Coast Guard to Host Micronesian Patrol Boats

GUAM – On Saturday and Sunday, patrol boats from two Micronesian partner nations will arrive at the Coast Guard wharf on Naval Base Guam as part of their participation in the second annual Exercise Sea Guardian. The Coast Guard Cutter Assateague is in the Republic of Palau conducting exercises with the patrol boat PSS President H. I. Remeliik. The two vessels will conduct joint fisheries and transnational law enforcement training while transiting from the Republic of Palau to Guam, and are expected to arrive at Naval Base Guam on Saturday afternoon. On Sunday, the Federated States of Micronesia’s patrol boat FSS Independence will join the other boats in Guam.

Throughout the week, the three crews will participate in maritime law enforcement training and exercises. The U.S. Coast Guard’s deployable Pacific Area Training Team from Alameda, CA, will facilitate mock law enforcement at-sea boardings and hold mock courtroom trials.

The week of exercises will close as it did last year with a “Damage Control Olympics” competition where the international teams will compete in firefighting, pipe and hull patching, and other maritime damage control events.

Interested members of the press are invited to cover the arrival of the Coast Guard Cutter Assateague and PSS Remeliik on Saturday December 1st, mock law enforcement boardings on Tuesday, December 4th, an/or the Damage Control Olympics on Friday, December 7th.

The Republic of Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia rely on a healthy fishing industry, and enforcement of their economic rights. By conducting joint exercises, Coast Guard Sector Guam and its Micronesian partner agencies increase their overall effectiveness and share knowledge and techniques that enhance overall regional security.