DATE: March 19, 2009 11:20:49 EST
| News Release |
Date:
March 19, 2009
Contact:
Christopher Evanson
(904) 564-7623
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| Coast Guard Cutter Confidence returns to homeport following 40-day patrol |
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Editor's Note: Media are invited to attend the homecoming of the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Confidence, scheduled to arrive at about 8 a.m. Friday, at the Port Canaveral, Fla., Coast Guard Base, located at 9235 Grouper Road.
PORT CANAVERAL, Fla. – The crew of the 210-foot Coast Guard Cutter Confidence will return to homeport, Friday following the completion of a 40-day patrol which included alien migrant interdiction operations in the Florida Straits and participation in Operation Tradewinds 2009 in Nassau, Bahamas.
While on patrol in the Florida Straits, the crew of the Confidence interdicted six illegal migrants who were adrift for three days in a makeshift raft. The Confidence crew was also involved in the close coordination of multiple Coast Guard assets to intercept a Go-Fast vessel suspected of conducting illegal smuggling operations. The suspects on board the Go-Fast vessel were turned over to Customs and Border Patrol agents.
The crew of the Confidence arrived in Nassau, Bahamas, March 4, to participate in Operation Tradewinds 2009. Tradewinds 2009 is a Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff directed, U.S. Southern Command-sponsored exercise that is conducted in cooperation with Caribbean Basin partner nations. The exercise promotes regional stability, builds professionalism of military forces, shares regional innovations, and strengthens response capabilities. The crew of the Confidence participated in the two week exercise to exchange ideas, procedures, techniques and improve capabilities with members from the participating nations’ Coast Guard and Defense Force. In addition, the crew of the Confidence participated in search and rescue and law enforcement exercises at sea with the Royal Bahamian Defense Force.
The crewmembers also volunteered for the humanitarian assistance project at the Bahamas Association for Social Health. BASH is a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center in Nassau. It houses approximately 34 adults dealing with various degrees of drug and or alcohol addictions. BASH offers horseback riding and tours of the surrounding forest as part of an eco-tourist project that helps provide funding for the center. BASH is funded about through the Bahamian government and through donations. At the conclusion of Operation Tradewinds, the crew of the Confidence was honored to host more than 45 senior political and military officials as part of the closing ceremonies.
To view video of the humanitarian aid, click here.
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