MCKINLEYVILLE, Calif. — Coast Guard Group Humboldt Bay, the U.S. Coast Guard command responsible for operations from the California-Oregon border south to the Mendocino-Sonoma county line, will be renamed Coast Guard Sector Humboldt Bay effective May 31, 2013.
Group Humboldt Bay is changing its name as a result of a service-wide standardization initiative, but the switch will not impact any services provided to the public.
“There will be no changes to operations or services provided to the public,” said Capt. Salvatore Palmeri, Commander of Group Humboldt Bay. “The only difference the public may notice is how we identify ourselves on marine radio broadcasts, how we answer the phone, and the name change on our new unit welcome sign.
The command is responsible for coastal and offshore search and rescue, law enforcement and emergency response operations in the region and also assists state and local agencies with inland emergency response operations. The Sector will continue to operate its main headquarters in McKinleyville, which includes a command center and three search and rescue helicopters. Coastal search and rescue small boat stations will remain in Eureka and Fort Bragg, along with an aids-to-navigation team in Samoa, two coastal patrol boats — one in Eureka and one in Crescent City — and several civilian volunteer groups, namely Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotillas. In 2012, Coast Guard units based in the Humboldt Bay area responded to 264 search and rescue cases, saved 26 lives and assisted local officials with eight inland rescues.
Certain Coast Guard matters occurring in the Sector Humboldt Bay area such as commercial vessel and facility inspections, and accident and pollution investigations, fall under Coast Guard Captain of the Port (COTP) authorities which will continue to be overseen by Coast Guard Sector San Francisco and its Marine Safety Detachment in Eureka.
Coast Guard Group Humboldt Bay, the Coast Guard command responsible for operations from the California-Oregon border south to the Mendocino-Sonoma county line, was renamed Coast Guard Sector Humboldt Bay during a May 31 ceremony. (Photo courtesy of Coast Guard Sector Humboldt Bay)
