Office of Public Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard Thirteenth District

Date: Mar. 28, 2008
Contact: USCG Public Affairs
206-220-7237

NORTH PACIFIC COAST GUARD FORUM
Videos, Audio and Photos Available

SEATTLE - The Coast Guard and its counterparts from Canada, China, Japan, Korea and Russia met this week to discuss topics related to drug trafficking, maritime security, fisheries enforcement and illegal migration as part of the North Pacific Coast Guard Forum Experts Meeting.

The North Pacific Coast Guard Forum was initiated in 2000 as a venue to foster cooperation through the sharing of information between the major countries bordering the north Pacific Ocean.

Agencies from the six countries meet semiannually. The first session, called the experts meeting, is generally held in the spring. Here, the groundwork is done on ideas and recommendations that will be presented to each country's civil maritime leaders in the fall.

"The North Pacific Ocean is such a large body of water that it's impossible for one country to patrol and oversee that entire domain," said Coast Guard Capt. Robert Day, Deputy Commander of Maintenance and Logistics Command Pacific. "The North Pacific Coast Guard Forum fosters a coordinated and collaborated effort, and I think everybody that's involved sees the benefits achieved by our work."

The Coast Guard's involvement in the forum improves cooperation with the partner services throughout the region.   By sharing practices and capabilities among its partners, the North Pacific Coast Guard Forum enables the Pacific Rim communities to address large-scale maritime challenges. It also helps the Coast Guard perform missions that it historically had to do unilaterally.

The North Pacific Coast Guard Forum has achieved clear successes in the areas of combined operations and fisheries law enforcement. The Coast Guard regularly contributes a ship to participate in the annual summer combined operations with its forum partners. In 2007, the Coast Guard Cutter Boutwell, in cooperation with the Japanese, Russian, Canadian and Chinese governments, seized five vessels engaged in illegal high-seas driftnet fishing. These cooperative successes have managed to have a global impact and have made the Pacific forum a model for the newly developed North Atlantic Coast Guard Forum.

Video: 

SEATTLE - A video description of the North Pacific Coast Guard Forum can be viewed here.

SEATTLE - Video of Auxiliary member Jimmy Chang talking about being a Chinese interpreter for the North Pacific Coast Guard Forum can be viewed here.

SEATTLE - Video podcast on the Coast Guard Band swing group can be viewed here.  

SEATTLE - A video podcast of Petty Officer Ludmila Matson talking about being an interpreter can be viewed here.

SEATTLE - A video podcast on joint operations to combat high-sea driftnet fishing can be viewed here.

SEATTLE - A video podcast on fisheries enforcement can be viewed here.

SEATTLE - A video podcast on maritime security can be found here. 

SEATTLE - A video podcast wrapping up the North Pacific Coast Guard Forum can be viewed here.

Audio:

SEATTLE - Audio of Lt.j.g. Semyon Aynbinder talking to Petty Officer Anastasia Devlin about interpreters at the North Pacific Coast Guard Forum can be heard or downloaded here.

SEATTLE - Audio of Lt. Scott Barton talking to Petty Officer Anastasia Devlin about interpreters at the North Pacific Coast Guard Forum can be heard or downloaded here.

SEATTLE - Audio of Lt. Norma Smihal talking to Petty Officer Anastasia Devlin about interpreters at the North Pacific Coast Guard Forum can be heard or downloaded here.

SEATTLE - Audio of Lt. Norma Smihal teaching Petty Officer Anastasia Devlin how to introduce herself in Korean can be heard or downloaded here.

SEATTLE - Audio of Petty Officer Ludmila Matson talking to Petty Officer Anastasia Devlin about interpreters at the North Pacific Coast Guard Forum can be heard or downloaded here.

SEATTLE - Audio of Capt. Robert Day speaking about what went into setting up the North Pacific Coast Guard Forum can be heard or downloaded here .

Photos:

SEATTLE - A view of the command center within the North Pacific Coast Guard Forum (NPCGF), which was initiated in 2000 as a venue to foster multilateral cooperation through the sharing of information on matters related to combined operations, exchange of information, illegal drug trafficking, maritime security, fisheries enforcement, and illegal migration. The current membership includes agencies from Canada, China, Japan, Korea, Russia, and the United States. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Zac Crawford)

SEATTLE - The North Pacific Coast Guard Forum (NPCGF) was initiated in 2000 as a venue to foster multilateral cooperation through the sharing of information on matters related to combined operations, exchange of information, illegal drug trafficking, maritime security, fisheries enforcement, and illegal migration. The current membership includes agencies from Canada, China, Japan, Korea, Russia, and the United States.

SEATTLE - The North Pacific Coast Guard Forum (NPCGF) was initiated in 2000 as a venue to foster multilateral cooperation through the sharing of information on matters related to combined operations, exchange of information, illegal drug trafficking, maritime security, fisheries enforcement, and illegal migration. The current membership includes agencies from Canada, China, Japan, Korea, Russia, and the United States. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Zac Crawford)

SEATTLE - The North Pacific Coast Guard Forum (NPCGF) was initiated in 2000 as a venue to foster multilateral cooperation through the sharing of information on matters related to combined operations, exchange of information, illegal drug trafficking, maritime security, fisheries enforcement, and illegal migration. The current membership includes agencies from Canada, China, Japan, Korea, Russia, and the United States. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Zac Crawford)

SEATTLE - Coast Guard Capt. Bob Day, Deputy Commander, Maintenance and Logistics Command Pacific, welcomes delegates from China, Canada, Japan, South Korea and Russia to the 9th North Pacific Coast Guard Forum (NPCGF) on March 24, 2008. The U.S. Coast Guard and its international counterparts will meet in a forum this week to discuss topics related to drug trafficking, maritime security, fisheries enforcement and illegal migration. (Photo by Petty Officer Eric J. Chandler, U.S. Coast Guard.)

SEATTLE - The North Pacific Coast Guard Forum (NPCGF) was initiated in 2000 as a venue to foster multilateral cooperation through the sharing of information on matters related to combined operations, exchange of information, illegal drug trafficking, maritime security, fisheries enforcement, and illegal migration. The current membership includes agencies from Canada, China, Japan, Korea, Russia, and the United States.

SEATTLE - The U.S. Coast Guard and its counterparts from Canada, China, Japan, Korea and Russia will meet in a forum this week to discuss topics related to drug trafficking, maritime security, fisheries enforcement and illegal migration as part of the North Pacific Coast Guard Forum Experts Meeting.  The North Pacific Coast Guard Forum was initiated in 2000 as a venue to foster cooperation through the sharing of information between the major countries bordering the North Pacific Ocean.

 SEATTLE - Coast Guard Capt. Bob Day, Deputy Commander, Maintenance and Logistics Command Pacific, welcomes delegates from China, Canada, Japan, South Korea and Russia to the 9th North Pacific Coast Guard Forum (NPCGF) on March 24, 2008. The U.S. Coast Guard and its international counterparts will meet in a forum this week to discuss topics related to drug trafficking, maritime security, fisheries enforcement and illegal migration. (Photo by Petty Officer Eric J. Chandler, U.S. Coast Guard.)

SEATTLE - Petty Officer Ludmila Matson speaks to members of the Russian delegation during the reception for the North Pacific Coast Guard Forum on March 25, 2008. Matson is in Seattle as a Russian interpreter for the North Pacific Coast Guard Forum. (Photo by Petty Officer Eric J. Chandler, U.S. Coast Guard)

SEATTLE - Vice Adm. Charles D. Wurster, Pacific Area Commander, (left) accompanies Auxiliarist Jimmy Chang (right) during a tour of the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, Lake Washington Ship Canal on March 25, 2008. Chang is in Seattle as a Chinese interpreter for the North Pacific Coast Guard Forum. (Photo by Petty Officer Eric J. Chandler, U.S. Coast Guard) 

Seattle- Delegates from the North Pacific Coast Guard Forum (NPCGF) receive a brief on ferry security from the Washington State Patrol. The NPCGF was initiated in 2000 as a venue to foster multilateral cooperation through the sharing of information on matters related to combined operations, exchange of information, illegal drug trafficking, maritime security, fisheries enforcement, and illegal migration. The current membership includes agencies from Canada, China, Japan, Korea, Russia, and the United States. (Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Zac Crawford, U.S. Coast Guard)

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