SEATTLE – In addition to the Federal State, local and contracted cleanup crews who responded to the Dalco Passage Oil Spill this week, an all-volunteer, non-paid force comprised of Coast Guard Auxiliary members proved invaluable to the success of the response.  

Auxiliary members were notified soon after the oil spill south of Vashon Island, Wash., was discovered and they were placed on standby to assist.  Friday morning a team of 17 Auxiliarists reported to the incident command for duty.  The following day the number rose to 23, and by Monday, 48 Auxiliarists had been integrated into the response.

Many of the Auxiliarists worked long hours along side their Coast Guard active duty counterparts.  Most days began at 6 a.m., and came to a close as late as 11 p.m.  As volunteers became exhausted from the long hours and fast pace of the response, more Auxiliarists stepped up to take their place.

Volunteers contributed more than 500 hours to the response effort, which allowed active duty Coast Guard members to focus on the important ongoing daily missions such as search and rescue and maritime law enforcement.  

The volunteers performed tasks such as phone watches in the joint information center, monitoring radio transmissions, providing escorts to and from cleanup areas, maintaining logbooks and posting flyers at local marinas.

Since World War II the auxiliary has assisted the Coast Guard with nearly all of its missions.  Today that volunteer force is made up of more than 38,000 members, more than 5,000 privately owned surface vessels and nearly 300 aircraft. 

The auxiliary is a valuable asset in augmenting active duty and reserve Coast Guard personnel.  Coast Guard Auxiliary members are recognized as a valuable part of the Coast Guard team and as such are authorized to wear Coast Guard uniforms with an auxiliary insignia.    

Media interested in learning more about auxiliary programs, which keep the people and environment of the Pacific Northwest safe, should contact the Mary Ann Chapman at (206) 285-2880.  Community members interested in jointing the Coast Guard Auxiliary are encouraged to contact their local Coast Guard Auxiliary or visit www.cgaux.org.

Photo of auxiliary member working with active duty member availible at the following link,

https://www.piersystem.com/clients/uscg-13/32923.JPG?0.0668554282895