Photo By Bill Mesta | The U.S. Coast Guard cutter USCGC Sitkinak (WPB 1329) pulls into the Naval Station...... read more read more
By: Chief Petty Officer Bill Mesta
NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba – Personnel attached to the Naval Station Guantanamo Bay’s Port Operations department received the United States Coast Guard Cutter USCGC Sitkinak (WPB 1329) on Dec. 1 for a port visit.
The Sitkinak pulled into port the naval station to take on 4,500 gallons of diesel fuel, potable water, supplies and take liberty.
When a ship arrives in bay at Guantanamo, Port Control is the communication hub for the entire evolution,.
“We have a check list that we go by that breaks down all of the responsibilities that our watch sections must cover for a ship to pull into GTMO,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Frederick Trahan Port Control’s leading petty officer, operations specialist.
“As the Sitkinak approached the harbor we made calls to inform everyone in the bay that the ship was coming in,” said Trahan. “We also notified the Coast Guard here so that they could provide an escort for the ship. We then notified the line-handlers so that they could ready to receive the ship.
Once the line handlers were notified, the Dock-master was informed that the ship has arrived as scheduled.
“The communication between Port Control and the Dock-masters is important because we want to ensure zero mishaps occur in Guantanamo Bay,” said Lt. Cmdr. Lareava Meschino, the Port Operations department head.
The Dock-masters make all of the preparations for meeting a ship’s necessities prior pulling into GTMO. They are also responsible for ensuring that the vessel is moored to the pier safely.
“Prior to the Sitkinak arriving we received a logistical requirements request,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Carlton Jones, quartermaster, the Dock-master’s leading petty officer. “The requests listed all of the needs the ship was going to have while they are in Guantanamo Bay.”
Once GTMO received the Sitkinak’s requirements for the visit, a message was sent them back that informed them of the cost involved for the logistical support, said Jones.
“When the Sitkinak arrived to the pier, I was there to meet it,” said Jones. “I made sure that they lined up correctly with the fueling station and that their brow was in a safe position. These are the two most important things for getting the ship moored to the pier.”
| Date Taken: | 12.01.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 12.02.2010 08:48 |
| Story ID: | 61218 |
| Location: | NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, CU |
| Web Views: | 868 |
| Downloads: | 4 |
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