What's with the gun boats?

[Denverbri69]

When departing and arriving in FLL and OSJ these Coast Guard boats would circle the ship. Does anyone know why?

http://i1198.photobucket.com/albums/aa454/denverbri69/Cruise%202010/SanJuan005.jpg

[Copper10-8]

Yeah, to provide security for your ship and, at the present time, more than likely to train their crews in doing so. Btw, they're not "gun boats"; they're 25' Defender Class Coast Guard response boats

[Denverbri69]

Yeah, to provide security for your ship and, at the present time, more than likely to train their crews in doing so. Btw, they're not "gun boats"; they're 25' Defender Class Coast Guard response boats
So they are for training purposes? Not for making us feel important? ;)
Always have respect and support of our citizens in arms! Everyone should support the USO, Wounded Warrior Project and Fisher House.

[patseacruiser]

It's not just FLL and OSJ - had it on Enchantment and they followed all the way to Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel

[IslandThyme]

When we sailed through the Panama Canal last year there were gun boats at every single port on our itinerary all through Mexico, and Colombia. I think Costa Rica maybe didn't have any, but I can't remember for sure.

[LoveMyBoxer]

All over NY harbor too. Some of those even have radition detectors. Some small boats have been stopped because the radition detectors go off if someone had a recent X-ray or radtion treatment! Your tax $$$$ at work!

[Typhoon1]

Nothing new, those have been around most cruise ports for quite a few years.

[sapete]

So they are for training purposes? Not for making us feel important? ;)
Always have respect and support of our citizens in arms! Everyone should support the USO, Wounded Warrior Project and Fisher House.

I echo this!!!

[Krazy Kruizers]

We have also seen them in many ports other than just Ft Lauderdale.

[sail7seas]

Boston, too.

I think part of their function, aside from protection, is to shoo away small pleasure vessels who don't realize a 55,000 + vessel is bearing down on them and cannot stop on a dime. They best get their little selves out of the way, FAST.

[Boytjie]

Alaska too. Perhaps because you can see Russia from there. ;)

[matondo]

I always wondered what was up with the Coast Guard escort. Thank you for asking.

[ASIWISH]

S7S is right... ever since the USS Cole was attacked by a small vessel in Yemen, the Coast Guard gets in between the large ships - containers and Cruise - and small vessels to be ready to head off an incident.

If a large ship was "sunk" at the mouth of a harbor it would not only restrict important trade and military needs, it would also have a remarkable financial impact on the port/region.

That is why they protect them only on arriving and departing from the mouth of the harbor and not any further out to sea.

It is not for training, as someone mentioned it's been happening for years, and those guns are VERY real!

[knitlady037]

Those boats also escort the Staten Island ferry back and forth to Manhattan.

[3rdGenCunarder]

Alaska too. Perhaps because you can see Russia from there. ;)

Only if you stand on the top deck and look very, very hard. :D

We sailed on the Norway during the winter that followed 9/11. When we were anchored in St Maarten, the little fast rescue boat circled the ship all day. We were told that the little boat was new and that the crew were practicing driving it. Uh-huh, sure. And if you believe that, I have a lovely bridge for sale, just the way to get those Manhattanites over to Brooklyn...
K

[ASIWISH]

And if you believe that, I have a lovely bridge for sale, just the way to get those Manhattanites over to Brooklyn...
K

Hey, can you send me some pictures of that bridge..? I might be interested.

[Copper10-8]

Alaska too. Perhaps because you can see Russia from there. ;)

Coast Guard Station Ketchikan is known to do it, but not on every voyage

[Arwen]

When departing and arriving in FLL and OSJ these Coast Guard boats would circle the ship. Does anyone know why?

http://i1198.photobucket.com/albums/aa454/denverbri69/Cruise%202010/SanJuan005.jpg


Love these boats and the Coast Guard. We too, saw them as we departed on our cruise out of Fort Lauderdale several months ago. There were two of them escorting us out of the harbor and they were ultra vigilant. They put on quite the show! There were a couple of occasions where a pleasure boat was deemed too close to the Nieuw Amsterdam, and that CG boat turned on a dime, with quite the splashing and flair.....never seen anything like it! Can you imagine sitting in that pleasure yacht and "facing down" a .50 caliber Machine gun?....yikes! The CG is really good about keeping a significant buffer zone between the cruise ships and the pleasure boats.:)

[LadyShiva]

Alaska too. Perhaps because you can see Russia from there. ;)

Hey, can you send me some pictures of that bridge..? I might be interested.

You two owe me a new keyboard.

*grumble* Should have known better than to try and eat lunch and read CC! *grumble*

*laughing*

[ASIWISH]

I am so grateful that someone, forgive me not remembering who, posted about the Port Everglades WebCam this week.... not only do I now spend my evening watching sail-aways... which I love... but, I can also witness these brave Coast Guard boats escorting the ships out of the harbor.

The site also has sound, so when you hear the sirens go off, you know a small vessel is too close and that they are now in the "sights" of the USCG!

It is sooo much fun, and so interesting to witness!

Check it out.

[Boytjie]

Those boats also escort the Staten Island ferry back and forth to Manhattan.

I can't recall ever seeing that. Now I don,t take it every day but I do go on it a couple of times a year and can see it from the area where I work.

QM2 often gets a police helicopter escort in New York Harbor.

[Boytjie]

Hey, can you send me some pictures of that bridge..? I might be interested.

http://www.nyhabitat.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/brooklyn_bridge_new_york.jpg

[Boytjie]

Coast Guard Station Ketchikan is known to do it, but not on every voyage


I can't recall where I saw them and it's been a few years (Sept 2007)

[sail7seas]

I have to admit it was quite a sight to stand on our balcony at Hyatt Pier 66 and watch Port Everglades police boats go back and forth all day 'portecting' a U.S. Navy vessel that was there for the day. I have no idea why the ship was tied up in Port Everglades but there she was....... and the zodiac police boats kept her safe. ;)

I appreciate whatever protection is provided in these ports and deemed appropriate by those who know a whole lot more about it than I ever will. Those big ships hold lots of people who need to be kept safe.

[ASIWISH]

I appreciate whatever protection is provided in these ports and deemed appropriate by those who know a whole lot more about it than I ever will. Those big ships hold lots of people who need to be kept safe.


I agree... we live in a great country!

[Copper10-8]

I have to admit it was quite a sight to stand on our balcony at Hyatt Pier 66 and watch Port Everglades police boats go back and forth all day 'portecting' a U.S. Navy vessel that was there for the day. I have no idea why the ship was tied up in Port Everglades but there she was....... and the zodiac police boats kept her safe. ;)

I appreciate whatever protection is provided in these ports and deemed appropriate by those who know a whole lot more about it than I ever will. Those big ships hold lots of people who need to be kept safe.





Broward Navy Days Fleet Week is/are held in FLL annually in April. Or it could just have been a port call by the Navy vessel, like the USS Robert G. Bradley here at Port Everglades on 12 NOV 10


http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p73/Copper10-8/207646_10150223841895729_551215728_8838458_6117957 _n.jpg

[sail7seas]

Yes, Copper.

I forgot until you jogged my memory.....

:) It was Fleet Week.... end of April.
The U.S. Navy was docked on the other side from Pier 21.. where Cunard sometimes docks.

[LoveMyBoxer]

Those boats also escort the Staten Island ferry back and forth to Manhattan.

OK, since I hadn't ever noticed or payed attention, I just spent the last couple of hours looking out my office window watching the ferry going back and forth, and no escort to any of them. Perhaps you happened to see them being escorted while the CG were cruising around?

[rkacruiser]

I remember arriving in Port Everglades on the Volendam in October, 2001. In the middle of the harbor sat a large Coast Guard Cutter.

Certainly do appreciate the efforts of the Coast Guard and the Port Police in keeping the ships and us passengers safe!

[sapper1]

I can't recall where I saw them and it's been a few years (Sept 2007)
I saw them on our recent Alaska cruise and I think it was Ketchikan.

[3rdGenCunarder]

OK, since I hadn't ever noticed or payed attention, I just spent the last couple of hours looking out my office window watching the ferry going back and forth, and no escort to any of them. Perhaps you happened to see them being escorted while the CG were cruising around?

Or maybe they were practicing? The last time we sailed out of NYC, there were two of the small CG boats zipping around. Looked like they were racing. But hey, if you can make practice a little fun...
K

[CowPrincess]

Every time we've been in Alaska recently, Juneau has been our first port and that is where we see those boats. I asked a HAL officer about them and he told me that any time a ship comes from a foreign port (in this case, Vancouver), they are checked out and escorted by those boats at the first American port they reach.

edit. As a hilarious "aside", two of the other pax on deck had convinced each other that the boats were looking for a "rogue whale" :)

[sapper1]

Every time we've been in Alaska recently, Juneau has been our first port and that is where we see those boats. I asked a HAL officer about them and he told me that any time a ship comes from a foreign port (in this case, Vancouver), they are checked out and escorted by those boats at the first American port they reach.

edit. As a hilarious "aside", two of the other pax on deck had convinced each other that the boats were looking for a "rogue whale" :)
Rogue seems to be a popular word in Alaska.:)

[sail7seas]

I saw them on our recent Alaska cruise and I think it was Ketchikan.

We ate our lunch in Halifax at a glorious outdoor patio restaurant and watched the Canadian Navy training right in front of us. There were helicopters, vessels, all sorts of activities going on and it was quite fun to watch.

We also got to enjoy the view of Canadian Navy Frigate docked just up from Maasdam in Quebec City the day they brought Prince William and Catherine. That was terrific fun. Maasdam's stern provided the best view of anywhere in the city. :)

[Copper10-8]

We ate our lunch in Halifax at a glorious outdoor patio restaurant and watched the Canadian Navy training right in front of us. There were helicopters, vessels, all sorts of activities going on and it was quite fun to watch.

We also got to enjoy the view of Canadian Navy Frigate docked just up from Maasdam in Quebec City the day they brought Prince William and Catherine. That was terrific fun. Maasdam's stern provided the best view of anywhere in the city. :)

They, the Royal Canadian Navy, the entire Pacic Fleet;), were up in Juneau and Skagway in June...................training;)


http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p73/Copper10-8/311705_10150399233135729_551215728_10394325_156604 3686_n.jpg

[Diving Rabbit]

I am so grateful that someone, forgive me not remembering who, posted about the Port Everglades WebCam this week.... not only do I now spend my evening watching sail-aways... which I love... but, I can also witness these brave Coast Guard boats escorting the ships out of the harbor.

The site also has sound, so when you hear the sirens go off, you know a small vessel is too close and that they are now in the "sights" of the USCG!

It is sooo much fun, and so interesting to witness!

Check it out.

The steaming video with audio is amazing on the Port Everglades webcam and I have seen quite a display on more than one occasion of the CG bearing down or diverting a small vessel away from the side of the ship. Just watch on Saturday and Sunday when the Oasis and Allure leave port and you are bound to catch the CG in action. Very cool.

[arewethereyet]

Love these boats and the Coast Guard. We too, saw them as we departed on our cruise out of Fort Lauderdale several months ago. There were two of them escorting us out of the harbor and they were ultra vigilant. They put on quite the show! There were a couple of occasions where a pleasure boat was deemed too close to the Nieuw Amsterdam, and that CG boat turned on a dime, with quite the splashing and flair.....never seen anything like it! Can you imagine sitting in that pleasure yacht and "facing down" a .50 caliber Machine gun?....yikes! The CG is really good about keeping a significant buffer zone between the cruise ships and the pleasure boats.:)
I believe that's an M240 7.62 mm, not a .50 cal. But, still, I'm probably not going to give them a hard time.

[arewethereyet]

http://www.nyhabitat.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/brooklyn_bridge_new_york.jpg
Nice photo. Beautiful bridge. If any of you are readers, I highly recommend The Great Bridge (http://www.amazon.com/Great-Bridge-Story-Building-Brooklyn/dp/0743217373/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1317329719&sr=1-1) by David McCullough.

[Copper10-8]

I believe that's an M240 7.62 mm, not a .50 cal. But, still, I'm probably not going to give them a hard time.

Bingo!:)

[erewhon]

Back in 2008, we sailed on the Volendam, Vancouver to Auckland, the day after we left Seattle, a US coastguard helicopter circled twice above the ship.

[DeepWaterMariner]

The security in port began after 9/11. I don't recall seeing added security after the Cole attack but it might have escaped my notice. The USCG certainly puts on a good show leaving FLL.

[RetiredMustang]

Peter, you fraud! -- that bridge is not yours to sell, you don't own it, I do! I bought it a few years ago for a real cheap price (only $3,000), and I have the title to prove it! (.....what?.... really? You're kidding!...and the real estate agent was such a nice gentleman!...Peter, where were you in early June 2007 when the QM2 docked in Brooklyn?!)

Seriously, those boats are there for a real, serious, reason. They are also a common sight accompanying the Washington State Ferries traveling to/from Seattle and Bremerton or Bainbridge Island.

I enjoy seeing the boats, and wave to my nautical brothers on board whenever I see them. (What does a DC Beltway denizen know about Seattle? Seattle is home; DC is just where I am residing now. Sometimes I get to go home and visit my sons, one in Seattle, one a ferry ride away on the other side of the Sound.)

Dave

[jtl513]

Port Canaveral also has the CG boats patrolling the harbor and escorting cruise ships out to sea, keeping small boats away.

[510picker]

Saw them last week in Juneau. Wish I was still there :(

http://www.pbase.com/510picker/image/138413936/original.jpg

[RevNeal]

They, the Royal Canadian Navy, the entire Pacic Fleet;), were up in Juneau and Skagway in June...................training;)


http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p73/Copper10-8/311705_10150399233135729_551215728_10394325_156604 3686_n.jpg


That would be the HMCS Whitehorse (705). "Fortune assists the daring."
Here's her website: http://www.navy.forces.gc.ca/whitehorse/

***

CANFLTPAC’s Operational Ships Include:

5 Halifax-class frigates
1 Iroquois-class air defence command and control destroyer
1 Replenishment vessel
6 Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels (HMCS Whitehorse is one of these)
1 Victoria Class submarine

In the international arena, CANFLTPAC provides combat-ready forces for participation in collective defense operations with Canada’s Pacific allies

(source: http://www.navy.forces.gc.ca/marpac/1/1-w_eng.asp )

[DizzyDallasDi]

In Juneau, July 2011, both the Canadian and US Coast Guards were in town. I felt very safe. :D

http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr61/dizzydallasdi/DSCN1351.jpg

[Copper10-8]

In Juneau, July 2011, both the Canadian and US Coast Guards were in town. I felt very safe. :D

http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr61/dizzydallasdi/DSCN1351.jpg

Nice pic Di; those are U.S. and Canadian buoy tenders; not your typical "go after terrorists vessels";) but still nice

[world~citizen]

They, the Royal Canadian Navy, the entire Pacic Fleet;), were up in Juneau and Skagway in June...................training;)


http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p73/Copper10-8/311705_10150399233135729_551215728_10394325_156604 3686_n.jpg


Yes, they put the "Royal" back in the Canadian Navy which either delights Canadians as a recognition of heritage, or infuriates them for sending the nation building project back half a century.

RCN seems to be more visible up north these days and cruisers there may expect to see something of it now and again. For myself, I think navy ships are a little dull. Coast Guard vessels (Red and White) are so much more cheerful. ;)

Smooth sailing...

[Copper10-8]

Yes, they put the "Royal" back in the Canadian Navy which either delights Canadians as a recognition of heritage, or infuriates them for sending the nation building project back half a century.

RCN seems to be more visible up north these days and cruisers there may expect to see something of it now and again. For myself, I think navy ships are a little dull. Coast Guard vessels (Red and White) are so much more cheerful. ;)

Smooth sailing...

Different roles, Sir! Naval vessels are supposed to be dull The Canadian "gray" is definitely a different "gray" (lighter) than the rest of the NATO navies ;)

[world~citizen]

Different roles, Sir! Naval vessels are supposed to be dull;)

Yes but only on the outside. :D

[Copper10-8]

Yes but only on the outside. :D

True!:D

[world~citizen]

Armed forces submarines however are more aesthetically pleasing. This photo shows the submarine fleet engaged in joint NATO maneuvers in the Canadian arctic.

http://www.enterstageright.com/archive/articles/0408/033108ocean.jpg

[Desdemona01]

Nice photo. Beautiful bridge. If any of you are readers, I highly recommend The Great Bridge (http://www.amazon.com/Great-Bridge-Story-Building-Brooklyn/dp/0743217373/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1317329719&sr=1-1) by David McCullough.


I highly recommend ANYTHING by David McCullough :) He's also written the definitive book about the building of the Panama Canal.....

[3rdGenCunarder]

Armed forces submarines however are more aesthetically pleasing. This photo shows the submarine fleet engaged in joint NATO maneuvers in the Canadian arctic.

http://www.enterstageright.com/archive/articles/0408/033108ocean.jpg

Wow! How did you get security clearance to take this picture?!?!?

[Typhoon1]

Alaska too. Perhaps because you can see Russia from there. ;)

Sarah Palin can !!!!

[woodofpine]

Sarah Palin can !!!!

Sarah can do anything! In fact, that's her 'manning' the .50 cal on the bow of that USCG boat. She's about to drop a wolf and caribou along the shoreline...:D

[Denverbri69]

Sarah Palin can !!!! I am the OP on this thread. Are you flaming me???? :D

[HamOp]

Yeah, to provide security for your ship and, at the present time, more than likely to train their crews in doing so. Btw, they're not "gun boats"; they're 25' Defender Class Coast Guard response boats

I do believe, looking at the number on the bow, that is a 33' not the 25'.

From my days in the USCG I remember the first two numbers on the hull to indicate the length.

[Copper10-8]

I do believe, looking at the number on the bow, that is a 33' not the 25'.

From my days in the USCG I remember the first two numbers on the hull to indicate the length.

I stand corrected, and thanks for serving HamOp

[MrsMuir]

The Maritime Museum in Astoria, Oregon, has a heart-stopping display of a Coast Guard Cutter rescuing a sailor in a storm, complete with a real cutter and sound effects. The actual mission, which was caught on film, is playing on CCTV. There are many other USCG artifacts in that wonderful museum, and an old lightship tied up in the river next to the museum. My brother-in-law served aboard that ship for a year before he went on to be in charge of every lighthouse on the Oregon coast. It was a real treat to explore that museum with him and my husband, who was a Destroyer man in the USN.

Sometimes I wish I'd joined up with the Navy myself when I was young.

It's too bad some of the ships couldn't get into Astoria due to storms last week. It's a great little town.

Mrs Muir

[COLLEYBERRY]

Yes, they put the "Royal" back in the Canadian Navy which either delights Canadians as a recognition of heritage, or infuriates them for sending the nation building project back half a cent

Smooth sailing...


Aw they can use Royal...this Canadian thinks all those who serve this nation are pretty darn "regal" in their own right....so Royal works just fine for me ;)

[COLLEYBERRY]

sorry again, I seem to be repeatng myself.

[COLLEYBERRY]

sorry double post

[Taxguy77]

When we sailed through the Panama Canal last year there were gun boats at every single port on our itinerary all through Mexico, and Colombia. I think Costa Rica maybe didn't have any, but I can't remember for sure.

Costa Rica has a much higher education level than the USA. That may be the answer.

[world~citizen]

Aw they can use Royal...this Canadian thinks all those who serve this nation are pretty darn "regal" in their own right....so Royal works just fine for me ;)

I know better than to express an opinion on that one. ;):eek:

[COLLEYBERRY]

I know better than to express an opinion on that one. ;):eek:

Besides, Elizabeth has her own navy doesn't she ?? ;):D

[world~citizen]

Besides, Elizabeth has her own navy doesn't she ?? ;):D

You mean besides Canada's? ;)

[world~citizen]

sorry double post

The site is a bit confused it seems, not you.:D

[Taxguy77]

All over NY harbor too. Some of those even have radition detectors. Some small boats have been stopped because the radition detectors go off if someone had a recent X-ray or radtion treatment! Your tax $$$$ at work!

The first time I saw this, our cruise bagan in UK on 9/10, the nextday was a disaster for all.!
We should have sailed past the WTC to our dock, but were diverted to Boston. That time booking cruiseair really paid off.
On awakening, I looked out the window to see a Boston Whaler (Great fishing boat) off our bow with coast guard crew and a Machine Gun on the bow! :confused:!
Disclaimer:
I have been boarded and inspected several times by the Coast Guard. I know they have my safety as their primary concern, and I follow any recommendations they give. Some of them are great trivia players, also..

[ASIWISH]

Just watched the Monarch of the Seas depart from Port Canaveral... I didn't see any "Gun Ships"...!!!!

... but, low and behold, just as they got the mouth of the harbor, two little boats came screaming out of nowhere and escorted them for the last couple of minutes... They must have been late, due to a meeting, or a bathroom break!:p

Off to watch New York Harbor to see the Eurodam leave!

[arewethereyet]

I highly recommend ANYTHING by David McCullough :) He's also written the definitive book about the building of the Panama Canal.....

Yep. McCullough is terrific. I've read:

The Path Between the Seas
John Adams
Truman
1776
The Johnstown Flood
The Great Bridge

Every one of them is a winner. The Path Between The Seas is long but really worthwhile, IMO.

[Copper10-8]

The Maritime Museum in Astoria, Oregon, has a heart-stopping display of a Coast Guard Cutter rescuing a sailor in a storm, complete with a real cutter and sound effects. The actual mission, which was caught on film, is playing on CCTV. There are many other USCG artifacts in that wonderful museum, and an old lightship tied up in the river next to the museum. My brother-in-law served aboard that ship for a year before he went on to be in charge of every lighthouse on the Oregon coast. It was a real treat to explore that museum with him and my husband, who was a Destroyer man in the USN.

Sometimes I wish I'd joined up with the Navy myself when I was young.

It's too bad some of the ships couldn't get into Astoria due to storms last week. It's a great little town.

Mrs Muir

The USCG has a huge connection with HAL in Alaska dating back to 1980: the sinking of Prinsendam I and the subsequent combined rescue operation that resulted in the rescue of all her pax and crew
http://www.alaska.net/~jcassidy/pop-mech.htm

http://www.alaska.net/~jcassidy/prinsendam.htm

[scamper]

This is interesting. I have seen the QM2 escorted by the USCG out of NYC several times, but I have never seen any other liner with an escort. I just assumed that QM2 was a more high profile "target" than other ships. I guess by virtue of the fact that she is what she is. Shows me what I know. I never notice escorts on any ship I have been on.

[HamOp]

The USCG has a huge connection with HAL in Alaska dating back to 1980: the sinking of Prinsendam I and the subsequent combined rescue operation that resulted in the rescue of all her pax and crew
http://www.alaska.net/~jcassidy/pop-mech.htm

http://www.alaska.net/~jcassidy/prinsendam.htm

Thanks for the two links 10-8. Looks like a good read.

Oh, and thank you for your service too!

[SeaSheep]

When departing and arriving in FLL and OSJ these Coast Guard boats would circle the ship. Does anyone know why?


They are training to become politicans. Doing nothing but looking important and impressive :p

[Denverbri69]

They are training to become politicans. Doing nothing but looking important and impressive :pBest explanation submitted so far!

[Flying-Dragon]

This is interesting. I have seen the QM2 escorted by the USCG out of NYC several times, but I have never seen any other liner with an escort. I just assumed that QM2 was a more high profile "target" than other ships. I guess by virtue of the fact that she is what she is. Shows me what I know. I never notice escorts on any ship I have been on.

We had one in FLL in May for our Equinox departure, and my other half had one in Juneau a year ago on Zuiderdam. We take movies of their performance and put military band music to it every time they appear in the movie - it becomes one of those recurring themes and always gets a chuckle.

[LoveMyBoxer]

They are training to become politicans. Doing nothing but looking important and impressive :p

BIGGEST difference, however, is that the USCG and the patrol boats WILL be there when you need them and will risk their lives for all of us.