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BARNEGAT LIGHT, N.J. ─ Crewmembers from Coast Guard Station Barnegat Light here participated in the Barnegat Bay Blitz watershed-wide cleanup Wednesday near Barnegat Lighthouse State Park.

The event, coordinated by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, included volunteers from local schools, local business employees, environmental agency personnel, governmental representatives and Coast Guard members who cleaned up areas in Barnegat Bay’s watershed municipalities.

“It is important for us, the local Coast Guard station, to partner with local agencies and individual volunteers to help preserve our maritime environment.  By taking one day of work and dedicating it to cleaning up the environment, we help make it a better place,” said Chief Warrant Officer Jay Greiner, the commanding officer of the station.

PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The crew of a Coast Guard cutter, homeported here, returned at 10 a.m. Tuesday, following a 33-day deployment to support the Coast Guard’s 7th District.

The crew aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Sea Horse deployed March 30 and arrived at Charleston, S.C., assuming the role of the standby search and rescue cutter.

During their patrol, the crew worked as a security detail with the Coast Guard Investigative Service, the Secret Service and local and state agencies for Vice President Joe Biden’s visit to South Carolina Easter weekend.

The crew also responded to two cases, during the latter part of their patrol. The first was a disabled 38-foot sailing vessel, which they took in tow. The crew traveled approximately 130 miles to rendezvous with the boaters and towed them 65 miles toward Tybee, Ga.

Crewmembers were also able to assist good Samaritans in coming to the aid of three people aboard a sinking small boat. Petty Officer 1st Class Lance Wiser and Petty Officer 3rd Class Caitlyn Nottingham provided aid to the good Samaritans, who had the vessel in tow.

“We aren’t the first 87 crew to do a 30-day deployment, and I'm sure we won't be the last,” said Master Chief Petty Officer Stephen B. Atchley, the officer in charge of the Sea Horse. “But the significance of this is the fact that 12 men and women lived for 30 days aboard a platform that was designed for just 2-3 day deployments.”

The Sea Horse is an 87-foot Patrol Boat.

BALTIMORE — Lt. Fran Gower of the Maryland Natural Resources Police highlights the 2011 boating accident statistics to the audience of the 5th Annual Search and Rescue Conference at the Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore, Friday. Members from the Coast Guard, MNRP, Maryland State Police and emergency responders from throughout the area gathered together for a daylong conference to discuss ways to improve communication between agencies and establish best practices during search and rescue cases. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Nathan Henise

BALTIMORE — The Coast Guard hosted the 5th annual Search and Rescue Conference, Friday at the Coast Guard Yard to improve cooperation between search and rescue agencies in the upper Chesapeake Bay and the Potomac River.

The conference was held as an open forum for agencies to explain their own policies when it comes to handling a distress call and establish the best practices between them. It also included lectures regarding the Coast Guard's SAR organizational structure.

"This annual meeting gives us the opportunity to get to know each other and learn from each other," said Lt. Cmdr. Randall Brown, Sector Baltimore's chief of response. "As first responders, meeting with our state and local partners allows us to discuss ways to improve our response speed, adaptability, and reliability in order to accomplish our common goal of saving lives."

Following the conference, a Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter, a Maryland State Police Helicopter, a Coast Guard 25-foot Response Boat-small, a vessel from Maryland Natural Resources Police and an Anne Arundel Mobile Command Post were on display and available for tours.

NEW LONDON, Conn. — A 2010 graduate of the Coast Guard Academy here was granted a Fulbright Scholarship to study sustainable energy engineering in Norway during academic year 2012-2013.

Lt. j.g. Joe DiRenzo IV of Suffolk, Va., was granted the scholarship and will pursue a master’s degree in innovative and sustainable energy engineering from the Norwegian Technical University with a concentration in renewable energy generation and utilization. DiRenzo is currently serving as the first lieutenant aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Vigilant, a 210-foot medium endurance cutter homeported in Port Canaveral, Fla.

DiRenzo selected the program because of its research-oriented curriculum with real-world applications, which he hopes will enhance renewable energy initiatives within the Coast Guard. During his time at the university, DiRenzo will also study at the Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden where he will focus on using sustainable energy systems for shipboard components as well as studying the feasibility of implementing sustainable energy into the Coast Guard’s cutter fleet.

Upon completing his Fulbright Scholarship, DiRenzo intends to resume his operational career and return to the Coast Guard’s cutter fleet. He plans to merge his renewable energy technical expertise with his maritime operational experience, enabling him to serve the Coast Guard in engineering positions.  

DiRenzo graduated from the Coast Guard Academy in 2010 with a degree in mechanical engineering with high honors. This is DiRenzo's second Fulbright Scholarship since graduating from the academy.

PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The Coast Guard, Army Corps of Engineers, the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, towing industries, passenger vessel industries, and various maritime industrial facilities along the mid-Atlantic coast came ome together April 23-25, for the 2012 Mid-Atlantic Waterways Conference in Norfolk.

Members from the participating agencies focused on the agenda of “Streamlining Cooperation, Knowledge and Assets."

"What makes this conference different is that it provides a forum," said John Goodwater, executive director of the Passenger Vessel Association. "It brings together a broad swatch of maritime agencies and interests to discuss issues and common problems and to discover solutions."

The conference, hosted by the Passenger Vessel Association, includes high ranking officials from the Coast Guard, the Army Corps of Engineers, NOAA, and Virginia Department of Transportation as speakers.

The topics discussed include new commercial fishery regulations, issues on navigation in the mid-Atlantic region, lessons learned from hurricane Irene, the way ahead for the Coast Guard, marine casualties, and offshore wind farms.

BALTIMORE - Participants took part in the 4th annual Nate Bruckenthal Memorial Run held at the Coast Guard Yard in Curtis Bay, Md., April 21.

The 5 kilometer run began as a way to honor Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Nathan "Nate" Bruckenthal who died in the line of duty April 24, 2004, when he and two Navy sailors intercepted a waterborne suicide attack on the Khawr Al Amaya Oil Platform off the coast of Iraq in the northern Persian Gulf. Bruckenthal was the first Coast Guardsman killed during wartime action since Vietnam.

Proceeds of the run go toward Nate's Open Door Baby Pantry & Exchange; a not-for-profit baby pantry that provides new and used baby goods to help young military families obtain free baby items.

WILMINGTON, N.C. — The Coast Guard and Town of Cornelius Board of Commissioners recognized a Cornelius, N.C., resident with a certificate of valor during a ceremony held at the Cornelius Town Hall Monday.

Mark McDowell was awarded the certificate for his efforts in saving a drowning swimmer’s life July 3, 2011.

Capt. Anthony Popiel, commander of Coast Guard Sector North Carolina, awarded McDowell with a certificate of valor signed by the commandant of Coast Guard for his actions.

On hand for the award presentation were members of the local Coast Guard Auxiliary and Cub Scout Pack 72, which McDowell leads.

While boating on Lake Norman, N.C., McDowell took prompt action when a guest of his suffered a heart attack while swimming nearby. McDowell swam approximately 40 feet to the 200-pound victim and retrieved him from beneath the surface with considerable difficulty. With the help of two other good Samaritans, McDowell was able to swim the victim back to his boat and quickly get him to a nearby dock for further care.

"I'm so grateful that this incident didn't end in tragedy,” said McDowell. “It's easy for even experienced boaters to become complacent about safety, and I hope my story will help others to be more vigilant - disaster can strike quickly on the water."

The certificate of valor is awarded to persons demonstrating great courage in a lifesaving scenario.