HONOLULU – The Honolulu-based Coast Guard Cutter Galveston Island returned home Friday, after a 13-day law enforcement patrol in the North Western Hawaii Islands.
The Galveston Island participated in the Multi-unit Law Enforcement Patrol with the Coast Guard Cutter Kukui and a HC-130 Hercules from Air Station Barbers Point.
This is the first MULEPAT that a Honolulu-based patrol boat has embarked on since May 2009. The Galveston Island patrolled nearly 3,000 nautical miles providing law enforcement within and around the Marine National Monument. Areas covered were the Hancock Sea Mounts, the Midway Atoll, and the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument.
A MULEPAT is a patrol where two or more Coast Guard units join forces to complete a mission. The main mission of this patrol was multifaceted; the Galveston Island’s main mission was to enforce laws and treaties, the Kukui’s main mission was to service aids to navigation in the area, with law enforcement as a secondary mission, and the Hercules provided additional support from the air by being their eyes in the sky.
The Galveston Island not only enforced U.S. laws, but while in international waters was a participating member of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission.
“Patrolling in international waters allowed us to move from the normal U.S. laws and regulations that we enforce everyday and allows us to enforce the WCPFC regulations as a member nation,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Lee McMillan, operations petty officer on the Galveston Island.
The Galveston Island is one of two 110-foot patrol boat based in the Main Hawaiian Islands. The primary mission of the Galveston Island is to enforce laws and treaties and conduct search and rescue throughout the Pacific. Galveston Island has a compliment of two officers and 16 crew.