaritimeactivities,theU.S.CoastGuardistakingsteps toboostitspreventionandresponseposture.Along withexpandingsearchandrescueandlawenforcementdutiesinaregionoflimitedmaritimeactivity, theCoastGuardisfacedwithrapidgrowthofmarine traffc,offshoreexploratorydrilling,andecotourism. Simultaneously,theCoastGuardmustpositionitself toaddressemergencyresponseinharsh,unrelenting weatherconditions. Alaska is superimposed on the continental U.S., emphasizing the distance from the Coast Guard base in Kodiak to Barrow, on Alaska's North Slope. Image courtesy of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 26 Proceedings Summer 2013 In meeting these operational challenges, the Coast Guardfacessignifcanthurdlesincludingalackof infrastructure,limitedmaritimedomainawareness, andthevastdistancesassociatedwithoperatingoff Alaska'sNorthSlope.Toovercomethesechallenges, theU.S.CoastGuardDistrict17(D17)commanderhas workedcloselywithelementsoftheDeputyCommandantforMissionSupport(DCMS)organizationto positiontheCoastGuardforsuccessfuloperationsin the emerging Arctic maritime environment. Arctic Shield 2012 Theresult:Arctic Shield 2012, anunprecedentedoperationaleffort,heldinthesummerof2012,consisting ofthreemainelements—operations,outreach,and capabilityassessment.Thefrstelementfocusedon expandingtheCoastGuard'ssurfaceandairoperationstoincludeapresenceonAlaska'sNorthSlope — a large area that did not previously require asset deploymentduetohistoricalicecoverage.ThenearestCoastGuardairstationisinKodiak,Alaska,more than800nauticalmilesaway,whichrequiresfour hoursoffighttimeforaHC-130Herculesfxed-wing aircraftandmorethan10hoursforaMH-60Trotarywinghelicopter ngoodweather.CoastGuardcut—i tersroutinelypatroltheBeringSea,butitcantakeat leastthreedaysforoneofthesecutterstoreachthe Arctic Ocean. www.uscg.mil/proceedings