Normally, two cutters are active in the First District, but costs cut the active patrols in half. The tumultuous tides of the Piscataqua River challenges this cost-cutting measure. Whether I'm willing is another story. The Coast Guard is also requiring its cutters to port only at their respective homeports during the budget crisis. The Guard normally strives to have medium endurance cutters at sea for 185 days a year.
Cutbacks slash more than availability.
Hamel said it could cause a decline in skill levels. If this continues, I'd expect you'd see a higher rate of mishaps and an eroding of skills. But Hamel stressed in the short term there should be no major problems from the shortened sea schedule. But we'll be out there. Click here for more news Click here to send this article to a friend Seacoast Online is owned and operated by Seacoast Newspapers.