GTMO Provides Support to USCGC Sitkinak

By Chief Mass Communication Specialist (SW) Bill Mesta, Naval Station Guantanamo Bay Public Affairs

GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba (NNS) -- Personnel attached to Naval Station Guantanamo Bay's (GTMO) Port Operations Department received USCGC Sitkinak (WPB 1329) Dec. 1 for a port visit.

Sitkinak pulled into the naval station to take on 4,500 gallons of diesel fuel, potable water, supplies and take liberty.

When a ship arrives in Guantanamo Bay, Port Control is the communication hub for the entire evolution.

"We have a check list that we go by that breaks down all of the responsibilities that our watch sections must cover for a ship to pull into GTMO," said Operations Specialist 1st Class Frederick Trahan, Port Control's leading petty officer.

"As Sitkinak approached the harbor, we made calls to inform everyone in the bay that the ship was coming in," said Trahan. "We also notified the Coast Guard here so that they could provide an escort for the ship. We then notified the line handlers so that they could ready to receive the ship."

Once the line handlers were notified, the dock master was informed that the ship has arrived as scheduled.

"The communication between Port Control and the dock masters is important because we want to ensure zero mishaps occur in Guantanamo Bay," said Lt. Cmdr. Lareava Meschino, the Port Operations department head.

The dock masters make all of the preparations for meeting a ship's necessities prior to the ship pulling into GTMO. They are also responsible for ensuring that the vessel is moored to the pier safely.

"Prior to Sitkinak arriving we received a logistical requirements request," said Quartermaster 2nd Class Carlton Jones, the dock master's leading petty officer. "The requests listed all of the needs the ship was going to have while they are in Guantanamo Bay."

Once GTMO received Sitkinak's requirements for the visit, a message was sent back to them to inform them of the cost involved for the logistical support, said Jones.

"When Sitkinak arrived to the pier, I was there to meet it," said Jones. "I made sure that they lined up correctly with the fueling station and that their brow was in a safe position. These are the two most important things for getting the ship moored to the pier."