US Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba returns home to Virginia after supporting Operation Vigilant Sentry

Courtesy Photo | The crew of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba (WMEC 907) conducts small boat personnel transfers with the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Isaac Mayo (WPC 1112), in the South Florida Straits, Feb. 26, 2024. Escanaba’s crew contributed to the interdiction and repatriation of over 100 migrants from Haiti and Cuba while patrolling the Coast Guard Seventh District’s area of responsibility. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Seaman Laura Holguin-Rojas)  

PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA, UNITED STATES

03.31.2024

Story by Ensign Olivia Kamwela 

U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area

PORTSMOUTH, Va. —  The crew of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba (WMEC 907) returned to their homeport in Portsmouth, Monday, following a 52-day patrol in the Florida Straits and Windward Passage.

Escanaba’s crew contributed to the interdiction and repatriation of over 100 migrants from Haiti and Cuba while patrolling in the Coast Guard Seventh District’s area of responsibility. Escanaba deployed in support of the Homeland Security Task Force – Southeast initiative Operation Vigilant Sentry (OVS), which aims to disrupt and prevent unlawful migrant flow and human trafficking.

OVS is the 2004 Department of Homeland Security plan that provides structure for deploying joint air and surface assets and personnel to respond to irregular maritime migration in the Caribbean corridor of the United States. Its primary objectives are to protect the safety of life at sea while deterring and dissuading irregular, unlawful maritime migration alongside our federal, state, and local partners.

While on patrol, Escanaba served as the Commander Task Unit for operations between the Florida Keys, Cuba, and Haiti, coordinating the employment of numerous surface and air assets to aid in deterring illegal maritime migration ventures bound for the United States.

“This is Escanaba’s first patrol this year,” said Cmdr. Jared Silverman, commanding officer of Escanaba. “The crew responded exceptionally to this extremely challenging mission; they handled each and every migrant with respect and care, and truly embodied the Coast Guard’s humanitarian mission.”

Escanaba is a 270-foot, Famous-class medium endurance cutter. Escanaba’s primary missions are counter-narcotics operations, migrant interdiction, living marine resources protection, and search and rescue in support of U.S. Coast Guard operations throughout the Western Hemisphere.

-USCG-

• Date Taken: 03.31.2024
• Date Posted: 04.01.2024 18:45
• Story ID: 467440
• Location: PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA, US