Coast Guard Day (August 4th)

On this day in 1790, the U.S. Coast Guard was formed when George Washington signed the “Tariff Act” that authorized the construction of ten vessels, called “cutters,” to enforce federal laws at sea and to prevent smuggling.  Originally named the “Revenue Cutter Service,” the service expanded along with the United States.  In 1915, the Revenue Cutter Service merged with the U.S. Life-Saving Service and was officially named the “U.S. Coast Guard.” 

The Coast Guard is a unique service; it’s personnel are military service members, and Coast Guard persons have served in every one of our nations wars since it was founded.  Coast Guard personnel are also law enforcement officers, charged with enforcing a wide array of federal laws, from maritime criminal laws to maritime safety regulations and guarding against seaborne terrorism.  They are also the nation’s maritime “first-responders,” whose key mission is to save lives and property at sea.  And the Coast Guard is also one our nation’s key regulatory agencies, regulating maritime safety, including the waterways and vessels that use those waterways to import and export our international trade, carry passengers, engage in fisheries, and for recreation. Coast Guard personnel serve all around the world, protecting the United States’ maritime interests.

 On an average day, the U.S. Coast Guard:

• conducts 45 search and rescue cases;

• saves 10 lives;

• saves over $1.2M in property;

• seizes 874 pounds of cocaine and 214 pounds of marijuana;

• conducts 57 waterborne patrols of critical maritime infrastructure;

• interdicts 17 illegal migrants;

• escorts 5 high-capacity passenger vessels;

• conducts 24 security boardings in and around U.S. ports;

• screens 360 merchant vessels for potential security threats prior to arrival in U.S. ports;

• conducts 14 fisheries conservation boardings;

• services 82 buoys and fixed aids to navigation;

• investigates 35 pollution incidents;

• completes 26 safety examinations on foreign vessels;

• conducts 105 marine inspections;

• investigates 14 marine casualties involving commercial vessels;

• facilitates movement of $8.7B worth of goods and commodities through the Nation’s Maritime Transportation System.

 Happy Birthday to the U.S. Coast Guard!  Semper Paratus, and Go Bears!