U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Alert Returns to Port Canaveral Home Port Following 58-Day Windward Passage Patrol

PORT CANAVERAL, FLORIDA – The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Alert (WMEC 630) returned to their home port in Port Canaveral on Friday, following a 58-day Windward Passage patrol.  

Alert’s crew deployed to the Coast Guard Southeast District area of responsibility.

While in transit to the Windward Passage, the crew responded to an activated emergency position indicating a radio beacon in the vicinity of the Old Bahama Channel and came to the aid of U.S. fishing vessel Calico Jack, which experienced an engine problem.

Alert’s crew escorted the Calico Jack to Great Inagua, Bahamas, where they were able to make repairs.

While operating in the Windward Passage, the crew carried out transits of the Canal de la Tortue, Haiti, maintaining a continuous presence in support of Operation Vigilant Sentry to protect the safety of life at sea while preventing unlawful maritime entry to the United States and its territories.

“The integrity of our maritime borders is vital to national security,” said Cmdr. Mario Gil, commanding officer of Alert.

“I am proud of our crew’s leadership, professionalism, and teamwork throughout this demanding patrol. Their dedicated commitment to deterrence of illegal maritime migration saved lives from dangerous ventures at sea while safeguarding our nation’s borders.”

While in support of Operation Pacific Viper, Alert’s crew conducted 10 transfers of illicit contraband and detainees in under two weeks.

These transfers were carried out with Coast Guard cutters Mohawk, Spencer, Vigilant, Diligence, Joseph Tezanos, as well as the USS Minneapolis Saint Paul and the Royal Netherlands Navy Holland-class offshore patrol vessel HNLMS Friesland (P842).

The transfer involved the movement of over 12 tons of contraband via small boat operations. These transfers culminated in the most significant ship-to-ship drug transfer in Coast Guard history with Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton (WMSL 753) before their drug offload in Port Everglades.

In addition, Alert hosted the Turks and Caicos Islands Minister of Public Safety, members of the TCI Police and the TCI Regiment for tours while on a port call. Alert’s crew assisted members from the TCI Department of Disaster Management & Emergencies with a beach cleanup where they removed trash and unwanted materials that had washed up during Tropical Storm Erin.

Alert is a 210-foot medium endurance cutter homeported in Cape Canaveral under U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area Command.  The cutter’s primary missions are counter-narcotics operations, migrant interdictions, living marine resources protection, and search and rescue in support of U.S. Coast Guard operations throughout the western hemisphere.

To learn more about the OVS mission, watch these videos:    

■ Coast Guard executes Operation Vigilant Sentry in the Caribbean Basin

■ Coast Guard maritime interdiction and repatriation b-roll video

■ HSTF-SE OVS maritime detection and interdiction b-roll video

■ $2.2 Billion Seized in Drug Interdictions

Watch Coast Guard drug interdiction in action here: How the Coast Guard Seizes 45,000 lbs of Cocaine at Sea – YouTube

The Southeast District is responsible for Coast Guard activities throughout a 1.7 million square mile area, including Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, as well as 34 foreign nations and territories.

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