Shipmates,
I have just returned from a week long trip in Europe. We have received some good feedback on our ongoing efforts on this Blog especially regarding access to the internet from the Coast Guard Data Network. There are some significant issues involved and as noted earlier I have asked CG-6 to provide a guest post on that topic shortly.
In Europe I met with a number of our partners, including the World Maritime University (we have a CG LCDR on the faculty), the Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization, the Chief of the Danish Navy/Coast Guard, BIMCO (see earlier post), the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the U.S. European Command, and the U.S. African Command. The general meeting themes were maritime security and expanding partnerships to deal with a broad spectrum of transnational challenges and threats from green house gas emissions from ships to piracy. On the way home yesterday we refueled in Iceland and I met with our counterparts there who will host the North Atlanic Coast Guard Forum next fall. There will be more posts in the future on specific themes from the trip.
Our folks in EUCOM and AFRICOM are doing great things as evidenced in the recent DALLAS deployment. There is a great demand for Coast Guard competencies and capabilities from the geographical combantant commanders.
Enjoy the holiday weekend and be safe. For those on watch, be vigilant ... be Guardians.
ADM A
