Coast Guard Cutter Rush returns to Oahu after two-month patrol

[The Patriot]

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HONOLULU—Crewmembers aboard Coast Guard Cutter Rush and an aircrew from Air Station Barbers Point rerturned to Honolulu after a two-month patrol in the South West Pacific Tuesday.

During their deployment, the Rush’s crew and Air Station Barbers Point aircrew helped enforce the ongoing Fight for Fish; the 14th Coast Guard District’s campaign to protect fish stocks and deter illegal fishing. To perform their mission, the crews conducted patrols throughout various island nations in the region, including the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Kiribati, and the Cook Islands, as well as six remote high-seas pockets.

While underway, crewmembers and ship-riders conducted 38 boardings, patrolled six remote U.S. exclusive economic zones and exercised three international ship-rider agreements. As a result of their boardings, 14 vessels were found to be in violation of applicable regulations and one vessel’s trip was terminated due to unsafe conditions.

In addition to law enforcement activities, the Rush and Air Station aircrew asssited in the rescue of a family of four adrift for five days on the open ocean. Coordination with a New Zealand Air Force aircrew resulted in the sucessful location and rescue of the family.

Coast Guard crews also participated in Operation Kuru Kuru, a Forum Fisheries Agency-led multinational operation consisting of eight ships and four aircraft from different Pacific island nations, France, New Zealand and Australia. The operation successfully sighted 195 fishing vessels, investigated 35 fishing vessels and seized two for fisheries violations.

For more information on this deployment or the Coast Guard's missions in the Pacific contact the 14th Coast Guard District Public Affairs Office at 808-535-3230.




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