BAMSAR MINUTES
Minutes of the October meeting, held at Bayport. Thanks to Wayne and Rick for their hospitality.
Present: Bayport, Mastic Beach, Mastic, Center Moriches, Group Moriches, Westhampton Beach, and Southampton Town
Police.
Training: Night dive scheduled for Monday, 15 October, at Ponquogue. Meet at Westhampton Beach Fire Dep't. at 1830.
Old Business: County Water Rescue Committee… November, sometime. -When everybody's schedule permits, as per Jim
Trappen. He wants to develop an activation plan similar to the tactical rescue plan.
Equipment demo was postponed until sometime next year, due to the events of 11 September.
New Business: Tim Haws reported that SCPD and Air Station Cape Cod just completed a joint semi-annual training
operation involving helo insertion of divers at a scene. He'd like to see us contact PD to set up a similar joint
exercise with them. John will attempt to make contact with Jack Blaum regarding this.
Ray Kiesel, County dive instructor, had asked, prior to the WTC attack, to use the CGC Ridley as a platform for
a deep dive class. Since the Ridley is currently unavailable, he needs another offshore platform. If anyone has
offshore capabilities, please contact either Group Ops. at 395-4410, or Ray Kiesel, at County FRES.
A 70 foot fishing vessel, the "Two Friends", has been added to the reef cluster off Moriches Inlet,
by the DEC. We need to contact DEC for exact coordinates.
CG reports that there are gaps in their surf rescue capabilities, and were asking for suggestions to help improve
service in that area. Several suggestions were offered, including the use of specially constructed PWC (jetskis).
Bill Biondi has a demo tape for these PWC, and will get it to Group. Mastic Beach and Hampton Bays have hovercraft
that can be used. There is also a SAR coverage gap, due to the new security concerns. SAR responses will remain,
but may be a tad slower than before. We pledged our fullest support, especially if the CG is tied up on a security
detail. More on this in the next section.
Mastic's new boat, built by Thomas Marine of Patchogue, should be in next week. Good luck with her!
Security Info: The Coast Guard has implemented a higher level of security since 11 September, and has asked us
to be extra eyes and ears for them during this crisis. They have started a program called "Maritime Domain
(Defense) Awareness", in which we will be asked to pass to Group any suspicious activity that we may encounter
on the water, while we are underway, or drilling. We're asked to call the Group, prior to getting underway, for
instructions, and to inform them of our activities, and the area in which we will be operating. Report any suspicious
activity immediately. At the end of our drill or underway period, we are to inform Group, and call them via land-line,
to debrief. The Captain of the Port, Long Island Sound has designated Long Island Sound (and possibly the ocean
up to 12 nautical miles) as an area where vessels, particularly foreign flagged vessels, are required to report
their position and destination, when transiting those named waters. Failure to do so will result in a boarding
by the CG. We are requested to comply with these rules and any other future rules, while underway. A full directive
from either the Captain of the Port, or Commander, Coast Guard Group Moriches, is due out soon, concerning the
above.
Next meeting is on 08 November, at Mastic, at 1930. Anyone needing directions, please contact the Secretary. We
need a host for our December meeting. Anyone interested, please contact the Secretary. Thanks.
John Foley
Secretary
E-mail: o_foghladha@yahoo.com
Phone: 878-9217