PORTLAND, Ore. – Coast Guard crews are scheduled to participate in multiple events throughout the Portland area for the annual Portland Rose Festival from June 4-8.
On Wednesday, June 4, the crews of Coast Guard Cutters Eagle, one of the only commissioned sailing vessels in the U.S. military, the Henry Blake, a 175-foot Keeper-class buoy tender based out of Everett, Washington, Bluebell, a river buoy tender based out of Portland, and the Blue Shark, an 87-foot Marine Protector-class patrol boat based out of Port Angeles, Washington, will arrive in Portland along with multiple United States Navy and Canadian Navy vessels from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
“The Coast Guard is excited and honored to once again be part of the Portland Rose Festival Fleet Week,” said Capt. Justin Noggle, commander, Coast Guard Sector Columbia River in Portland. “The United States is a maritime nation, and the 11 statutory missions of the Coast Guard are critical to our nation’s safety, security, and economic prosperity. The commands of the 13th Coast Guard District and Coast Guard Sector Columbia River are pleased to support this great annual celebration of the Portland community and demonstrate how our dedicated men and women help to keep the Pacific Northwest safe and secure.”
The crews of the cutters Eagle, Henry Blake, Bluebell and Blue Shark will provide public tours of the cutters throughout the weekend while moored on the Willamette River at the end of SW Ash Street.
The planned schedule for tours is as follows (subject to change):
- Eagle June 5, 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.; June 6, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; June 7-8, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Henry Blake, Bluebell and Blue Shark: June 5-8 between 10 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Visitors are asked to leave behind backpacks, knives, multi-tools, and food or drinks other than water to facilitate security screenings prior to boarding the ships. Only service animals will be permitted aboard the vessels.
MH-60 Jayhawk and MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crews from Coast Guard Air Stations in Astoria, OR and North Bend, OR are scheduled to conducting several search and rescue demonstrations throughout the weekend in the Willamette River near the end of SW Ash Street. The following lists the approximate dates and times for the demonstrations: Friday, June 6th at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, June 7th at 2:00 p.m., and Sunday, June 8th at 2:00 p.m. Please note that times are subject to change.
In addition to participating in Rose Festival events this month, the Coast Guard will also be working alongside partner agencies to provide additional security measures during this period of increased maritime activity.
The Coast Guard will implement a safety zone, between the Steel Bridge and Hawthorne Bridge on the Willamette River, from noon, Wednesday, June 4, until noon Monday, June 9, in support of Fleet Week. During these times, vessels and persons will not be permitted to transit without prior approval and examination by the Coast Guard.
Vessels may request to transit the zone by contacting the Coast Guard via marine channel 23A. The Coast Guard and local law enforcement partners will examine all vessels prior to being escorted across the zone at a no wake speed. Please note that this safety zone will also apply to paddle craft, who will be permitted to transit through a paddle craft corridor marked by a string of green lighted buoys after inspection. A violation of the safety zone is punishable by civil fines up to $40,000 and/or criminal penalties including fines and imprisonment.
The Coast Guard reminds all boaters and the public to wear their life jackets, dress for the weather and water temperature and boat responsibly.
For more information, visit: www.rosefestival.org