ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Coast Guard Cutter Venturous, returned home today after a 35-day patrol in the Straits of Florida.
During the final day of the 2006 World Championship Super-boat Race in Key West Harbor, the Venturous, along with other state and local law enforcement agencies enforced a security zone to ensure that onlookers maintained a safe distance from the high-speed vessels.
Following the boat races, Venturous embarked 61 Cuban migrants over the next two days from various Coast Guard assets. As with any migrant interdiction case, each person was carefully screened for injuries and other health related issues, and provided the essentials of food, water, shelter and facilities to keep them as comfortable as possible during their time aboard.
Venturous then participated in training provided by the Coast Guard’s Seventh District Tactical Law Enforcement Team (TACLET), an elite specialty force based in Miami. This particular training taught use of force tactics to safely stop non-compliant vessels. The cutter’s five-member “go-fast” response team was put through a series of intense scenarios, including live-fire exercises and chase sequences. Venturous proudly qualified as the first and only cutter in the fleet certified to employ such tactics against non-compliant vessels.
Venturous was involved in dynamic interface testing for the Coast Guard’s new HH-65 helicopter. During the trials, Venturous maneuvered at various courses and speeds as the helicopter made landings on her flight deck during all hours of the day and night.
Coast Guard Cutter Venturous is a 210-foot Reliance class cutter. Venturous is under the command of Cmdr. Patrick O’Shaughnessy, and has a crew of 77 officers and enlisted personnel. Every member is happy to be home in time to celebrate the holidays with friends and family.
Technorati Tags: Coast Guard, Cutter Venturous, HH-65, helicopter
