Coast Guard Cutter Vigilant Returns To Port Canaveral Following Successful Patrol

By  //  January 12, 2016

successful patrol in the Straits of Florida

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The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Vigilant relieved the Coast Guard Cutter Resolute in the Straits of Florida for a busy D7 Patrol. (U.S. Coast Guard image)

BREVARD COUNTY • PORT CANAVERAL, FLORIDA – The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Vigilant is returning home to Port Canaveral following another successful patrol.

Vigilant departed Cape Canaveral on November 28 for Tailored Ships Training Availability (TSTA) at Naval Station Mayport, Florida. After successfully completing TSTA, Vigilant relieved the Coast Guard Cutter Resolute in the Straits of Florida for a busy D7 Patrol.

Small boat operations, migrant interdiction, and passenger transfers during Alien Migrant Interdiction Operations compromised much of the ship’s daily schedule.

“We are glad to return home after a successful patrol in the Straits of Florida,” said Vigilant Executive Officer Lt. Cmdr. Jeff Ferlauto.

“This was an extremely busy patrol over the Christmas and New Year’s holiday period and I am extremely impressed with Vigilant’s commitment to operational excellence while conducting a very challenging mission.”

Vigilant coordinated patrol tasking and sortie assignments for multiple patrol boats and maritime aircraft resulting in the interdiction of more than 250 Cuban migrants.

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Vigilant coordinated patrol tasking and sortie assignments for multiple patrol boats and maritime aircraft resulting in the interdiction of more than 250 Cuban migrants. (U.S. Coast Guard images)

Perhaps even more impressive was the crew’s ability to provide round-the-clock humanitarian care and security while migrants occupied theVigilant’s decks for nearly the entire patrol.

The Coast Guard’s migrant interdiction mission balances law enforcement against safety of life at sea, but it also requires a significant degree of compassion, all of which was balanced perfectly by the crew.

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Within days of getting underway for patrol, Vigilant received immediate tasking. Alien Migrant Interdiction Operations could wait no longer.

Vigilant took on 73 Cuban migrants upon arrival in the Straits of Florida. The explosion of migrant activity in D7 resulted in non-stop AMIO for Vigilant and her crew.

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Vigilant then spent Christmas and New Year’s on patrol supporting the AMIO mission.

In 20 straight underway days, Vigilant provided care, security and safety for 249 undocumented Cuban migrants attempting to illegally enter the United States.

As the Tasking Unit for smaller Coast Guard Assets in D7, Vigilant coordinated 18 different migrant cases and independently interdicted four different unseaworthy vessels saving the lives of 71 migrants.

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