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Security Levels
Coast Guard Station Chatham
The Mission
SEARCH AND RESCUE MISSION
Station Chatham stands ready to respond to all maritime emergencies. Station Chatham's Search and Rescue Area of Responsibility (AOR) includes the waters from just north of Cahoon's Hollow Beach south to halfway between Monomoy Island and Nantucket, then west into Nantucket Sound to the NS buoy, then NE to Point Gammon.
Key Benefits
- Station Chatham Maintains a 24 hour communications watch monitoring the international distress frequencies.
- Station Chatham can launch a response vessel from either Stage Harbor, or the Chatham Fish Pier in Aunt Lydia's Cove. This allows quick response to all area's of Chatham's AOR.
- Station Chatham is close to Air Station Cape Cod, allowing quick response from both air and sea.
Preparing Your Vessel and yourselves
The Coast Guard recommends you take the time to prepare yourselves before enjoying your day on the water. Please take the time to follow the links to other websites that have a great amount of information. This includes:
- Educate Yourself and your Passengers
The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 11-1 offers a nine-week course in Boating Skills and Seamanship throughout the year. Usually pre-registration is required. The classes are limited to 25 students. Call the station for more information. - Wear your Life Jackets
Personal Flotation Devices (PFD's) or lifejackets should be worn at all time while underway. New Federal regulations require all children 12 years of age and under must wear a life jacket while onboard any vessel. - Other Safety and Survival Tips
Operator's Responsibilities
Your water fun depends on you, your equipment and other people who, Like yourself, enjoy spending leisure time on, in or near the water. Let's take a look at your responsibilities:
- Make sure the boat is in top operating condition and that there are no tripping hazards. The boat should be free of fire hazards and have clean bilges
- Safety equipment, required by law, is on board, maintained in good condition, and you know how to properly use these devices.
- Have a complete knowledge of the operation and handling characteristics of your boat.
- Know your position and know where you are going. Have paper charts on board and ensure your electronic navigational system is up-to-date and operating correctly. The waters around Chatham and Cape Cod require a great amount of local knowledge. It is recommended you contact the local harbormaster for the area you are boating.
- Maintain a safe speed at all times to avoid collision.
- Keep an eye out for changing weather conditions, and act accordingly.
- Know and practice the Rules of the Road (Navigation Rules).
- Know and obey Federal and state regulations and waterway markers.
- Maintain a clear, unobstructed view forward at all times. "Scan" the water back and forth; avoid "tunnel" vision. Most boating collisions are caused by inattention.
You are the key to water safety!
HOMELAND SECURITY MISSION
The United States Coast Guard's homeland security mission is not new to us. It is more visible today than it was prior to the tragic events of September 11, 2001, but it is just as important as it was when we first began protecting our national sovereignty 219 years ago. The Coast Guard maintains a clear vision and a keen sense of vigilance while keeping watch for threats to our security and those who would do us harm.
As part of Operation Noble Eagle, the Coast Guard is at a heightened state of alert protecting more than 361 ports and 95,000 miles of coastline, America's longest border. The Coast Guard continues to play an integral role in maintaining the operations of our ports and waterways by providing a secure environment in which mariners and the American people can safely go about the business of living and working freely.
In the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks, the Coast Guard immediately mobilized more than 2,000 Reservists in the largest homeland defense and port security operation since World War II. The Coast Guard has increased its vigilance, readiness, and patrols to protect the country's 95,000 miles of coastline, including the Great Lakes and inland waterways.
The Coast Guard's homeland security role
includes:
- Protect ports,
the flow of commerce, and the marine transportation system from terrorism.
- Maintain maritime
border security against illegal drugs, illegal aliens, firearms, and weapons
of mass destruction.
- Ensure that we
can rapidly deploy and resupply our military assets, both by keeping Coast
Guard units at a high state of readiness, and by keeping marine
transportation open for the transit assets and personnel from other branches
of the armed forces.
- Protect against
illegal fishing and indiscriminate destruction of living marine resources,
prevention and response to oil and hazardous material spills--both
accidental and intentional.
- Coordinate
efforts and intelligence with federal, state, and local agencies.
Operation Noble Eagle refers to U.S. military operations associated with homeland defense and civil support to federal, state and local agencies in the United States, and includes the increased security measures taken after the September 11 terrorist attacks. The operation involves joint agency coordination and cooperation to ensure our nation and borders are protected from future attacks. An increased presence will prevent and deter those who would cause harm to innocent Americans.
Operation Enduring Freedom refers generally to U.S. military operations associated with the war on terrorism outside the United States. Coast Guard port security units have deployed in support of this operation.
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