Sector San Francisco watch standers dispatched a MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew to rescue an overturned kayaker off the coast of Pacifica, California on Friday April 17th. (Video: U.S. Coast Guard)
BY STAS MARGARONIS
Deploying 24-hour per day boat crew patrols is the way U.S. Coast Guard’s (USCG) Sector San Francisco is keeping vital sea lanes safe and free of obstructions that could slow or stop ocean-going vessels’ ability to access ports in the San Francisco Bay.
Lt. Cmdr. Matthew Kroll, Public Affairs Officer, U.S.C.G. Eleventh District, which includes Sector San Francisco, said in an interview: “Right now a key element is keeping the ship channels clear and insuring there are no obstacles that might lead to a container ship, tanker or tug barge colliding with a floating object.”
Kroll noted that “As supply chain issues are a paramount issue at our six ports in San Francisco Bay, it is essential that we avoid potential hazards for vessels arriving and departing the Bay.”
To achieve this objective, the Coast Guard operates seven small boat stations to coordinate patrols. Aside from surveillance, patrols also are involved in search and rescue and law enforcement. The stations within Sector San Francisco are located at:
*SAN FRANCISCO
*GOLDEN GATE
*RIO VISTA
*BODEGA BAY
*VALLEJO
*MONTEREY
*LAKE TAHOE
At the stations, the boat crews are on duty 24 hours per day and compose 4-6 people. Their job is to patrol their sectors and make sure the channels are clear.”
Unfortunately, Kroll said, some crew members who have tested positive for Covid-19. In these cases, the entire 4-6-person crew has had to be quarantined and replaced by a back-up crew.
As a resulting of having emergency crews in reserve, there have been no disruptions in patrols.
Another key element in the boat crews’ responsibility search and rescue missions: “Search and Rescue (SAR) is one of the Coast Guard’s oldest missions. Minimizing the loss of life, injury, property damage or loss by rendering aid to persons in distress and property in the maritime environment has always been a Coast Guard priority.”
Kroll noted that Sector San Francisco has a sizeable area of responsibility that includes:
- Eight Commercial Port Authorities and 12 port cities
- Seven Petroleum Refineries
- 70+ Marine Terminals
- 21 Federal Anchorages
In March, Kroll said Sector San Francisco had major responsibilities to help coordinate the docking of the cruise ship Grand Princess, which had been stranded at sea because of the spread of Covid-19 to 21 people on board the vessel:” Most of the decisions about docking the vessel in SF Bay were made by the State and CDC (Centers for Disease Control). However, US Coast Guard gave orders directing the ship to the Port of Oakland for the discharge of passengers and after passenger disembarkation US Coast Guard directed the vessel into anchorage for a 14-day quarantine.”
While the Grand Princess was at anchorage,” Kroll explained “US Coast Guard maintained a security zone around the vessel to keep other vessels away. The unit that handles these patrols is Maritime Safety and Security Team (MSST). They provide special duty security for emergency situations such as patrolling the security zone. MSST also provides security for special events such as Fleet Week in San Francisco Bay every October and for special events such as the America’s Cup.”
During a typical week, Sector San Francisco might see the following activity:
- Inspect 24 commercial vessels
- Conduct seven casualty investigations
- Respond to 30 SAR cases (search and rescue)
- Save six lives and $833,000 in property
- Permit 24 marine events
- Conduct 250 Critical Infrastructure and Security Zone patrols
- Inspect 28 commercial containers
- Conduct four commercial vessel security boardings
- Conduct 40 law enforcement boardings
- Issue 25 violations
- Conduct 10 pollution investigations
- Facilitate the arrival of 7.5 million barrels of oil
- Facilitate 3,300 vessel transits
- Maintain 10 navigation aids
Sector San Francisco utilizes the following assets:
- Seven Small Boat Stations
- Four Coastal Patrol Boats
- Two 11th Coast Guard District Air Stations
- One Aids to Navigation (ATON) Team
- One Buoy Tender homeported
Sector San Francisco composes a sizable team of specialists and technicians to implement its mission that includes the following personnel:
- 606 Active Duty
- 43 Civilians
- 163 Reservists
- 1568 Auxiliarists
Sector San Francisco also patrols:
- Three National Marine Sanctuaries
- 85+ California Marine Protected Areas
Sector San Francisco is commanded by Captain Marie Byrd, who assumed her command in March of 2019.