Date: April 24, 2006

Contact: 
Lt. jg Hedi Landry
(321) 853-7176
hlandry@cgcvigilant.uscg.mil

COAST GUARD CUTTER VIGILANT RETURNS HOME

PORT CANAVERAL, Fla. - The crew of the Cutter VIGILANT is returning to homeport of Port Canaveral, Fla., this morning after completing an eight-week Florida Strait patrol, where the crew rescued, provided medical care, and sheltered over 200 migrants attempting to reach the United States. 

This is VIGILANT's second consecutive patrol in this region, previously embarking 515 migrants from Cuba and Haiti during their December-January patrol over the holidays.  Most notably during this patrol, VIGILANT participated in the two-day exhaustive search for a disabled 33-foot speedboat reported to have over two dozen migrants aboard. 

After several cutters and rescue aircraft searched through the night, the adrift vessel was located by search-and-rescue aircraft and VIGILANT responded safely recovering 26 Cuban migrants and a suspected smuggler. 

In addition to migrant operations, VIGILANT was involved in three search and rescue cases, and conducted 39 flight deck landings of the Coast Guard's recently upgraded Dolphin helicopter, the HH-65C, part of the Deepwater Project recapitalizing aging cutters and aircraft.
 
While conducting a routine law enforcement boarding on a sailboat en route the Dominican Republic, the boarding team was notified by the master that his steering gear was damaged, and he was not able to steer a reliable course.  The team's engineer was able to repair the sailboat's steering system allowing them to safely sail to the Caribbean.

Again on this patrol, the cutter's crew worked side-by-side with several Coast Guard patrol boats, and a host of the Coast Guard's newest Station small boats, including the high-speed, 33-foot boats operated in the Florida Keys.  These patrolling boats constantly searched and intercepted the smuggling "go-fast" boats, homemade "rusticas" and "chug-chugs" ferrying migrants between Cuba and the United States, transferring their detainees to VIGILANT for at-sea processing and care while awaiting determination on their individual cases.

According the Vigilant's commanding officer, Commander Mike Mohn, "I am immensely proud of how this crew repeatedly rises to the daunting challenges of this vital mission, compassionately caring for large numbers of migrants intercepted at sea, often for weeks at a time.  This around-the-clock operation includes complicated medical cases, multi-person security teams and frequent boat transfers of rescued migrants.  The thousands of hours dedicated to these efforts directly impact the lives of hundreds of migrants."

For the Orlando Sentinel & Florida Today add:
The Cutter VIGILANT and her crew are sponsored by the Orlando chapter of the Navy League.  Chapter President, Rob Matthews, and past-President Bob Karas and the entire active chapter host the Sailor of the Quarter Program that recognizes an outstanding crewmember each three-month period.  The Navy League of the United States is dedicated to the support of the men and women of the sea services and their families.

For the Daytona Beach News Journal add:
Commander Mohn is a Daytona Beach native and 1981 graduate of Seabreeze Senior High School.  He assumed command of Cutter VIGILANT in July 2005.  

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