PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The Coast Guard is scheduled to host a change-of-command ceremony Friday, welcoming a new sector commander and captain of the port.
Capt. Sean Murtagh will relieve Capt. Anthony Popiel, who has served as the commander of Coast Guard Sector North Carolina and the Captain of the Port of North Carolina since February 2010.
The sector commander is responsible for the Coast Guard’s port safety and security, search and rescue, law enforcement, aids to navigation, marine environmental protection and commercial vessel safety missions. The sector commander exercises federal authority granted by law and regulation as the captain of the port, officer in charge of marine inspections, federal maritime security coordinator, search and rescue mission coordinator and federal on-scene coordinator.
The area of responsibility for the sector includes all navigable waters in the state of north Carolina out to 200 nautical miles from shore, including Lake Kerr, Lake Gaston and Lake Wylie.
Popiel’s next assignment will be the chief of Response for the Coast Guard’s 1st District in Boston.
Murtagh’s previous assignment was at Coast Guard Headquarters as the chief of Resource Management.
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