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25-08-2021, 11:50
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: New York, New York
Boat: Dufour Safari 27'
Posts: 1,930
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USCG Station Milford Haven Closing During the Winter
The US Coast Guard (USCG) recently announced that their Coast Guard station at Milford Haven, near Gwynn's Island, will only be open during the summer months effective next year. The USCG did not specify the exact schedule the station will be open other than saying it will only be open six months. They simply said that they will be closed during the winter months. Two members of Congress, one from the House and one from the Senate, are saying they are against this but as of now, the USCG hasn't changed their plans.
https://chesapeakebaymagazine.com/va...seasonal-only/
The Coast Guard noted that there are five USCG stations within 50 miles (80 km), and that their fast response boats are capable of 40 knots (46 mph or 74 kph). For those not familiar with Gwynn's Island, it is roughly 35 (56 km) miles north of Norfolk in Virginia and 90 miles (144 km) south of Annapolis, Maryland.
Unfortunately, the article left out a number of items that probably should have been included. For example, they did not mention how many times they respond to distress calls on average nor the nature of the calls.
Here's an interesting question; would it be better to have the Milford Haven station open during the winter as opposed to open during the summer? This assumes a December through May opening due to the coldness of the water.
Arguments in favor of being open during the summer:
- More people using the water, which means more rescues likely
- Those using the water during the summer tend to be amateurs, and these tend to have less knowledge about water survival.
- Those using the water during the summer tend to be amateurs, and these tend to be less well equipped to deal with an in the water emergency.
Arguments in favor of being open during the winter:
- Survival times in cold water are dramatically reduced, thus rescue coming from further away will result in fewer survivals.
- Survival in water 32 to 40 degrees F (0-4 C) is 30 to 90 minutes with unconsciousness in 15 to 30 minutes versus 60-70 degrees F (16-21 degrees C) with survival 2 to 40 hours and unconsciousness in 2 to 7 hours.
- Those boating in the winter tend to be better prepared and better educated with regards to the effect of cold water.
What do you think?
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25-08-2021, 12:29
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#2
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Moderator Emeritus

Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Carrabelle, Florida
Boat: Fiberglas shattering 44' steel trawler
Posts: 6,082
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Re: USCG Station Milford Haven Closing During the Winter
The cost of person power keeps going up, and the USCG is seriously underfunded.
I suspect that an analysis would show that they do next to no emergency calls during the winter, or that they only get calls from boats well enough equipped and crewed to hold on a little longer.
It's sad. we lost our USCG cutter about eight years ago; the county Sheriff and FWC (fisheries law enforcement) had to take up the slack, and Lord knows we've got our share of "amateurs." This is Florida, home of the "Florida Man" who adds a laugh line and two groans to just about every local TV news show.
__________________
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25-08-2021, 12:42
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: New York, New York
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Re: USCG Station Milford Haven Closing During the Winter
Quote:
Originally Posted by tkeithlu
The cost of person power keeps going up, and the USCG is seriously underfunded.
I suspect that an analysis would show that they do next to no emergency calls during the winter, or that they only get calls from boats well enough equipped and crewed to hold on a little longer.
It's sad. we lost our USCG cutter about eight years ago; the county Sheriff and FWC (fisheries law enforcement) had to take up the slack, and Lord knows we've got our share of "amateurs." This is Florida, home of the "Florida Man" who adds a laugh line and two groans to just about every local TV news show.
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I was wondering something similar regarding how many calls they get and the nature of them. It is unfortunate that the coast guard doesn't have enough money. When I was in the Army, I used to hear a lot about not having enough, however in our case there was an awful lot that was spent upon unnecessary things. It is always possible that the station is not actually needed. I am sure that there are areas that have greater distances between stations. Alaska comes to mind!
The article didn't mention anything about local resources. There is always a chance that the USCG will change their mind. Since there are two members of Congress looking into it, there may be some adjustment. In some similar situations I have seen the agency involved delay the decision for a year or two. In others I have seen a cancellation and yet in others, just a modification.
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25-08-2021, 13:08
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 191
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Re: USCG Station Milford Haven Closing During the Winter
Why no mention of helicopters?
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25-08-2021, 13:10
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: New York, New York
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Re: USCG Station Milford Haven Closing During the Winter
Quote:
Originally Posted by Caleb_Grey
Why no mention of helicopters?
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Good question!
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25-08-2021, 13:36
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 191
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Re: USCG Station Milford Haven Closing During the Winter
Quote:
Originally Posted by ArmyDaveNY
Good question!
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I also wonder if this has more to do with the land based economic impact, than actual rescue potential.
Looks like they have 40-50 coasties there and probably more local support staff. Losing that many people for 6 months in a rural area can have a devastating impact to the local economy.
Its strange they dont mention it, but having bigshot politicians involved i highly doubt its only about the lifesaving.
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25-08-2021, 13:47
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#7
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Registered User
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Location: New York, New York
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Re: USCG Station Milford Haven Closing During the Winter
Quote:
Originally Posted by Caleb_Grey
I also wonder if this has more to do with the land based economic impact, than actual rescue potential.
Looks like they have 40-50 coasties there and probably more local support staff. Losing that many people for 6 months in a rural area can have a devastating impact to the local economy.
Its strange they dont mention it, but having bigshot politicians involved i highly doubt its only about the lifesaving.
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I am sure you are correct that there is more to this. There is much that is not discussed in the article. What are the costs involved in running the base? How much will those costs be reduced by closing down for just six months? How much will it cost to transfer people for six months at a time? How many calls do they average each month and what is the nature of the calls? Can the other stations adequately handle this area? What factors did they use to determine they should shut this down?
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26-08-2021, 06:22
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Florida, Off the Caloosahatchee Canal for the Summer
Boat: Beebe Passagemaker 50'
Posts: 900
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Re: USCG Station Milford Haven Closing During the Winter
Without more answers to questions of the type Dave is asking, there really isn't any way to determine whether this is a good idea or not. . . . and the news is unlikely to actually dig up, or publish facts behind their "sky is falling" headlines in any case.
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26-08-2021, 06:32
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 1,636
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Re: USCG Station Milford Haven Closing During the Winter
Quote:
Originally Posted by ArmyDaveNY
I am sure you are correct that there is more to this. There is much that is not discussed in the article. What are the costs involved in running the base? How much will those costs be reduced by closing down for just six months? How much will it cost to transfer people for six months at a time? How many calls do they average each month and what is the nature of the calls? Can the other stations adequately handle this area? What factors did they use to determine they should shut this down?
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You could do a FOIA request and get all of this. I was tangentially involved in a decion much like this one when I was in the Coast Guard and I can tell you that not only were those things all extensively analyzed and agonized over but so much so that all that analysis probably cost more than was saved in the first couple years of the reduced operations! You know every time you do this you going to get significant congressional pushback and every death that occurs for the next decade during the down season will be entirely blamed on the Coast Guard, so the decisions are not made lightly.
For a bit of background, we're unfortunately stuck with a Coast Guard small boat station infrastructure that grew organically from the time beaches were patrolled on foot and lifeboats had to be pulled along the beach and rowed to rescues. Every time the fleet upgrades to faster and more capable assets, the number of stations and the lay down becomes unnecessary and suboptimal. When I started in the early 90s, our premier motor surf boat, the 44', had a max speed of 14 knots. The 47' MLB that replaced it has a top speed of 25 knots, more than double. The newest response boat - medium doubles that again to 49 knots. Obviously you're often not going top speed in weather, but regardless you can now reach someone in distress far faster in almost any sea condition. So the question shouldn't be "Why was this station closed", it should really be "Why haven't you closed dozens of stations to reflect the new reality we're in?"
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26-08-2021, 08:17
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: New York, New York
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Re: USCG Station Milford Haven Closing During the Winter
Quote:
Originally Posted by redneckrob
You could do a FOIA request and get all of this. I was tangentially involved in a decion much like this one when I was in the Coast Guard and I can tell you that not only were those things all extensively analyzed and agonized over but so much so that all that analysis probably cost more than was saved in the first couple years of the reduced operations! You know every time you do this you going to get significant congressional pushback and every death that occurs for the next decade during the down season will be entirely blamed on the Coast Guard, so the decisions are not made lightly.
For a bit of background, we're unfortunately stuck with a Coast Guard small boat station infrastructure that grew organically from the time beaches were patrolled on foot and lifeboats had to be pulled along the beach and rowed to rescues. Every time the fleet upgrades to faster and more capable assets, the number of stations and the lay down becomes unnecessary and suboptimal. When I started in the early 90s, our premier motor surf boat, the 44', had a max speed of 14 knots. The 47' MLB that replaced it has a top speed of 25 knots, more than double. The newest response boat - medium doubles that again to 49 knots. Obviously you're often not going top speed in weather, but regardless you can now reach someone in distress far faster in almost any sea condition. So the question shouldn't be "Why was this station closed", it should really be "Why haven't you closed dozens of stations to reflect the new reality we're in?"
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Thanks for the background. I am sure that they looked at all you mentioned and more. I just wish that the reporters today would ask even a few questions, but that is the state of media today. They just parrot whatever press release they are given. Someone earlier also asked about helicopters and I am sure that if they are available, then they are also a consideration in the decision.
We experienced similar reactions from members of Congress every time a post, or base, was getting closed or a unit was getting moved.
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26-08-2021, 17:19
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 1,636
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Re: USCG Station Milford Haven Closing During the Winter
Quote:
Originally Posted by ArmyDaveNY
We experienced similar reactions from members of Congress every time a post, or base, was getting closed or a unit was getting moved.
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Times a thousand I'm sure given the size of an Army base vice a tiny Coast Guard station. That's why they had BRAC, otherwise they never would have been able to close a base!
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26-08-2021, 18:21
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: New York, New York
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Re: USCG Station Milford Haven Closing During the Winter
Quote:
Originally Posted by redneckrob
Times a thousand I'm sure given the size of an Army base vice a tiny Coast Guard station. That's why they had BRAC, otherwise they never would have been able to close a base!
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Indeed! Even with BRAC it was a challenge!
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26-08-2021, 20:01
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Chesapeake Bay
Boat: ShuttleWorth 32 Catamaran
Posts: 136
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Re: USCG Station Milford Haven Closing During the Winter
Quote:
I also wonder if this has more to do with the land based economic impact, than actual rescue potential.
Looks like they have 40-50 coasties there and probably more local support staff. Losing that many people for 6 months in a rural area can have a devastating impact to the local economy.
Its strange they dont mention it, but having bigshot politicians involved i highly doubt its only about the lifesaving.
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I live in Mathews (county population 8,000) where the station is. It has certainly been a hot topic locally the past few months.
Related, the county has over 200 miles of coastline with numerous rivers and inlets. Rather than maintian the chanel markers in the shifting channels the coast guard decided it was "safer" to cut them all off and remove them.
https://www.dailypress.com/news/glou...026-story.html
Now pretty much every weekend in the summer I can sit outside and if I hear a boat running on plane towards the bay I can count on hearing it run hard aground.
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26-08-2021, 20:11
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: New York, New York
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Re: USCG Station Milford Haven Closing During the Winter
Quote:
Originally Posted by VBsail
I live in Mathews (county population 8,000) where the station is. It has certainly been a hot topic locally the past few months.
Related, the county has over 200 miles of coastline with numerous rivers and inlets. Rather than maintian the chanel markers in the shifting channels the coast guard decided it was "safer" to cut them all off and remove them.
https://www.dailypress.com/news/glou...026-story.html
Now pretty much every weekend in the summer I can sit outside and if I hear a boat running on plane towards the bay I can count on hearing it run hard aground.
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Interesting article. Do you know if the Milford Haven station was the station that was maintaining the markers? I am not familiar with how duties are organized in the Coast Guard. Does anyone know if every station manages aides to navigation or just specific units?
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