Christmas rescue

Captains,

Captain Pagunsan aboard MV Fantasy Star (AMVER participant) teamed up with the crew of USCGC Tarpon on Christmas when a 406 MHZ EPIRB alerted the Charleston Coast Guard of a distressed vessel named Carol Ann. Thanks Captain Pagunsan.

RADM W

Ship in right place at right time

1/1/2011

By LOUIE BROGDON The Brunswick News Arsenio Pagunsan, captain of the Fantasy Star, a Panamanian freighter ship, didn't expect to spend Christmas 30 miles off the coast of St. Simons Island, but at the request of the U.S. Coast Guard, he did. It was lucky for two individuals that Pagnusan, his ship now docked in Brunswick, was in the right place at the right time. The Fantasy Star was heading toward the Brunswick port from Canada when it and its crew were asked to divert 22 miles off course, he said. "I received a message from the U.S. Coast Guard that a fishing vessel was in engine trouble and they asked for me to go to the fishing vessel for communication," Pagunsan said Thursday. The troubled boat reportedly didn't have a strong enough radio to communicate with the Coast Guard in Jacksonville. The Fantasy Star was asked to go to the beleaguered boat and use its own communication devices to relay messages to a Coast Guard unit that was six hours away. The two people aboard the immobile boat were rescued and taken to Tybee Island by the Coast Guard, Pagunsan said. The Fantasy Star was released by the Coast Guard after nearly eight hours and docked on Colonel's Island.

Maritime Enforcement Specialists

Captains,

This week I attended a graduation of newly designated maritime enforcement specialists. The school, which is located in Charleston, is equipped with a "fleet" of static vessel types from a small outboard runabout to trawlers to a Marad-owned Ready Reserve ship. I was pleased to hear the graduation speaker, VADM David Pekoske, recite from Alexander Hamilton's letter to the nation's first maritime enforcement specialists, the Revenue Marine officers.

They will always keep in mind that their countrymen are freemen, and, as such, are impatient of everything that bears the least mark of a domineering spirit. They will, therefore, refrain, with the most guarded circumspection, from whatever has the semblance of haughtiness, rudeness, or insult. Treasury Department, June 4, 1791

Maritime Enforcement Specialists, like their counterpart Marine Safety Technician Specialists, now have an "A" school to learn the intricacies of a Coast Guard petty officer's special authority, responsibility, and restraint for maritime law enforcement. RADM W

CHARLESTON, S.C. - The inaugural Maritime Enforcement Specialist (ME) “A” school class graduated at the Maritime Law Enforcement Academy in Charleston Wednesday at 9:30 a.m.

Maritime Enforcement Specialist “A” school is a nine and one-half-week resident training course for Coast Guard personnel desiring to become a maritime enforcement specialist. It challenges students through an intense performance-based training program providing skills and knowledge in law enforcement, security, tactical combat casualty care, apprentice leadership, and weapons programs.

The rate was officially established January 1, 2010 when 1,053 active duty and 988 reserve members transitioned from existing rates and became maritime enforcement specialists.