New U.S. Coast Guard Boat Improves Response Capabilities at Maalaea

The U.S. Coast Guard on Maui has a new 45-foot Response Boat that will be used for operations at the Maui Triangle for waters between Maui, Molokai, Lanai and Kahoolawe.

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Larry Ankrum | Coast Guard Auxiliary

The boat replaces a 47-foot Motor Lifeboat, which will be moved to Station Kauai at Nawiliwili Harbor, where it is better suited for the windy, larger surf conditions of the Garden Isle.

The new 45-footer on Maui is expected to enable personnel at Station Maui, Maalaea to be more effective in performing multiple missions.

Chief Petty Officer Jay Rudometkin, Station Maui’s Officer in Charge, said the boat, which sits lower to the waterline, is a good fit for Maui in terms of speed and improving response time to incidents.

“This shifting of resources improves our response times on Kauai and Maui and gives our boat crews the best tools available to perform their duties,” said Cocanour, who supervises the Coast Guard’s operational response in the main Hawaiian islands. “Our goal is to keep our crews safe in order to better serve their communities of Kauai and Maui.”

The blessing and dedication ceremony for the Maui boat took place on Wednesday, October 21, 2009.  The event was attended by Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares, Maui County Council members, Maui County Fire Chief Jeffrey Murray, and representatives from the Maui Police Department, the State Department of Land and Natural Resources, the National Oceanic Administration, and officials with the humpback whale organizations.

(Posted by Wendy Osher; Information provided by the U.S. Coast Guard, 14^th Marine Division; U.S. Coast Guard photo by Larry Ankrum | Coast Guard Auxiliary)