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Coast Guard District 9

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Department of Homeland Security
United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard District 9 Icon
CountryUnited States of America
BranchCoast Guard
Size6,000+
Garrison/HQCleveland, Ohio
(Anthony J. Celebrezze Federal Building)
Nickname(s)Guardians of the Great Lakes[1]
Motto(s)Semper Paratus
(Always Ready)

District 9 is a United States Coast Guard district, based at the Anthony J. Celebrezze Federal Building, in Cleveland, Ohio. District 9 is responsible for all Coast Guard operations on the five Great Lakes, the Saint Lawrence Seaway, and surrounding states accumulating 6,700 miles of shoreline and 1,500 miles of international shoreline with Canada.

Command and Duties

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Led by a rear admiral, District 9 includes 6,000 active duty, reserve, and civilian personnel.[2] District 9 predominantly serves duties such as search and rescue, maritime safety and security, environmental protection, maritime law enforcement, aids to navigation, and icebreaking.[3]

Operations

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One major role for the Coast Guard in the Great Lakes region is to perform ice-breaking duties to enable shipping to have free mobility throughout the region. One of the major ports to be kept operational is Duluth, Minnesota. [4]

Another major role is maintenance of navigational buoys. As of October 2021, the Coast Guard began implementing plans to replace all existing metal buoys with new high-tech foam buoys, which would not need to be serviced or removed annually. [5]

In October 2021, the National Center of Expertise for the Great Lakes was formally inaugurated as a new operational unit within the US Coast Guard. Amongst its duties are to perform scientific research on oil spills that occur in freshwater. [6] US Senator Gary Peters of Michigan said that Senate hearings had revealed that the Coast Guard was largely unprepared for handling oil spills in that region, and also that there was little scientific knowledge about how to clean up oil spills in freshwater; this was one major reason for creating this new research center. [6] The Center was set up as a joint project between the Coast Guard and the Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie, which would also host the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory in Ann Arbor. The center would also be managed by the NOAA's Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory. [7] The legislation to establish this center was enacted in 2018. [8]

History

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The history of Coast Guard operations in the Great Lakes region began with the operational activity by one of the predecessor agencies to the Coast Guard, the US Revenue Cutter Service. This organization's service in the region began around the 1820s. when its role included stopping smugglers, and assisting boaters in distress. [9] Another predecessor agency, the U.S. Lighthouse Service is believed to have begun operations in the region around 1816; by the 1860s, the number of lightships active in the region was 72 ships. The U.S. Life-Saving Service, another predecessor agency, began operations in the region in 1854, after a major storm sparked official efforts to increase the personnel and active units available for lifesaving services.

The fourth of the predecessor agencies was the US Steamboat Inspection Service. Relatively little historical documentation exists for this agency; however by 1911, it was filling an important role in the region, inspecting steamships for faulty equipment and machinery that might pose any threat to safety of steam vessels. [9]

In 1915, the US Lifesaving Service and the Revenue Cutter Service were merged to form the US Coast Guard In 1920, the enactment of Prohibition gave the Coast Guard a new role in halting smugglers of alcohol who tried to travel from Canada to the United States with illegal alcoholic beverages. [9]

Sectors

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District 9 Sector Map

District 9 is further subdivided into several sectors. These include:

Stations

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District 9 is constructed of 48 active stations located in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, and Wisconsin, Indiana and Minnesota.

District 9 Stations Map
Sector Eastern Great Lakes Stations
Sector Detroit Stations
Sector Lake Michigan Stations
Sector Northern Great Lakes Stations

Air Stations

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District 9 Air Stations Map
Sikorsky MH-60

Cutters

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District 9 Cutter Map

District 9 has ten active cutters operating in all five Great Lakes.[66] Cutter is a term used by the U.S. Coast Guard for its commissioned vessels. They are 65 feet (19.8 m) or greater in length and have a permanently assigned crew with accommodations aboard. They carry the ship prefix USCGC.[67]

Due to the requirement of Rush–Bagot Treaty, the cutters in the Great Lakes are minimally armed, save for a few machine guns. [68]

  • USCGC Spar (WLB-206)is a 225-foot multi-mission cutter located in Duluth, MN after switching home ports with her sister ship, USCGC Alder (WLB-216). Its primary missions are to aid in navigation, ice breaking, law enforcement, and search and rescue. In addition, Spar performs missions such as marine environmental protection and port security. Spar operates on all five Great Lakes, however, most of its operations are in Lake Superior and Lake Michigan.[69]
  • USCGC Biscayne Bay (WTGB-104) is a 140-foot icebreaking tug stationed in Saint Ignace, MI. Its primary mission is to maintain tracks in the connecting waterways in the Great Lakes and assist vessels through icebound shipping lanes. Biscayne Bay operates widely throughout the great lakes. Primary areas of operation are the Straits of Mackinac and the St. Mary's River. In addition, the cutter operates in the St. Clair/Detroit River system, Green Bay, WI, Duluth, MN, and Thunder Bay, Ontario.[70]
  • USCGC Bristol Bay (WTGB-102) is a 140-foot icebreaking tug stationed in Detroit, MI. Its primary responsibility is opening and maintaining icebound shipping lanes in the Great Lakes. In addition, Bristol Bay performs missions such as search and rescue, marine environmental protection, law enforcement, and port security and safety. U.S. Coast Guard engineers designed Bristol Bay.[71]
USCGC Buckthorn
USCGC Mackinaw
  • USCGC Mackinaw (WLBB-30) is a 240-foot vessel stationed in Cheboygan, MI. It is the only U.S. Coast Guard cutter in the Great Lakes designed for heavy icebreaking and specifically used for multi-mission capabilities, such as environmental response, Homeland Security, and search and rescue. Mackinaw contains state of the art technology such as its ability to deploy an oil skimming system to respond to oil spill incidents.[75]
  • USCGC Mobile Bay (WTGB-103) is a 140-foot vessel designed for icebreaking and is stationed in Sturgeon Bay, WI. Mobile Bay conducts icebreaking missions near Green Bay, WI, Straits of Mackinac, and the St. Mary's River from mid-December through mid-April. Its other missions include Maritime Law Enforcement, Search and Rescue, Environmental Pollution Response, and Homeland Security.[76]
  • USCGC Morro Bay (WTGB-106) is a 140-foot Bay-class Icebreaking Tug stationed in Cleveland, OH. Its primary missions include Icebreaking, Homeland Security Patrols, Light House Projects, Law Enforcement, and Public Affairs. Morro Bay operates within all Great Lakes and has coined the nickname, "Jack of all trades".[77]
  • USCG Neah Bay (WTGB-105) is a 140-foot Bay-class Icebreaking Tug stationed in Cleveland, OH. Its primary missions include Icebreaking, Homeland Security Patrols, Light House Projects, Law Enforcement, and Public Affairs. Neah Bay operates broadly within all Great Lakes.[78]

Marine Safety Units

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District 9 comprises four Marine Safety Units (MSU) and two Marine Safety Detachments (MSD).

District 9 Marine Safety Units and Detachments Map
  • MSU Chicago is in Willowbrook, IL; 40 minutes from Downtown Chicago, its primary responsibilities are Port Safety and Security, Marine Environmental Protection, and Commercial Vessel Safety. These missions serve to ensure safe, secure, and environment safety within Southern Lake Michigan, Chicago Area Waterway System and the Illinois River Watershed. Specifically, MSU Chicago's area of operation is Lake Michigan shorelines of Illinois and Indiana, as well as 186 miles of the Illinois River System comprised 7 locks and approximately 250 bridges. In addition, MSU Chicago's responsibilities include a fleet of 166 vessels and 118 regulated waterfront facilities.[79]
Coast Guard District 9 airboat crews deploy for Hurricane Sandy
  • MSU Cleveland is located along Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland, OH. MSU Cleveland's primary missions include Maritime Safety and Security, Environmental Response, Commercial Vessel and Facility Inspections and Marine Casualty Investigations. Its area of responsibility extends from the Ohio-Pennsylvania border to Vermilion, OH.[80]
  • MSU Duluth is located along Lake Superior in downtown Duluth, MN. MSU Duluth's primary missions include Pollution Response and Port and Waterways Management. Its area of responsibility extends from the North Dakota-Minnesota border to Grand Forks, ND and includes all waters west of Marquette, MI.[81]
  • MSU Toledo is located along Lake Erie in downtown Toledo, OH. MSU Toledo's primary responsibilities are Port Safety and Security, Marine Environmental Protection, and Commercial Vessel Safety. These missions serve to ensure safe, secure, and environmental safety in its area of responsibility that is contained in the Lake Erie waters from Monroe, MI to Huron, OH.[82]

Marine Safety Detachments

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  • MSD Massena's strategic location in Massena, New York allows for the detachment to effectively enforce U.S. laws, regulations, and treaties intended to limit non-indigenous species to the Great Lakes from vessels entering the Great Lakes. In addition, MSD Massena's operations include ensuring that vessels entering the Great Lakes do not pose any security, safety, or environmental hazards. The detachment is strategically located in the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, both the Snell and Eisenhower Locks are in close proximity. MSD Massena is a detachment of Sector Buffalo and works directly with the Prevention Department.[83]
  • MSD Sturgeon Bay is located in Sturgeon Bay, WI on Lake Michigan. The detachment is a multi-mission unit responsible for Port Safety and Security, Marine Environmental Protection, and Commercial Vessel Safety. MSD Sturgeon Bay is a detachment of Sector Lake Michigan working directly with the Prevention Department.[84]

Aids to Navigation Teams

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District 9 comprises seven Aids to Navigation Teams (ANT).

District 9 Aids to Navigation Teams Map

References

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  1. ^ https://www.atlanticarea.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/District-9/
  2. ^ "Ninth District Command". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  3. ^ "Welcome to the Ninth Coast Guard District: Guardians of the Great Lakes". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  4. ^ Coast Guard ready for ice breaking on Lake Superior. Duluth's Alder will join the operation next week, when ice is expected to thicken and spread as overnight lows are predicted to get frigid. Written By: Brady Slater | 3:00 pm, Dec. 23, 2020.
  5. ^ Bringing out the buoys, By Peter J. Wasson Ashland Daily Press Oct 31, 2021.
  6. ^ a b Coast Guard to launch freshwater oil spill research in Michigan. by Sheri McWhirter. Updated: Oct. 20, 2021.
  7. ^ After Being Enacted into Law by Peters, Great Lakes Coast Guard Center of Expertise to be Headquartered in Michigan. Center of Expertise, Enacted into Law by Previous Peters-led Efforts, Will Study Impacts of Oil Spills in Freshwater Environments, Press Release from US Senator Gary Peters, October 19, 2021.
  8. ^ Peters Provision Establishing Great Lakes Coast Guard Center of Expertise Signed Into Law. Center of Expertise Will Study Impacts of Oil Spills in Freshwater Environments. Press release by US Senator Gary Peters, official website, December 2018.
  9. ^ a b c Great Lakes; a brief history of US Coast Guard Operations by Dennis Noble, US Defense Dept. official website, June 27, 2017, accessed November 1, 2021.
  10. ^ "Sector Buffalo". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  11. ^ "Sector Detroit". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  12. ^ "Sector Sault Sainte Marie". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  13. ^ "Sector Lake Michigan". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  14. ^ "Sector Field Office Grand Haven". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  15. ^ "Station Alexandria Bay". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  16. ^ "Station Ashtabula". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  17. ^ "Station Buffalo". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  18. ^ "Station Cleveland Harbor". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  19. ^ "Station Erie". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  20. ^ "Station Fairport". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  21. ^ "Station Lorain". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  22. ^ "Station Niagara". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  23. ^ "Station Oswego". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  24. ^ "Station Rochester". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  25. ^ "Station (Small) Sackets Harbor". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  26. ^ "Station (Small) Sodus Point". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  27. ^ "Station Belle Isle". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  28. ^ "Station Harbor Beach". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  29. ^ "Station Marblehead". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  30. ^ "Station Port Huron". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  31. ^ "Station Saginaw River". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  32. ^ "Station St. Clair Shores". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  33. ^ "Station Tawas". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  34. ^ "Station Toledo". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  35. ^ "Station Calumet Harbor". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  36. ^ "Station (Small) Chicago". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  37. ^ "Station Frankfort". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  38. ^ "Station Grand Haven". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  39. ^ "Station (AUXOP) Green Bay". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  40. ^ "Station (AUXOP) Holland". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  41. ^ "Station (ANT) Kenosha". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  42. ^ "Station Ludington". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  43. ^ "Station Manistee". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  44. ^ "Station Michigan City". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  45. ^ "Station Milwaukee". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  46. ^ "Station (ANT) Muskegon". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  47. ^ "Station Sheboygan". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  48. ^ "Station St. Joseph". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  49. ^ "Station Sturgeon Bay". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  50. ^ "Station Two Rivers". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  51. ^ "Station (Small) Washington Island". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  52. ^ "Station Wilmette Harbor". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  53. ^ "Station (AUXOP) Alpena". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  54. ^ "Station Bayfield". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  55. ^ "Station Charlevoix". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  56. ^ "Station Duluth". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  57. ^ "Station Marquette". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  58. ^ "Station North Superior". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  59. ^ "Station Portage". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  60. ^ "Station Sault Sainte Marie". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  61. ^ "Station St. Ignace". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  62. ^ "Air Station Detroit, Michigan". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  63. ^ a b "Coast Guard begins operation at seasonal air facility in Waukegan, IL". Coast Guard News. May 31, 2011. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  64. ^ "Air Station Traverse City". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  65. ^ "Air Station Traverse City welcomes first of 3 new Jayhawk helicopters". U.S. Coast Guard. April 18, 2017. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  66. ^ "Units: Cutters". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  67. ^ "Datasheet - Cutters". US Coast Guard. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  68. ^ "Coast Guard cutters on Great Lakes are packing machine guns". Journal Times. Associated Press. 11 March 2006.
  69. ^ "CGC SPAR". www.atlanticarea.uscg.mil. Retrieved 2022-12-13.
  70. ^ "USCGC Biscayne Bay (WTGB-104)". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  71. ^ "USCGC Bristol Bay (WTGB-102)". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  72. ^ "USCGC Buckthorn (WLI-642)". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  73. ^ "USCGC Hollyhock (WLB-214)". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  74. ^ "USCGC Katmai Bay (WTGB-101)". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  75. ^ "USCGC Mackinaw (WLBB-30)". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  76. ^ "USCGC Mobile Bay (WTGB-103)". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  77. ^ "USCGC Morro Bay (WTGB-106)". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  78. ^ "USCGC Neah Bay (WTGB-105)". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  79. ^ "Marine Safety Unit Chicago". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  80. ^ "Marine Safety Unit Cleveland". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  81. ^ "Marine Safety Unit Duluth". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  82. ^ "Marine Safety Unit Toledo". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  83. ^ "Marine Safety Detachment Massena". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  84. ^ "Marine Safety Detachment Sturgeon Bay". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  85. ^ "ANT Buffalo". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  86. ^ "ANT Detroit". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  87. ^ "ANT Saginaw River". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  88. ^ a b "Aids To Navigation Teams". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  89. ^ "ANT Duluth". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  90. ^ "ANT Sault Sainte Marie". USCG District 9. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
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