Coast Guard cutters arrive Monday afternoon

Sat, Jul 26, 2008    to del.icio.us

U.S. Coast Guard cutters Mackinaw and Biscayne Bay will make their official entrance into the Grand River Monday, marking the beginning of a busy week at the 2008 Coast Guard Festival.

The Parade of Ships begins at 1 p.m. The ships will then moor at designated positions along Escanaba Park, adjacent to the Grand Haven Coast Guard Station.

The 240-foot Mackinaw, arriving from Cheboygan, is an icebreaker and buoy tender that replaced the World War II-era Mackinaw two years ago. Mackinaw's primary missions are maritime homeland security, ice breaking, maintenance of navigational aids, law enforcement, marine environmental protection and search and rescue operations.

The 140-foot Biscayne Bay, arriving from St. Ignace, is an icebreaking tug that keeps Great Lakes shipping routes open during the winter months.

A third ship originally scheduled to attend this year's festival, the Mobile Bay, was instead assigned to go somewhere else, according to Lt. J.G. Hall, public affairs officer for Sector Field Office Grand Haven.

A Canadian Coast Guard ship is also scheduled to arrive later in the week.

Each of the ships will be available for public tours from Monday through Saturday. A schedule is provided below, although all times are subject to change:

— Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 6-8 p.m.

— Thursday and Friday, 1-3 p.m. and 6-8 p.m.

— Saturday, Aug. 2, from 10 a.m. to noon and 1-3 p.m.

In addition, the Biscayne Bay only will be available for tours on Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon.

Due to heightened security concerns, additional safety measures will be in effect this year. The Coast Guard is committed to making the public's experience on board these cutters a pleasant one and asks for cooperation and patience with these requirements, Hall said.

The special requirements are:

— There will be no open house. All tour groups will be escorted.

— No purses, backpacks, coolers or bags of any type will be permitted on board.

The Coast Guard Auxiliary's two privately owned and refurbished 44-foot boats will be escorting the cutters into Grand Haven's channel on Monday. The auxiliary will also be assisting with ships tours, water patrols, preserving perimeters for waterfront entertainment during the festival and other demonstrations, and will man a public affairs information trailer at the waterfront.

"Coastie," the auxiliary's ship-shaped robot, will attend the Kids Day festivities at Mulligan's Hollow on Tuesday and other events.