R 101221Z SEP 10

ALCOAST 448/10
COMDTNOTE 16560
SUBJ: LONG RANGE NAVIGATION (LORAN-C) TERMINATION
1. ON 08 FEBRUARY 2010, LORAN-C SIGNAL TRANSMISSIONS WERE TERMINATED
AT 19 OF THE 24 TRANSMITTING STATIONS, ENDING U.S. DOMESTIC LORAN-C
OPERATIONS. THE FIVE REMAINING STATIONS CONTINUED ON AIR TO ALLOW THE
USCG TO HONOR INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS WITH CANADA AND THE RUSSIAN
FEDERATION. LORAN STATION ATTU HAS NOW SECURED ITS TRANSMISSION (1
AUGUST 2010), AND LORAN STATIONS CARIBOU, SHOAL COVE, GEORGE AND
NANTUCKET SECURED THEIR TRANSMISSIONS ON 03 AUGUST 2010, CLOSING OUT
OUR AGREEMENTS AND ENDING THE LORAN-C RADIO NAVIGATION MISSION IN
NORTH AMERICA.
2. THE SECURING OF USCG LORAN-C SIGNAL TRANSMISSIONS MARKS THE END OF
A HISTORIC 67 YEAR MISSION FOR OUR SERVICE. FROM ITS WWII ROOTS AS A
SECRET, ALLIED NAVIGATION SYSTEM TO ITS EVENTUAL USE BY MARINERS AND
AVIATORS AROUND THE WORLD, THE COAST GUARDS LORAN-C SERVICE SET THE
STANDARD FOR PERFORMANCE, ENGINEERING AND OPERATIONS.
3. I OFFER MY CONGRATULATIONS ON A MISSION SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED TO
ALL THE PERSONNEL, PAST AND PRESENT, INVOLVED WITH THE LORAN PROGRAM
- FROM THE TECHNICIANS AND ENGINEERS, TO THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
ADMINISTRATIVE AND FACILITIES SUPPORT. OVER THE YEARS, COAST GUARD
MEN AND WOMEN STOOD THE WATCH, ENDURING LENGTHY FAMILY SEPARATIONS AT
REMOTE DUTY LOCATIONS, OFTEN IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES AND IN THE HARSHEST
CLIMATES, ALL THE WHILE MAINTAINING 99.7 PERCENT SIGNAL AVAILABILITY.
THEIR UNTIRING EFFORTS ENSURED MISSION SUCCESS. I THANK ALL OF YOU
FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO DUTY AND PERSONAL SACRIFICES TO SUPPORT AIR,
LAND AND MARITIME USERS.
4. THERE IS STILL WORK TO BE ACCOMPLISHED TO SHUTDOWN AND SECURE
FACILITIES. CG-4, CG-5, SHORE INFRASTRUCTURE LOGISTICS CENTER,
PERSONNEL SERVICE CENTER, NAVIGATION CENTER, LORAN SUPPORT UNIT,
ALONG WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE SURFACE FORCES LOGISTICS CENTER
AND OTHER ELEMENTS, WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD IN A DELIBERATE AND
ORDERLY MANNER TO ENSURE GOOD STEWARDSHIP OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND TAX
DOLLARS.
5. LIKE THE SECRETARY CLASS CUTTERS AND PBY-5A FLYING-BOATS, BOTH
WHICH ALSO HAD ROOTS IN WWII, LORAN IS NOW PART OF THE RICH HISTORY
OF OUR SERVICE. AND LIKE THOSE CUTTERS AND AIRCRAFT, LORAN SERVED AS
AN INSTRUMENTAL PART OF THE COAST GUARD MISSION, BOTH IN WAR AND IN
PEACE.
6. ADMIRAL BOB PAPP, COMMANDANT, SENDS.
7. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.