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Today, we actually escorted out and provided clearence for
about 100 Mexican fishing vessels that were departing the port of Brownsville
after they had sought safe haven here fleeing from Hurricane Ingrid
Between Saturday and Sunday we brough in almost 180 boats, 179 boats
that were requesting Force Majuere due to the storm
these boats were all homeported out of Tampico, Vera Cruz and
Campechi, ports that were directly in the path of Hurricane Ingrid.
The port of Brownsville was the closest safe haven and they were able to duck in
tie up and be afforded safe harbor.
As opposed to out at sea with 14 to 16
foot seas.
We had three agencies, the United States Coast Guard, Texas Parks and Wildlife
and Customs and Border Protection provided surface assets
to bring the boats in, verify the safe condition of the boat
that it was safe to enter port, not pose a threat of pollution
to the port and verify the people on board
Today, what we did was the reverse of that. We were actually able to jump on board the out-going
boats and verify that the same number of folks
who came in on those boats left and that the boat was in good sea-worthy condition.
Each boarding takes about
10 to 15 minutes. We ran two boats
from each partner agencies, so a total of six boats with two boarding teams each.
We provided escort boats as well. So,
It was challenging because of the number of boats involved, the number of
visits we had to make on to these boats and the verifications
It was a unique challenge, but at the core of what the Coast Guard provides, safety of life
at sea for all mariners, this is one of our prime missions and everyone was
glad to be a part of it. Met the challenge admirably and
brought the folks in safely and effectively and we helped get them out in the same orderly
fashion. It's what we're here to do.
I think it was a great mission overall and
we'll be here to do it again if the opportunity arises.