USCG: Getting the Port of New York and New Jersey Online “Is an All-Hands on Deck Evolution”

Coast Guard Vice Adm. Robert C. Parker, Atlantic Area commander, assesses the area along the New Jersey coastline Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2012.  U.S. Coast Guard photo by Lt. Cmdr. Jamie Frederick

The United States Coast Guard’s Atlantic Area Commander, Vice Admiral Robert C. Parker and Rear Admiral Richard T. Gromlich, director of Operational Logistics, conducted an over-flight yesterday of the New Jersey coastline, New York Harbor and Long Island to assess the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy.

“The United States is a maritime nation and we rely heavily on the ports for commerce – 95 percent of our goods come to us by way of sea,” commented Vice Adm. Parker following his survey of the devastation.  “The port of New York and New Jersey is vital to our nation’s economy and we are doing everything humanly possible to get the port back to full operations.

This is an all-hands on deck evolution.

Coast Guard operations continue despite some service shore infrastructures sustaining flood damage, limited communications capacity and power outages.  Their priorities are safety of life, to restore the marine transportation system, specifically in New York and New Jersey and rapid reconstitution of operations in the affected areas. Coast Guard crews continue to conduct assessments to ensure ports are safe and ready for business.

As the Coast Guard Atlantic Area Commander, Parker serves as the operational commander for all Coast Guard missions within a geographic region that ranges from the Rocky Mountains to the Arabian Gulf and spans across five Coast Guard Districts and 40 states.

Update: gCaptain just got word that the Massachusetts Maritime Academy’s training ship, the T/S Kennedy will be getting underway from Buzzard’s Bay to support recovery operations in the New York Harbor region.

Unlock Exclusive Insights Today!

Join the gCaptain Club for curated content, insider opinions, and vibrant community discussions.

Sign Up