DOC. Y4.M53: C63/17 88th Congres 2d Session Congress \ Session J COMMITTEE PRINT FLORIDA COAST GUARD INSPECTION REPORT A REPORT OF A SPECIAL SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON MERCHANT MARINE AND FISHERIES ON AN INSPECTION TRIP TO THE 7TH COAST GUARD DISTRICT ON FEBRUARY 13, 1964 Printed for the use of the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries 33-421 U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON : 1964 COMMITTEE ON MERCHANT MARINE AND FISHERIES HERBERT C. BONNER, North Carolina, Chairman EDWARD A. GARMATZ, Maryland LEONOR K. (MRS. JOHN B.) SULLIVAN, Missouri T. A. THOMPSON, Louisiana FRANK M. CLARK, Pennsylvania THOMAS L. ASHLEY, Ohio JOHN D. DINGELL, Michigan L. MENDEL RIVERS, South Carolina ALTON LENNON, North Carolina THOMAS N. DOWNING, Virginia BOB CASEY, Texas JAMES A. BYRNE, Pennsylvania CHARLES A. VANIK, Ohio HARLAN HAGEN, California EDITH GREEN, Oregon PAUL G. ROGERS, Florida FRANK A. STUBBLEFIELD, Kentucky JOHN M. MURPHY, New York JACOB H. GILBERT, New York THOR C. TOLLEFSON, Washington WILLIAM K. VAN PELT, Wisconsin WILLIAM S. MAILLIARD, California THOMAS M. PELLY, Washington MILTON W. GLENN, New Jersey ROBERT F. ELLSWORTH, Kansas GEORGE A. GOODLING, Pennsylvania STANLEY R. TUPPER, Maine CHARLES A. MOSHER, Ohio JAMES R. GROVER, Jr., New York ROGERS C. B. MORTON, Maryland HASTINGS KEITH, Massachusetts John M. Drewry, Chief Counsel Bernard J. Zincke, Counsel Ned P. Everett, Assistant Counsel William B. Winfield, Chief Clerk Paul S. Bauer, Consultant UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY ,Gi D OG- FLORIDA COAST GUARD INSPECTION REPORT A Report of a Special Subcommittee of the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries on an Inspection Trip to the 7th Coast Guard District Facilities on February 13, 1964 At 8 a.m., February 13, 1964, accompanied by Rear Adm. Irvin J. Stephens, commander, 7th Coast Guard District, we departed from Miami International Airport via Coast Guard aircraft en route to Key West. Arriving at Key West about an hour later, we visited the Coast Guard base and were briefed by the base commander. Anchored in the harbor were four Cuban fishing vessels recently seized by the U.S. Coast Guard for fishing in U.S. waters. We boarded one of the vessels, a 75-foot boat of the Lambert class built in Havana. This ship was launched January 17 of this year. It was on its maiden voyage when seized. These four Cuban fishing vessels appear to be exceptionally well constructed. The one we inspected was built of Korean mahogany. They carried no unusual electronic equipment but the two 75-foot vessels had the latest conventional equipment, such as a radiotele¬ phone, fathometer, loran, compasses, etc. It was interesting to note that the various pieces of equipment came from Japan, Norway, East Germany, and Czechoslovakia. We were informed that Cuba has developed a modern fishing fleet in the last year, and it is anticipated that they will intensify their fishing operations. The base commander told us that he was short of personnel but like most Coast Guard officers used modest figures in citing the need for additional manpower. We were shown a variety of smell craft that Cuban refugees had used to flee Communist Cuba—even 12-foot rowboats were used to make the trip. The base commander pointed out the Arroyo , recently seized by the Coast Guard. This was one of the boats which anti- Castro raiders had hoped to strike Cuba. The Coast Guard is directed to prevent any armed vessel from leaving from U.S. ports bound for Cuba. At 10:30 we left Key West, flying to St. Petersburg, arriving at the St, Petersburg-Clearwater Airport at 11:30 a.m. We were transported by amphibious helicopters of the HH-52A class to the Coast Guard Air Station. We inspected the Coast Guard Air Station at St. Petersburg, had lunch with officers stationed there, and returned by helicopter to St. Petersburg-Clearwater Airport. At 2:30 p.m. we departed for U.S. Naval Station, Mayport, Fla., arriving at 3:20 p.m. We were briefed by the Coast Guard commanding officer at Jacksonville on his duties. We inspected the land on which the Coast Guard will build facilities of their own in Jacksonville, At 5 p.m. we departed for Miami, arriving 1% hours later. 1 2 FLORIDA COAST GUARD INSPECTION REPORT At 8:30 a.m., February 14, the group was briefed by the district commander aud his staff at the Federal Building in Miami. At 10:30 a.m. we were transported to the Coast Guard Air Station, Miami Beach. There we inspected the facilities, and, after lunch, departed by helicopter for Port Everglades. Arriving at 2:30 p.m., we inspected one of the Coast Guard’s 95-foot patrol craft. Leaving Port Ever¬ glades, the group returned to Miami, arriving at 4:30 p.m. The 7th Coast Guard District comprises South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Puerto Rico, and parts of the Caribbean Sea and Canal Zone. There are 14,500 miles of tidal coastline. Private boating is a year-round activity and has risen dramatically in recent years. There are approximately 10,000 shrimp and other commercial fishing vessels using 7th Coast Guard District ports. In this district, the Coast Guard has 285 officers, about 1,800 enlisted men, and 273 civilian employees. Coast Guard search and rescue units deployed within the district include 20 major vessels, the largest vessel being the 255-foot cutter Androscoggin , based at Miami Beach. In the 7th Coast Guard District there are 11 fixed-wing aircraft and 10 helicopters. The responsibilities of the U.S. Coast Guard in this area, like most other districts, have been intensified due to the increase in pleasure boating. This district, however, had additional problems due to the Cuban situation. The Coast Guard must assist Cuban refugees entering Florida from Cuba at the rate of about 250 a month. (Since 1961, over 6,300 have drifted into Florida waters.) On the other hand, as long as it is U.S. policy to deter strikes by Cubans against their homeland from U.S. ports, this takes additional manpower and vessels. The Russian trawler traffic poses additional responsibilities for the 7th Coast Guard District, as it does for the 1st Coast Guard District off New England. These vessels must be kept under constant surveillance when near the U.S. 3-mile limit. With the tremendously increased duties imposed upon the Coast Guard in search and rescue and law enforcement, there is ample evidence pointing to the need for a rapid buildup in vessels, aircraft, other facilities, and personnel. At the present time, when a crisis occurs, the Coast Guard must “borrow” vessels, aircraft, and men from other districts which cannot spare them. This situation of “robbing Peter to pay Paul” is not in the best interests of our country. One of the striking features revealed on the trip was the age of many of the ships and helicopters which the Coast Guard is now using. Some ships were over 25 years old and obviously unable to keep pace with the new Russian and Cuban vessels. The situation in the 7th Coast Guard District is indeed critical. The personnel there are faced with the problem of attempting to prevent raids from the United States on Cuba by Cuban exiles and also the job of protecting our territorial waters from Cuban and Russian trawler penetration. One hundred and thirty-ffve extra men have been transferred into the 7th Coast Guard District in order to aid in containing the exile attempts to invade Cuba from the United States; however, no extra help has been given to aid in patroling the coast in regard to the penetration of Cuban and Russian trawlers. So while the Coast FLORIDA COAST GUARD INSPECTION REPORT 3 Guard has expanded its forces to comply with our national policy regarding Cuban exiles, it must stretch them to patrol our coastline against penetration of territorial waters by Russian and Cuban vessels. The shortage of equipment is so acute that when it is necessary for ships to go into drydock, there generally is no replacement; and if a replacement is made, one must be rushed in from some area where that vessel is also needed. In normal operations it is often necessary to deploy helicopters to aid in rescue or surveillance work. Those now at the disposal of the Coast Guard were much like the ships—outdated. In rescue work, the difference between life and death may often be only seconds. Also, the most modern helicopters are necessary for tracking the sleek trawlers which have penetrated our waters. The inspection trip revealed that the 7th Coast Guard District is being run efficiently; however, if there were equipment and sufficient manpower, it would be of immeasurable help in carrying out the vast responsibilities of the district. In order to implement effective patrols of the coast of Alaska, Northeast United States, and the Florida Straits and keep penetrating- trawlers under observation, the Coast Guard advises that it needs, as a minimum, three 95-foot patrol boats, five 210-foot medium- endurance vessels, six medium-range patrol planes, and three long- range patrol planes. An additional 450 men would also be required. The procurement of the added facilities would amount to $29,500,000 and annual operating costs of $7,420,000. It is also recommended that in order to begin the patrols as soon as possible that the Secretary of the Treasury request the Secretary of the Navy to transfer the necessary equipment to the Coast Guard until proper equipment can be provided them through the normal authorization and appropriations process. Respectfully submitted. Stanley R. Tupper, Frank M. Clark, Paul G. Rogers, Members oj Congress,\ o < ' r;' i •. . : . L :: ' h /' ft : ' , >i‘ 1 J. r *fj; ) iff ■ ■ >• . Ml ■ < ' i ■ ! ' > I ;: 1 . : • : J . ' . Y i ♦ r ■ • ! ’ - ': . .. ■ i > I , i - . i. 1 . 11 5 :• . . * •• • > T.w . : ■ :• ' ; ‘• j • ; 1 ■ : ' ■ ■ ■ ‘ . • > - » ! - « ■ i: ■■ '( * • r • ’ V ' \ i , .. ’ 1 <: ' > • >(! • f M i i, * . • J .Hi ! ■ 1 i • i i ■ ' f i ! j ■ ■■ . . i: ' !‘i ■ i H ; i ll : ■ ■ : i. ; V. 1. i -.'li ii ' . . . K\. ' • 4 a - . ■ . . . . ■ • ; f ■ • i : , .i. ' ! ' ■ r , * . • • * ■ • <■' ■ " . ■ ' •' ■ , ... >M ■ . r, ! ill II \ ; •. li » • - i ■ ■ . . ! ■■■ ■fi-iM,..:: ' i*;ii ‘*o. . 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