The Coast Guard cutter Stratton returned to home port in Alameda, Calif., April 22 following a 111-day deployment to the Bering Sea, supporting search and rescue capabilities and protecting the United States’ northernmost sea frontier.
Stratton and crew departed Alameda Jan. 2, operating under the Coast Guard 17th District and its Congressional mandate for continuous presence for search and rescue capabilities in the Bering Sea to protect Alaska fishermen. The Stratton crew operated in the harsh environment for 72 days.
While deployed in the Alaskan region, Stratton regularly worked with Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak’s MH-60 Jayhawk helicopters and aircrews. Stratton completed 363 helicopter landings with Jayhawk crews to conduct training and to enhance the organization’s collective search and rescue capabilities. Helicopter training included shipboard landings, on-deck fueling, and in-flight refueling, in which the cutter passes a fuel hose to the helicopter while it remains airborne.
One of Stratton’s primary missions this patrol was fisheries law enforcement in the Bering Sea. Stratton’s law enforcement teams conducted 18 boardings, in key fishing spots such as Slime Bank, Dutch Harbor, and St. Paul Island. The Stratton crew queried 98 fishing vessels, obtaining critical information to ensure commercial vessels were legally operating in the region. In one case a Stratton boarding team detained an individual aboard a fishing vessel, who was wanted for an active arrest warrant. The individual was transported to local authorities in Dutch Harbor, Alaska.
The cutter’s mission is ensuring safe operation of Alaskan fishing vessels, by enforcing U.S. safety regulations and NOAA Fisheries regulations. Alaska's fisheries are some of the nation's largest providers of seafood and are a critical component of the U.S. economy, generating on average $5.6 billion in total annual economic activity.
“I’m extremely proud of this crew and all they have accomplished. Their expertise and commitment enabled our successful operations” said Capt. Brian Krautler, commanding officer of the Stratton. “The Bering Sea is notorious for its harsh conditions, and our presence ensures rapid response to emergencies, safeguarding lives at sea.”
