Shrike stops at Poughkeepsie
POUGHKEEPSIE – The United States Coast Guard welcomed members of area law enforcement agencies aboard in Poughkeepsie on Friday to show off their newest addition to the New York fleet, Cutter Shrike, an 87-foot vessel.
The Coast Guard headquarters for the Hudson Valley, Sector New York, is based on Staten Island and is commanded by Captain Jason Tama.
Tama welcomed members of the Ulster and Dutchess County Sheriff’s offices, New York State Police, state DEC Police and a few others, to tour the Shrike and learn about how the Coast Guard is working to keep the Hudson River safe.
Dutchess County Sheriff’s Lieutenant Shawn Castano was on board and said the Coast Guard “plays a vital role in maintaining safety and security on the upper Hudson River and ensuring that the river stays open during the winter to allow for movement of vital commodities.” He said they “will continue to work side-by-side with the Coast Guard and our local and state partners on search and rescue missions to make sure that the river is safe for all.”
Ulster County Sheriff Paul Van Blarcum was also on the short cruise Friday. “They are needed in the Hudson River without a doubt. What was good about today is establishing relationships. Law enforcement and EMS, we all have those relationships; now we have them again with the Coast Guard,” Van Blarcum said.
The cutter, one of seven under Toma’s command, primarily spends its time on ocean missions including the vetting of cargo ships that are heading into the Port of New York and New Jersey before possibly heading up the Hudson as far north as the Port of Albany.
Toma said that his agency receives notification of ships four days before they actually arrive in US wasters. During that time, the ship, cargo, and crew are vetted to prevent any security risks to the United States. If questions remain, cutters like the Shrike will travel out and intercept the international ship, deploy a smaller raft with a boarding party and inspect the freighter further.
Toma also addressed the internal security of national waterways, specifically the Hudson and the proposed anchorage points which will allow large barges to anchor at points offshore near Newburgh, Hyde Park, Kingston, and other points. The captain said “one thing we’ve learned over the past year is not only how important the Hudson is to the Coast Guard but also the Hudson River communities.” When asked about security risks created by having the large barges anchored for up to 72 hours along the Hudson,
Toma said “we treat all vessels with the same high standards we have for safety and security for all vessels operating on federal waterways.”
Lt. Ryan Cuga, a marine investigator for the Coast Guard said that “the often overlooked risks to having the anchorage points would be when a large ship loses power and is unable to maintain its course, potentially blocking the river.”
The Shrike was formerly stationed in Florida. The Coast Guard has been reassigning ships from one sector to another to “even out the wear.” The USCG Cutter Sailfish that previously operated out of Sector New York has been sent to Florida in exchange for the Shrike. The vessels are overhauled and fitted with new equipment and modifications before returning to duty.
