2010 Operation Makeway Efforts

Fellow Guardians,As you know, Capt Meyer, the Commanding Officer of Sector Portland, has requested our assistance with make way efforts this season.

There are several different opportunities for involvement including vessel examinations at local ramps, public education events and on-the-water operations.

Recently Daren Lewis, Lynn Easton, Tim Young and I all spent a morning abord the Tidewater tug The Maverick. The purpose of this visit was to film and document the impact recreational boaters have on the operations aboard commercial traffic operating in the Columbia and Willamette rivers.

Soon we'll produce an education video showing the perspective of both commerical and and recreational vessels on the water. This will be posted on YouTube and shown at various public education events.

This is an excellent example of what teamwork between two flotillas can result in.

I encourage all of our membership to consider how you can get involved with this important effort. Vessel examiners should get with our FSO-VE. Program visitors should consult with the FSO-PV. Lastly, operations personnel should make arrangements with one of our coxswains to partipate in a make way patrol. If you have other ideas please share them with us and let's make this a successful year together.

Brian Rollins

Commander, FL-73

United States Coast Guard Auxiliary