March 29, 2016: Rotarians were treated to an excellent program on Tuesday, March 29, and learned a great deal about one of the United States service branches that is critical to the health and safety of our coastal communities—the United States Coast Guard.
Captain Gary Tomasulo, the Commander at Coast Guard Sector Charleston was a charming and very effective public speaker who gave us a dynamic, fact-filled overview of how Sector Charleston carries out its mission of being “Responsible for the safety and security of the maritime environment and ports throughout South Carolina and Georgia.”
To accomplish this broad mandate, Capt. Tomasulo manages over 700 active duty, reserve and civilian men and women. Sector Charleston’s headquarters are located on Tradd Street in North Charleston, but operations offices are also located in Myrtle Beach, Georgetown, Savannah and Brunswick, Georgia.
Sector Charleston engages in a very broad range of activities to protect the Charleston harbor, our citizens, home based and visiting boats, and native marine life. Mandated responsibility for Search and Rescue efforts, this Coast Guard Sector was involved last year in 421 response/search efforts that resulted in saving or assisting 415 lives and $4.5 Million in property. Its responsibility for the Ports, Waterways and Coastal Security resulted in 1,454 law enforcement boardings, and it escorted over 100 cruise ships carrying more than 400,000 passengers safely in and out of our harbor. In ensuring Port safety, Sector Charleston works closely with Charleston, North Charleston and Charleston County law enforcement as well with the SC Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and the SC Department of Natural Resources.
Many residents may not realize that the Coast Guard through Sector Charleston helps protect our marine resources and the $1.46 billion statewide commercial fishing industry. It ensures both fishing and safety compliance on more than 1340 commercial fishing vessels. Additionally, Charleston Sector responds to pollution incident reports along the SC coastline in partnership with SLED and SC DNR.
Perhaps one of the most important jobs of Sector Charleston is that of incident Prevention. Last year, 2,311 foreign vessels were screened for safety/security risks and 1,200 individual cargo containers were inspected. Additionally, 160 facility inspections were conducted and Sector Charleston investigated 51 marine accidents.
Captain Tomusulo emphasized the importance of protecting the Port of Charleston to the safety and economy of our state. The Port ranks 7th in the US for dollar value of goods handled and it contributes $53 Billion in statewide economic impact. With one in 11 SC jobs supported by the Port, its efficient and safe function is key to our robust regional economy.
During the next 10 years over $2 Billion will be spent on a new Container Terminal, Inland Port Project, 52 foot Harbor dredging/deepening, dual access Intermodal Railroad and the new Port Access Road. These critically important projects will require the continued dedication and excellence of Sector Charleston, a proud part of the US Coast Guard, and Captain Tomusulo assures us that his team is ready.
— Cheryl Kaynard, Keyway Committee