Coast Guard District 9

Led by a rear admiral, District 9 includes 6,000 active duty, reserve, and civilian personnel.[1] District 9 predominantly serves duties such as search and rescue, maritime safety and security, environmental protection, maritime law enforcement, aids to navigation, and icebreaking.[2]

District 9 Sector Map

District 9 is further subdivided into several sectors. These include:

• Sector Buffalo (Buffalo, NY)[3]
• Sector Detroit (Detroit, MI)[4]
• Sector Sault Sainte Marie (Sault Sainte Marie, MI)[5]
• Sector Lake Michigan (Milwaukee, WI)[6]
• Sector Field Office (SFO) Grand Haven (Grand Haven, MI)[7]

Stations

District 9 is constructed of 48 active stations located in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, and Wisconsin, Indiana and Minnesota.

District 9 Stations Map

Sector Buffalo Stations

• Station Alexandria Bay: Wellesley Island, NY[8]
• Station Ashtabula: Ashtabula, OH[9]
• Station Buffalo: Buffalo, NY[10]
• Station Cleveland Harbor: Cleveland, OH[11]
• Station Erie: Erie, Pennsylvania[12]
• Station Fairport: Grand River, OH[13]
• Station Lorain: Lorain, OH[14]
• Station Niagara: Youngstown, NY[15]
• Station Oswego: Oswego, NY[16]
• Station Rochester: Rochester, NY[17]
• Station Sackets Harbor (AUXOP): Sackets Harbor, NY[18]
• Station Sodus Point: Sodus Point, NY[19]

Sector Detroit Stations

• Station Belle Isle: Detroit, MI[20]
• Station Harbor Beach: Harbor Beach, MI[21]
• Station Marblehead: Marblehead, OH[22]
• Station Port Huron: Port Huron, MI[23]
• Station Saginaw River: Essexville, MI[24]
• Station St. Clair Shores: St. Clair Shores, MI[25]
• Station Tawas: East Tawas, MI[26]
• Station Toledo: Toledo, OH[27]

Sector Lake Michigan Stations

• Station Calumet Harbor: Chicago, IL[28]
• Station Chicago (Small): Chicago, IL[29]
• Station Frankfort: Frankfort, MI[30]
• Station Grand Haven: Grand Haven, MI[31]
• Station Green Bay (AUXOP): Green Bay, Wisconsin[32]
• Station Holland (AUXOP): Holland, MI[33]
• Station (ANT) Kenosha: Kenosha, WI[34]
• Station Ludington: Ludington, MI[35]
• Station Manistee: Manistee, MI[36]
• Station Michigan City: Michigan City, IN[37]
• Station Milwaukee: Milwaukee, WI[38]
• Station (ANT) Muskegon: Muskegon, MI[39]
• Station Sheboygan: Sheboygan, WI[40]
• Station St. Joseph: St. Joseph, MI[41]
• Station Sturgeon Bay: Sturgeon Bay, WI[42]
• Station (ANT) Two Rivers: Two Rivers, WI[43]
• Station Washington Island (Small): Sturgeon Bay, WI[44]
• Station Wilmette: Wilmette, IL[45]

Sector Sault Sainte Marie Stations

• Station Alpena (AUXOP): Alpena, MI[46]
• Station Bayfield: Bayfield, WI[47]
• Station Charlevoix: Charlevoix, MI[48]
• Station Duluth: Duluth, MN[49]
• Station Marquette: Marquette, MI[50]
• Station North Superior (Small): Grand Marais, MN[51]
• Station Portage: Dollar Bay, MI[52]
• Station Sault Ste Marie: Sault Sainte Marie, MI[53]
• Station St. Ignace: St. Ignace, MI[54]

District 9 Air Stations Map

Air Station Detroit is located on Selfridge Air National Guard Base near Detroit, MI. Primary missions include Search and Rescue, Law Enforcement, domestic icebreaking operations, Marine Environmental Protection (MEP), Rotary Wing Air Intercept (RWAI) and mission support for local, state, and federal agencies. Air Station Detroit is responsible for the southern portion of Lake Huron, Lake St. Clair, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario.[55]

• Air Facility Muskegon is a detachment of Air Station Detroit. The air facility operates during the summer months to support the southwest portion of Lake Michigan. The air facility is staffed by two four-person aircrews operating a MH-65D Dolphin Helicopter.[56]

Sikorsky MH-60

Air Station Traverse City is located at the Cherry Capital Airport in Traverse City, MI. Air Station Traverse City operates all of Lake Michigan and a large portion of Lake Superior and Lake Huron. Primary missions include Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, and Search and Rescue.[57] Air Station Traverse City has implemented plans to transition from its current four MH-65 Dolphin helicopters to three Sikorsky MH-60 Jayhawk helicopters.[58]

• Air Facility Waukegan, previously known as Air Station Chicago, now operates in Waukegan, IL at the Waukegan Regional Airport. The air facility operates from Memorial Day through Labor Day to increase search and rescue capabilities and improve response times in Southern Lake Michigan. The air facility is staffed by two four-person aircrews operating a MH-65D Dolphin Helicopter.[56]

District 9 Cutter Map

District 9 has ten active cutters operating in all five Great Lakes.[59] Cutter is a term used by the U.S. Coast Guard for its commissioned vessels. They are 65 feet (19.8 m) or greater in length and have a permanently assigned crew with accommodations aboard. They carry the ship prefix USCGC.[60]

• USCGC Alder (WLB-216) is a 225-foot multi-mission cutter located in Duluth, MN. Its primary missions are to aid in navigation, ice breaking, law enforcement, and search and rescue. In addition, Alder performs missions such as marine environmental protection and port security. Alder operates on all five Great Lakes, however, most of its operations are in Lake Superior and Lake Michigan.[61]
• USCGC Biscayne Bay (WTGB-104) is a 140-foot icebreaking tug stationed in Saint Ignace, MI. Its primary mission is to maintain tracks in the connecting waterways in the Great Lakes and assist vessels through icebound shipping lanes. Biscayne Bay operates widely throughout the great lakes. Primary areas of operation are the Straits of Mackinac and the St. Mary's River. In addition, the cutter operates in the St. Clair/Detroit River system, Green Bay, WI, Duluth, MN, and Thunder Bay, Ontario.[62]
• USCGC Bristol Bay (WTGB-102) is a 140-foot icebreaking tug stationed in Detroit, MI. Its primary responsibility is opening and maintaining icebound shipping lanes in the Great Lakes. In addition, Bristol Bay performs missions such as search and rescue, marine environmental protection, law enforcement, and port security and safety. U.S. Coast Guard engineers designed Bristol Bay.[63]

USCGC Buckthorn

• USCGC Buckthorn (WLI-642) is a 100-foot Inland Buoy Tender stationed in Sault Ste. Marie, MI. Its primary missions are Aids to Navigation within the Sault Ste Marie's River System, Homeland Security, and Public Affairs. Buckthorn's area of responsibility expands from Whitefish Point, MI thru Sault Ste Marie's River. Buckthorn is the oldest cutter in the Great Lakes.[64]
• USCGC Hollyhock (WLB-214) is a 225-foot Seagoing Buoy Tender stationed in Port Huron, MI. It is responsible for approximately 150 aids-to-navigation on mainly Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, and Lake Erie. Hollyhock other primary missions include search and rescue, environmental protection, and domestic ice-breaking. Hollyhock was built in 2003 to replace WWII-era USCGC Bramble (WLB-392).[65]
• USCGC Katmai Bay (WTGB-101) is a 140-foot Bay-class Icebreaking Tug stationed in Sault Sainte Marie, MI. Its primary missions include icebreaking, Homeland Security Patrols, Light House Projects, Law Enforcement, and Public Affairs. Katmai Bay operates within all Great Lakes.[66]

USCGC Mackinaw

• USCGC Mackinaw (WLBB-30) is a 240-foot vessel stationed in Cheboygan, MI. It is the only U.S. Coast Guard cutter in the Great Lakes designed for heavy icebreaking and specifically used for multi-mission capabilities, such as environmental response, Homeland Security, and search and rescue. Mackinaw contains state of the art technology such as its ability to deploy an oil skimming system to respond to oil spill incidents.[67]
• USCGC Mobile Bay (WTGB-103) is a 140-foot vessel designed for icebreaking and is stationed in Sturgeon Bay, WI. Mobile Bay conducts icebreaking missions near Green Bay, WI, Straits of Mackinac, and the St. Mary's River from mid-December through mid-April. Its other missions include Maritime Law Enforcement, Search and Rescue, Environmental Pollution Response, and Homeland Security.[68]
• USCGC Morro Bay (WTGB-106) is a 140-foot Bay-class Icebreaking Tug stationed in Cleveland, OH. Its primary missions include Icebreaking, Homeland Security Patrols, Light House Projects, Law Enforcement, and Public Affairs. Morro Bay operates within all Great Lakes and has coined the nickname, "Jack of all trades".[69]
• USCG Neah Bay (WTGB-105) is a 140-foot Bay-class Icebreaking Tug stationed in Cleveland, OH. Its primary missions include Icebreaking, Homeland Security Patrols, Light House Projects, Law Enforcement, and Public Affairs. Neah Bay operates broadly within all Great Lakes.[70]

District 9 comprises four Marine Safety Units (MSU) and two Marine Safety Detachments (MSD).

District 9 Marine Safety Units and Detachments Map

• MSU Chicago is in Willowbrook, IL; 40 minutes from Downtown Chicago, its primary responsibilities are Port Safety and Security, Marine Environmental Protection, and Commercial Vessel Safety. These missions serve to ensure safe, secure, and environment safety within Southern Lake Michigan, Chicago Area Waterway System and the Illinois River Watershed. Specifically, MSU Chicago's area of operation is Lake Michigan shorelines of Illinois and Indiana, as well as 186 miles of the Illinois River System comprised 7 locks and approximately 250 bridges. In addition, MSU Chicago's responsibilities include a fleet of 166 vessels and 118 regulated waterfront facilities.[71]

Coast Guard District 9 airboat crews deploy for Hurricane Sandy

• MSU Cleveland is located along Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland, OH. MSU Cleveland's primary missions include Maritime Safety and Security, Environmental Response, Commercial Vessel and Facility Inspections and Marine Casualty Investigations. Its area of responsibility extends from the Ohio-Pennsylvania border to Vermilion, OH.[72]
• MSU Duluth is located along Lake Superior in downtown Duluth, MN. MSU Duluth's primary missions include Pollution Response and Port and Waterways Management. Its area of responsibility extends from the North Dakota-Minnesota border to Grand Forks, ND and includes all waters west of Marquette, MI.[73]
• MSU Toledo is located along Lake Erie in downtown Toledo, OH. MSU Toledo's primary responsibilities are Port Safety and Security, Marine Environmental Protection, and Commercial Vessel Safety. These missions serve to ensure safe, secure, and environmental safety in its area of responsibility that is contained in the Lake Erie waters from Monroe, MI to Huron, OH.[74]

District 9 comprises seven Aids to Navigation Teams (ANT).

District 9 Aids to Navigation Teams Map

• ANT Buffalo is located in Buffalo, NY and services the buoys, lighthouses, and markers in Sector Buffalo area of responsibility.[77]
• ANT Detroit is located in Detroit, MI and operates on the South Western end of Lake Erie through the Detroit River, to include Lake St. Clair. It is responsible for approximately 30 Aids to Navigation and secondary for 310 Aids to Navigation.[78]
• ANT Saginaw River is located in Essexville, MI and services the buoys, lighthouses, and markers in the northern part of Sector Detroit's area.[79]
• ANT Two Rivers is located in Two Rivers, WI.[80]
• ANT Duluth is located in Duluth, MN and services 168 minor Aids to Navigation and 8 lighthouses. Its area of responsibility includes Duluth Harbor, Apostle Islands, St. Louis River, Bayfield, WI and Two Harbors, MN.[81]
• ANT Muskegon is located in Muskegon, MI.[80]
• ANT Sault Sainte Marie is located in Sault Sainte Marie, MI and services buoys, lighthouses, and markers from Munising, MI east to Drummond Island, MI with the primary operating area on the St. Mary's River system.[82]