FIJIAN journalists were given a tour of the visiting US Coast Guard Cutter Mellon yesterday in Suva.
Lieutenant junior grade Austin Ross, who was the tour guide on the vessel, explained the process and equipment that are used by the crew during Mellon’s operations.
Lt Ross said the flight deck of the vessel which was an after section, allowed the vessel to carry helicopters on board.
“This allows us to extend our range when conducting fisheries patrol or drug inspections. We do a lot of helicopter operations and it helps us to amplify our missions,” Lt Ross said.
He said the vessel also carried damage control equipment.
“This is some of the stuff we use, when the ship gets damaged and in order to control,” he said. He said every crew member on board was a trained firefighter as well.
“We are able to conduct firefighting operations on board. We are also trained to combat flooding, fire and even some medical casualties,” he said.
He said the vessel was 378 feet long and mainly used for law enforcement, high seas patrolling and search and rescue.
“Most of our patrols are up in the Arctic,” he said.
The ship also has a gun deck which houses a 76 millimetre gun.
