SEATTLE — Boom is deployed, May 15, 2012, to contain the oil sheen that was leaked after a boat fire sunk the fishing vessel Deep Sea on Sunday near Whidbey Island, Wash. A total of 2,100 gallons of diesel fuel has been recovered and 4,400-feet of boom deployed in response to the incident. U.S. Coast Guard photo.

SEATTLE — The Coast Guard, Washington Dept. of Ecology, Health, and Natural Resources continue to respond to the sunken fishing vessel Deep Sea, Tuesday, located in Penn Cove near Whidbey Island, Wash.

The cracked vent estimated to be leaking two gallons per minute was plugged and is no longer emitting fuel. Three deployable skimmers, two vacuum trucks, one vessel containing bales of absorbent material and two dive teams are on-scene. One boom-tending vessel is en route.

The dive teams continue to siphon fuel from the vessel’s external vents. Once complete, the teams will look for any remaining fuel located inside the vessel. Approximately 2,100 gallons of diesel has been recovered. In addition, 4,400-feet of boom has been deployed to contain the surface sheen.

Coast Guard pollution investigators will remain on scene until the containment and cleanup process is complete. The Oil Spill Liability Fund will remain open to pay for the response effort until completion.   

The Washington Dept. of Ecology continues to monitor shore areas for potential environmental effects from the spill.  Oil sheen - a very thin coating of oil - covers the surface of nearby waters.  Some sheen has reached shore in places.  The sheen is too thin for removal from the water.

Ecology is analyzing water samples collected on Monday from Penn Cove to help evaluate environmental impacts from the spill. There have been no injured or killed mammals or fish observed or reported.

The Washington Dept. of Health has temporarily closed Penn Cove to shellfish harvesting because of the diesel spill.  The major commercial shellfish operation in Penn Cove voluntarily stopped harvesting on Sunday before any diesel reached its shellfish. The volume of diesel spilled from the boat grew through Monday, leaving a visible fuel sheen over the commercial operation and leading the state to close the area. Recreational shellfish harvesting in Penn Cove is also being temporarily closed. Before the area is reopened to harvest, the shellfish will be tested to confirm that they’re safe to eat.

The Dept. of Natural Resources is developing options for salvaging the vessel once the Coast Guard and Ecology's environment assessment team have completed their work.

For additional information on the response, respectively contact:

13th Coast Guard District Public Affairs office at (206) 220-7237

Larry Altose, Dept. of Ecology at (425) 649-7009; cell: (206) 920-2600

Donn Moyer, Dept. of Health at (360) 236-4076; cell: (360) 280-0487

Toni Droscher, Dept. of Natural Resources at (360) 902-1523

SEATTLE — Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Jennifer Mahn, a reservist from Coast Guard Station Portland, Ore., works as part of the Shorline Cleanup Assessment Technique team on the Gulf coast, 2010-2012. SCAT teams collect data on shoreline oiling conditions, prepare field maps detailing the areas surveyed and make cleanup recommendations. U.S. Coast Guard photo.

PORTLAND, Ore. — Coast Guard Petty Officer 3^rd Class Jennifer Mahn, a reservist with Coast Guard Station Portland, recently returned from an extended tour of duty for the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Response.

Mahn was called to active duty in August, 2010, and remained on active status for the 22 months following her report date.

During her tenure on the response, Mahn worked more than 1,500 hours as a Shoreline Cleanup Assessment Technique team member. SCAT teams perform a crucial role in environmental crisis response. Teams collect data on shoreline oiling conditions, preparing field maps and forms detailing the areas surveyed and making specific cleanup recommendations.

Mahn also served as the public relations outreach representative for the team.

“Petty Officer Mahn was placed in a role of great responsibility,” said Senior Chief Petty Officer James Richardson, an environmental liaison with the Gulf Coast Incident Management Team. “As a third class petty officer, she was in the unusual role as a federal representative on a major historic environmental response.”

Her most recent duty assignment was that of executive aid to the Federal On-Scene Coordinator.

“Jennifer’s contributions have been essential to the continued response efforts,” Richardson said. “Her perseverance, devotion to duty, initiative and flexibility are highly commended.”

In addition to working long and varied hours, Mahn also volunteered her time to serve as an assistant coach to the Gulf Breeze High School junior varsity softball team in Gulf Breeze, Fla.

Mahn has recently been accepted into Smith College School of Social Work, where she will be pursuing a master’s degree in social work.

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

SEATTLE — Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound held their Boating Safety Expo in conjunction with the 2012 Seattle Maritime Festival at Bell Harbor Marina/Pier 66 on the waterfront near downtown Seattle.

SEATTLE — Coast Guard Capt. Marc P. Lebeau succeeded Capt. Robert J. Klapproth as commanding officer of Base Seattle during a change-of-command ceremony at the base, Thursday.

The change-of-command ceremony is a time-honored tradition and deeply rooted in Coast Guard and Naval history. The event signifies a total transfer of responsibility, authority and accountability for the command. The ceremony is attended by all members of the unit so they all witness the transfer of leadership.

Base Seattle provides support to more than 1,600 personnel located at 16 shore units and five cutters. Support services provided by the base include: Facilities Engineering, Personnel Support, Health Safety and Work Life, Naval Engineering Support, Electronic Systems Support, Comptroller, as well as Procurement and Contracting. The base falls under the command of Rear Adm. Richard T. Gromlich, the current Director of Operational Logistics.

For additional information, please contact the 13^th Coast Guard District Public Affairs Office at (206) 220-7237.

SEATTLE — Vice Adm. Manson K. Brown, Pacific Area Commander, presents crewmembers of the Coast Guard Cutter Healy with a Coast Guard Unit Commendation award during a ceremony in Seattle, on Apr. 17, 2012. The unit commendation was awarded to the crew for extremely meritorious service in support of Coast Guard operations, during their seven month 2011 science mission, which was extended an additional month in order to avert a potential energy crisis in Nome, Alaska. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Eric J. Chandler.

SEATTLE — Vice Adm. Manson K. Brown, Pacific Area Commander, speaks on ice breaking operations after presenting crewmembers of the Coast Guard Cutter Healy with a Coast Guard Unit Commendation award during a ceremony in Seattle, on Apr. 17, 2012. The unit commendation was awarded to the crew for extremely meritorious service in support of Coast Guard operations, during their seven month 2011 science mission, which was extended an additional month in order to avert a potential energy crisis in Nome, Alaska. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Eric J. Chandler.

SEATTLE — Vice Adm. Manson K. Brown, Pacific Area Commander, poses with crewmembers of the Coast Guard Cutter Healy, after presenting them with a Coast Guard Unit Commendation award during a ceremony in Seattle, on Apr. 17, 2012. The unit commendation was awarded to the crew for extremely meritorious service in support of Coast Guard operations, during their seven month 2011 science mission, which was extended an additional month in order to avert a potential energy crisis in Nome, Alaska. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Eric J. Chandler.

SEATTLE — Vice Adm. Manson K. Brown, Pacific Area Commander, presented crewmembers of the Coast Guard Cutter Healy with a Coast Guard Unit Commendation award during a ceremony in Seattle, Tuesday.

The unit commendation was awarded to the crew for extremely meritorious service in support of Coast Guard operations, during their seven month 2011 science mission, which was extended an additional month in order to avert a potential energy crisis in Nome, Alaska.

Healy escorted the Russian-flagged tanker vessel Renda through more than 300 miles of Bering Sea ice to make the delivery of 1.3 million gallons of fuel to Nome possible.  Following the fuel transfer, the Healy crew freed the Renda from the ice, where it was purposely frozen and led the Renda back across more than 400 miles of sea ice to the open water of the Bering Sea.

As a Coast Guard cutter, Healy is also a capable platform for supporting other missions in the polar regions, including logistics, search and rescue, ship escort, environmental protection, and enforcement of laws and treaties.

For more news about Healy’s ice-escort to Nome, please check: http://www.d17.uscgnews.com/go/doc/780/1295039/

SEATTLE — Concord, N.H., native Jayme L. Reed was announced as the 2011 Coast Guard Pacific Northwest Enlisted Person of the Year during a ceremony held at the Coast Guard base, in Seattle, on April 13, 2012.

The Health Services Technician second class is a 1999 graduate of Bishop Brady High School in Concord.

Additionally, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Michael P. Leavitt has announced that Petty Officer Reed has been selected as the 2011 U.S. Coast Guard Enlisted Person of the Year. Reed will be recognized as the Coast Guard EPOY during ceremonies in Washington, D.C. the week of May 11, 2011.

The EPOY Program is designed to recognize exemplary men and women from the active and reserve enlisted work force. Nominees demonstrate sustained exceptional standards of proficiency and conduct, their military appearance and bearing are consistently impeccable, and they are role models whom all Coast Guard personnel strive to emulate.

Reed is stationed at the U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Force Protection Unit in Bangor, Wash. Reed was recognized for her high degree of clinical knowledge, her ability to liaison with other Dept. of Defense medical professionals and her flawless management of clinic operations. Her dedication and overall efforts exceeded command expectations.

In addition to her primary duties, Reed served as the Unit Health Promotion Coordinator and Command Duty Officer. As UHPC, she provided fitness and nutrition guidance to unit personnel, and while off duty coached and mentored unit personnel at the Naval Base Kitsap Fitness Center. As CDO, she played a critical role in unit physical security and executed the daily routine in support in current operations.

Reed has completed in several marathons, throughout the county, for charity and raised funds for cancer research and Seattle’s Children’s Hospital. She spent countless hours assisting a blind athlete in completion of swimming and distance running training in preparation for upcoming competitions, and acted as the athlete’s guide as they jointly completed three half-marathons.

Reed graduated with honors from Worcester State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications Studies and Health Education, and is currently enrolled in graduate studies through Penn State University – pursuing a Master’s degree in Homeland Security and Defense.

“The EPOY, and all that were nominated, are the epitome of the Coast Guard’s core values of ‘Honor, Respect, and Devotion to Duty’ and I am pleased to work alongside them and extremely honored recognize them,” said Master Chief Jason M. Vanderhaden, Command Master Chief of the 13^th Coast Guard District.

For more information, contact the 13^th Coast Guard District Public Affairs Office at (206) 220-7237.

SEATTLE — Portland, Ore., native Scott J. Rattay was announced as the 2011 Coast Guard Pacific Northwest Reserve Enlisted Person of the Year during a ceremony held at the Coast Guard base, in Seattle, on April 13, 2012.

The Boatswain’s Mate first class is a 1999 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School in Portland.

The EPOY Program is designed to recognize exemplary men and women from the active and reserve enlisted work force. Nominees demonstrate sustained exceptional standards of proficiency and conduct, their military appearance and bearing are consistently impeccable, and they are role models whom all Coast Guard personnel strive to emulate.

Rattay is stationed at the U.S. Coast Guard Port Security Unit 313, in Everett, Wash. Rattay is recognized as a vital member during the preparation for and unit operations during Operation New Dawn.

In preparation, he acted as the Command Training Team representative for joint forces integration training. He was instrumental in the successful completion of required training and certification of approximately 50 unit personnel.

During the operations, in Southwest Asia, he performed the duties and responsibilities of a higher paygrade, acting as the Boat Divisions Chief. He oversaw the qualification, certification and development of 20 utility crewman, 13 tactical crew, three utility coxswains, and five tactical coxswains. Under his exemplary leadership, the boat division escorted more than 100 high-value assets, carrying more than 3,000 pieces of combat-critical cargo without incident.

“He has been tested as a leader and a team member in harsh and arduous conditions while deployed overseas serving his country,” said Cmdr. Daniel W. Clark, Commanding Officer of PSU 313. “Through it all, he has met every challenge with the utmost professionalism and is in keeping with the Coast Guard’s core values.”

In his civilian position, Rattay is an environmental specialist providing environmental monitoring, permitting and erosion/pollution control expertise and oversight on many projects. In 2011, he was recognized for “Environmental Excellence” and “Internal Client Service” for his involvement in the Oregon Dept. of Transportation’s efforts to repair and replace more than 250 bridges.

“The Reserve EPOY, and all that were nominated, are the epitome of the Coast Guard’s core values of ‘Honor, Respect, and Devotion to Duty’ and I am pleased to work alongside them and extremely honored recognize them,” said Master Chief Jason M. Vanderhaden, Command Master Chief of the 13^th Coast Guard District.

For more information, contact the 13^th Coast Guard District Public Affairs Office at (206) 220-7237.

LONGVIEW, Wash. - Coast Guard Cmdr. Andrew Williamson, Chief of Inspections at Marine Safety Unit Portland, Ore., presents a letter of appreciation to Captain Annatolli Dobrytsia, ship's master of the M/V Navios Gemini S, Wednesday, April 11, 2012. The crew of the Navios Gemini S acted quickly to assist local firefighters in putting out a blaze after piece of a burning conveyor fell onto their ship while docked at the EGT terminal in Longview. Coast Guard photo by MSU Portland.

PORTLAND, Ore. — The Coast Guard awarded a letter of appreciation to the crew of the M/V Navios Gemini S, Wednesday.

The Panamanian-flagged cargo vessel was docked at the EGT terminal in Longview, Wash., Saturday, when debris from a burning conveyor fell into its cargo hold, prompting the crew to take action in fighting the blaze along with Cowlitz County firefighters.

Members of the Cowlitz County Fire Department also joined the Coast Guard in applauding the professionalism and readiness displayed by the crew.

"The Navios Gemini S' crew was able to quickly control the blaze and prevent a potential oil spill and hazard to the busy Columbia River navigation channel thanks to their training and dedication to fire safety," said Captain Bruce Jones, Sector Columbia River Commander.  "I commend Captain Dobrytsia and his crew for their diligence. They are true maritime professionals."