Multimedia Release

LA PUSH, Wash. — 13th Coast Guard District units and an Army Chinook helicopter from Joint Base Lewis-McChord work together to remove an 11,800 pound navigation buoy from a beach near the Quillayute River mouth in La Push, Monday. The buoy washed ashore on the beach after it broke free from its mooring during a winter storm in 2010. U.S. Coast Guard video by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nathan W. Bradshaw.

LA PUSH, Wash. — (L to R) Doug Cameron, 13th Coast Guard District Aids to Navigation Hardware Manager, works with an Army crewman to finish rigging a buoy, on Monday, Aug. 29, 2011, that washed up on the beach in La Push during a winter storm. Members from the 13th Coast Guard District Aids to Navigation Hardware division, U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Fir, based in Astoria, Ore., a CH-47 Chinook aircrew from the U.S. Army Reserves' Bravo Company 214th General Support Aviation Battalion, U.S. Coast Guard Station Quillayute River, Wash., and members from the Quileute Tribe worked together to remove the buoy. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Zac Crawford.

LA PUSH, Wash. — A CH-47 Chinook helicopter prepares to lift a buoy from the beach to a short distance off-shore from La Push, Monday, Aug. 29, 2011. Members from the 13th Coast Guard District Aids to Navigation Hardware division, U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Fir, based in Astoria, Ore., an aircrew from the U.S. Army Reserves' Bravo Company 214th General Support Aviation Battalion, U.S. Coast Guard Station Quillayute River, Wash., and members from the Quileute Tribe worked together to remove the buoy that washed up on shore in the winter of 2010. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Zac Crawford.

LA PUSH, Wash. — A CH-47 Chinook helicopter lifts a buoy from the beach to a short distance off-shore in La Push, Monday, Aug. 29, 2011. Members from the 13th Coast Guard District Aids to Navigation Hardware division, U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Fir, based in Astoria, Ore., an aircrew from the U.S. Army Reserves' Bravo Company 214th General Support Aviation Battalion, U.S. Coast Guard Station Quillayute River, Wash., and members from the Quileute Tribe worked together to remove the buoy that washed up on shore in the winter of 2010. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Zac Crawford.

LA PUSH, Wash. — Doug Cameron, 13th Coast Guard District Aids to Navigation Hardware manager, waits for a CH-47 Chinook helicopter to land on the beach in La Push, Monday, Aug. 29, 2011. Members from the Hardware division, U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Fir, based in Astoria, Ore., an aircrew from the U.S. Army Reserves' Bravo Company 214th General Support Aviation Battalion, U.S. Coast Guard Station Quillayute River, Wash., and members from the Quileute Tribe worked together to remove the buoy that washed up on shore in the winter of 2010. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Zac Crawford.

LA PUSH, Wash. — Seaman Kevin Tkoch, 13th Coast Guard District Aids to Navigation Hardware division, pops a smoke flare to help the CH-47 Chinook helicopter judge wind speed and direction before touching down on the beach in La Push, Monday, Aug. 29, 2011. Members from the Hardware division, U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Fir, based in Astoria, Ore., an aircrew from the U.S. Army Reserves' Bravo Company 214th General Support Aviation Battalion, U.S. Coast Guard Station Quillayute River, Wash., and members from the Quileute Tribe worked together to remove the buoy that washed up on shore in the winter of 2010. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Zac Crawford.

SEATTLE — Several Coast Guard assets and staff, under the direction of the 13th Coast Guard District Aids to Navigation division, and an Army Chinook helicopter crew from Bravo Company, 214th General Support Aviation Battalion at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., worked in a cooperative effort to remove an 11,800 pound navigation buoy off a beach near the mouth of the Quillayute River in La Push, Wash., Monday. 

The buoy washed ashore on the beach after it broke free from its mooring during a winter storm in 2010.

Planning efforts for the buoy removal were coordinated by Coast Guard Cutter Fir, a buoy tender stationed in Astoria, Ore., and the 13th Coast Guard District Aids to Navigation division. Custom rigging was developed specifically for the hoist in order to meet Army lifting specifications. 

After the buoy was removed from the beach it was lowered into the water in close proximity of the Fir, which was standing by to recover it approximately 500 yards off shore.

“It was an extremely well coordinated effort between both parties and the locals (Quileute Tribal Nation) to complete the mission effortlessly," said Doug Cameron, 13th District aids to navigation hardware manager and shore team leader. 

The Fir transferred the buoy to the aids to navigation team in Astoria to be refurbished.

For additional information contact the Coast Guard District 13 Public Affairs office at (206) 220-7237.