ITHACA FLOTILLA 22

Established 1942

News and Views

VOLUME 81 February 2021 ISSUE #2

In this issue From the Helm and Flotilla Calendar ...... 3

Flotilla Calendar ...... 4

Flotilla News…...... 4-5

"They Had to Go Out" podcast series ...... 6

"Quiet Watertown Company Makes Big Splash with Man-less Patrol Boat"…6-8

Sea Scout Ship 25 News...... 9

Due to COVID-19 Most Face-to-Face Gatherings Remain on Hold Until Further Notice

EDUCATION + TRAINING = SKILL SKILL + ACTION = SAVED LIVES

Page 1 Ithaca Flotilla Newsletter February 2021 Ithaca Flotilla

FLOTILLA OFFICERS COMMANDER Kevin Walsh FC VICE COMMANDER Ben Gardiner VFC IMMEDIATE PAST COMMANDER Dale Campbell IPFC

FLOTILLA STAFF OFFICERS

ACADEMY ADMISSIONS Dale Campbell PADDLECRAFT SAFETY

Tom Every FSO-PAD COMMUNICATIONS Tom Every FSO-CM Photo courtesy of Tommy Lacey and Mark Lewis COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES Ben Gardiner FSO-CS DIVERSITY Jennifer Watson FSO-DV Ninth Eastern District FINANCE Located at the southern end of District Commodore Gary Zdan FSO-FN Cayuga Lake Clark J. Godshall HUMAN RESOURCES District Chief of Staff Dale Campbell FSO-HR 508 Taughannock Blvd. Ithaca, Richard Evans INFORMATION SERVICES Diana Robinson FSO-IS NY 14850 Human Resources MATERIALS 607-273-7175 George R. Taylor Bodge Hyatt FSO-MA District Captain Logistics MARINE SAFETY Monthly Meetings: Ron Baker John Frieman FSO-MS 2nd Wednesday District Captain Response MEMBER TRAINING 1900 Hrs. 7:00 pm Steven Botsford Gary Zdan FS0-MT District Captain Prevention OPERATIONS Acting Editor: Diana Robinson Mark Thomas Mark Lewis FSO-OP [email protected] Immediate Past District PUBLIC AFFAIRS Jennifer Watson FSO-PA Commodore PUBLICATIONS Dr. Joseph A. Sopko Diana Robinson FSO-PB Operations PUBLIC EDUCATION News and Views is the official Robert Laurer Kim Walsh FSO-PE newsletter of the U.S. Coast PARTNER VISITATION Guard Auxiliary Ithaca Flotilla Division Two Kevin Walsh FSO-PV and is intended to keep the Commander SECRETARY membership apprised of the Kim Walsh Anthony Scaglione FSO-SR activities of the Auxiliary. All Vice Commander VESSEL EXAMINATION articles and photographs Dale Currier Joseph Kurtz FSO-VE submitted must be consistent Immediate Past Commander with the policies of the Coast Guard and the Auxiliary and John Conroy may not be returned. Operations Dale Currier

Page 2 Ithaca Flotilla Newsletter February 2021 From the Helm

Kevin Walsh, Flotilla Commander

The primary mission of the Coast Guard Auxiliary to promote and improve Recreational Boating Safety. I may be a bit biased, but I believe that Flotilla 2-2 has a proud tradition of providing the BEST basic recreational boating safety instruction in the local area. Even during a pandemic, our knowledgeable instructors, using a professionally prepared curriculum, provide a course of instruction for Cayuga Lake boaters that no one else can touch. The following are the requirements that NY State has levied on recreational boaters under a 5-year phase-in plan:

• All motor boat operators born on or after Jan. 1, 1993 needed a boating safety certificate beginning in 2020; • Those born on or after Jan. 1, 1988 will need a boating safety certificate beginning in 2022; • Those born on or after Jan. 1, 1983 will need a boating safety certificate beginning in 2023; • Those born on or after Jan. 1. 1978 will need a boating safety certificate beginning in 2024; • All motor boat operators regardless of age will need a boating safety certificate beginning in 2025. • Students must be at least 10 years of page to participate in both classroom or online courses

I would ask that each flotilla member do what they can to help our organization continue to provide quality boating safety training to the local boating public by becoming an instructor and/or by helping to promote the Flotilla’s quality classes to the public. Our ABS dates for 2021 are: o April 10 & 11 o May 1 & 2 o Jun 12 & 13 o Jul 10 & 11 o Aug 7 & 8

Our most efficient way of providing quality training and information to the boating public is through these courses. Please help us to accomplish our mission of promoting and improving recreational boating safety by getting involved with our Flotilla Public Education efforts and by helping our FSO-PA Jen Watson to get the word out regarding our Boating Safety Courses. THANKS for all you do for our Flotilla. Need to take a NY boating safety course this year? What you need to know - newyorkupstate.com

Page 3 Ithaca Flotilla Newsletter February 2021 Flotilla Calendar

Date Event POC / OIC Notes Mar 5, 1900 hrs FSO meeting Kevin Walsh Virtual Mar 10, 1900 hrs Corp mtg only? Flotilla Ben Gardiner Virtual meeting tentatively postponed due to D- Train, updates TBA Mar 1 – Apr 1 Spring D-Train* Virtual *See D-Train schedule which was emailed for dates and registration info

Key: Flotilla Meetings Div 2 Events Member Public Education Special Events Safety Patrols Training

Flotilla News

ITHACA FLOTILLA

Flotilla Meeting Minutes for 10 February 2021 Virtual Flotilla Commander: Kevin Walsh 19:03 Flotilla Vice Commander: Bennett Gardiner Flotilla Immediate Past Commander: Dale Campbell Uniform: Casual Attendance: Tony Scaglione, Aaron Abb, Dale Campbell, Don Campbell, David Cornelius, Anastasia Earle, Tom Every, JohnFrieman, Bennett Gardiner, Laura Gardiner, Henry Hyatt, Mark Lewis, Diana Robinson, Walter Robinson, Robert Schleelein,Brian Schuerch, Kim Walsh, Kevin Walsh, Jennifer Watson, Gary Zdan. Excused: David Campbell, James Campbell, Joseph Kurtz. Guests: Bruce Ressner, John Sims and James Cornell.

MEETING AGENDA: • Call to Order (Kevin Walsh) • Pledge of Allegiance (Bennett Gardiner) • Guest Introductions: New applicant introductions: Bruce Ressner, John Sims and James Cornell. • Secretary’s Report: FSO-SR (Tony Scaglione) Minutes sent through Flotilla Newsletter Motion to accept DaveCornelius, 2nd. Aaron Abb, all in favor carried. • Treasurer’s Report: FSO-FN (Gary Zdan by email) Dave Cornelius motion to approve Tony Scaglione seconded.All in favor. Carried. • Proposed raise in dues $1.00 Motion to accept the flotilla budget by Diana Robinson. Seconded by Tom EveryCarried • Flotilla Commanders Update:

Page 4 Ithaca Flotilla Newsletter February 2021 o Virtual D-Train schedule available and has been sent to members. o Assignment to duty requirements • Division 2 Update: o Division will be purchasing a Zoom meeting capability which will be available to Flotillas and for training

• Upcoming events o D Train March 2021 – classes are virtual and held throughout the month mostly from 1900 to 2000 o FSO Meeting 5 March 2021 19:00hrs. o Flotilla Meeting 10 March 2021 may be cancelled. On Hold.

• Training Minute (or a couple of minutes) FPN Outdoors Coast Guard 45 and 29 Response Boats - Bing video

• Operations Update: Mark Lewis o Tompkins County Sheriff Meeting 3 Feb 2021 Interested in working with the Flotilla. May be able toprovide AED. Positive exchange.

• Staff Officers Updates

o FSO-CM Communications (Tom o FSO-AUXPAD (Tom Every) Every) Looking for watch standers o FSO-CS Communication to be on duty at Flotilla 2-2 base. Services (BenGardiner) o FSO-PA Marketing and Public o FSO-MT Member Training (Gary Affairs (JenWatson) Zdan) TCTduring d-train. Gary o FSO-HR Human Resources (Dale will keep us advised of classes Campbell) as they become available. o FSO-DV Diversity (Jen Watson) o FSO-OP Operations (Mark Lewis) applicationfor award coming o FSO-PB Publications (Diana up. Robison) o FSO-IS Information and o FSO-VE Vessel Examinations (Joe CommunicationServices Kurtz) (Diana Robinson) o FSO-PV Recreational Boating o FSO-MA Materials (Bodge Hyatt) SafetyVisitation Program o FSO-MS Marine Safety and (Kevin Walsh) EnvironmentalProtection o FSO-FN Finance (Gary Zdan) (John Frieman) o FSO-SR Secretary/Records o FSO-PE Public Education (Kim (TonyScaglione) Walsh) Datesfor ABS: April 10 o Sea Scout Coordinator (Thomas & 11May 1 & 2 June 12 & 13 Lacey) July 10 & 11 August 7 & 8

• Old Business / Follow-ups: • New Business/News: Looking for Coxswains. o Key distribution Feb11th 09:00 - 13:00 sat. Feb.13th 10 -1400 SOP to be forthwith • Adjournment of Flotilla meeting Motion to adjourn Gary Zdan Mark Lewis second meeting adjourned 19:52hrs.

Page 5 Ithaca Flotilla Newsletter February 2021 “They Had to Go Out” Podcast series

Winter’s still got a way to go. Why not try some podcasts to pass the time? “They Had to Go Out” is a series of presenting sea stories of professional and volunteer rescuers. Their experiences range from McMurdo to domestic inland waterways, from pitchpoling a 44-foot Motor Lifeboat to firefighting on commercial vessels. Find them on YouTube, Spotify, Anchor, Apple or Google Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Go to https://theyhadtogoout.mailchimpsites.com/ for details. By the way, Episode 76 (season 2) features a familiar name. “Former Engineman Rick Kunz talks life and service on Lake Ontario’s Galloo Island where the Coast Guard maintained both a station and a lighthouse, four decades of uniform, grooming, and protective equipment advances at Station Oswego, ranking the coasts on a scale of painful seas, picking the right boat for the right weather, taking a 30 footer with him as he left the service, and how the Coast Guard Auxiliary offers boat owners, pilots, and other volunteers a chance to make a difference.”

“Quiet Watertown Company Makes Big Splash with Man-less Patrol Boat”

By Craig Fox cfox@wdt, published Jan 14 2021 in the Watertown Daily Times

[The following article is reprinted with permission. All rights reserved by the author and Watertown Daily Times: https://www.nny360.com/communitynews/business/quiet-watertown-company-makes-big-splash-with- manless-patrol-boat/article_f08dffe0-ba88-5cf0-9b84-9832766ad369.html ] .

WATERTOWN — Last summer, an unusual-looking boat turned heads when it was spotted driving along the St. Lawrence River, near Cape Vincent, with what appeared to be no one driving it.

No one was. The side of the orange- colored 22-foot cutter said it all: “UNMANNED VESSEL — STAY CLEAR.”

The prototype unmanned vessel was built for the U.S. Coast Guard by MetalCraft Marine US, a Kingston, Ontario-based company that moved last summer into a Watertown plant on Fisher Road in the Jefferson County Corporate Park.

“When you see that going along in the water, it’s something to see,” said Bob Clark, MetalCraft’s contract manager who works out of the company’s Kingston manufacturing and design facility.

The autonomous vessel is one of a variety of high-powered aluminum patrol, fire and work boats that are built right here in Watertown. In April of last year, the company purchased the 14,600-square-foot manufacturing plant at 22620 Fisher Road for $800,000 from a real estate company that the Purcell family owns.

Page 6 Ithaca Flotilla Newsletter February 2021 Operating out of a smaller structure in Cape Vincent for a few years, MetalCraft needed more space to grow, and the Fisher Road building became available after EZ Stack moved to Old Rome State Road.

It was a good fit because it had needed an overhead crane that ran across the top of the building and room for expansion, both inside and on the 2.3-acre parcel.

Today, MetalCraft employs a workforce of 18 employees at the Watertown facility and another 90 in three locations in Kingston. The company has contracts with the Coast Guard, U.S. Navy, Marines and with such countries as Kuwait, Brazil, Grenada and the Dominican Republic.

While it has acquired such crucial contracts, MetalCraft has a low-key presence in Watertown. The company even decided not to put up a sign on the building before moving into the facility. “We already had enough business,” Mr. Clark joked.

Plant manager Eric Webb will start work on Monday, an engineer was just brought in to do design work and the company is looking to hire eight to 10 riggers, specialized aluminum welders, electricians and others.

“It’s a great company,” said David J. Zembiec, executive director of the Jefferson County Economic Development Corp., who suggested MetalCraft take a look at the building in the corporate park for its new home.

The JCEDC also helped the company obtain grants from the Empire State Development to acquire equipment that made production more efficient, he recalled.

With 10% to 15% annual growth company-wide, Mr. Clark said Watertown can expect to see more of the work being done in Jefferson County. MetalCraft is looking at a couple local companies to paint the boats here, resulting in not having to truck the boats into Canada to complete that work.

“That’s good,” Mr. Zembiec said upon hearing the news. “It’s spin-off business.” In the last year, MetalCraft has received some national exposure because of that autonomous vessel that glided through the St. Lawrence River this summer.

The company is leasing the prototype vessel to the Coast Guard, which used it to monitor a missile testing area about 40 miles off Oahu, Hawaii. The Coast Guard completed its testing of the unmanned craft in Page 7 Ithaca Flotilla Newsletter February 2021 November to determine if it could be used to enhance its many maritime missions with its 30 days of autonomy and a detection for tampering and intruders. Operated by GPS from a Virginia Beach company, the remote- controlled, diesel-driven vessel — appropriately called “The Watcher” — kept aneyeon 20 square milesof seasforfishermen illegally entering the area, especially while missile testing was conducted. “Totally bizarre,” Mr. Clark said about its technology and capabilities of having a vessel without a driver.

With a formal name of the MetalCraft Marine Unmanned Interceptor 7M, the vessel passed the Coast Guard’s test with flying colors, proving it’s capable to operate in rough seas and white waves continuously at a 24/7 clip for 30 days, he said.

With technology continuing to improve, the market for autonomous vessels is growing, with harbor security, surveillance, national security and the military as their largest potential uses. For instance, Lockheed Martin has been tapped to study large unmanned vessels for the Navy.“There’s lots of potential. It’s going to be very big,” he said. “Manless vessels make lots of sense.”

While Russia and Turkey have developed vessels with mounted cannons, Mr. Clark predicts that they will instead be used more with missile launches. But the company is not receiving recognition only for The Watcher. Another oneofits vessels, the Interceptor43/44, wasnamed WorkBoat Magazine’s 2020 Significant Workboat of the Year. The magazine is applauding the company for its design and craftsmanship for Interceptor43/44, a chemical, biological, radiological, nucleardetection vessel thatitproduced for the Los Angeles Port Police.

The $1.5 million boat is a high-performance, state-of-the-art patrol craft designed to carry out a range of tasks to support maritime security and border control. It also facilitates counter-terrorism and effective disaster relief. The vessel is equipped with sophisticated military-grade equipment and computer software that can detect chemicals within a 3.1-mile radius and the presence of nuclear particles through the steel sides of a ship.

The Interceptor43/44, formerly called “Boat 42,” is built for speed andstability, andcan work safely in 13-foot to 17-foot waves. It has extra wide side decks with room to carry side arms, a portable 900-pound davit and seating for three officers with extra seating for a boarding party or mass rescue.

“For more than 30 years, we’ve developed a reputation as a leader in advanced technology, design and construction techniques and we are hopeful for the recognition of innovation and excellence this award represents,” Mr. Clark said. Every year, the editors of WorkBoat magazine compile a list of the 10 most significant boats of the past year. From that top 10 list, industry peers and the readers of WorkBoat magazine vote for the Boat of the Year.

In June, high-speed fireboats that the company built responded to a fire and then explosion of an auto hauler ship off Jacksonville, Fla. The port in San Diego also is manned by five more of itsfire boats. “We’re the Number One fire boat company in the world,” Mr. Clark said.

MetalCraft also provided the Navy with a boat that served in Iraq. One of its biggest contracts is with the Navy. It delivered 30 boom boats that assist during oil spill responses. The Navy initially wanted 40 more of the boats and now MetalCraft will produce a total of 94 by the spring of 2022. One will end up in all of the Navy’s bases.

Mr. Clark credits the company’s success in the United States with trade restrictions with Canada getting lifted in recent years and more liberal ways of doing business between the two countries.

With a boat-building history dating back to 1676, the current version of the company began in 1987 when founder Monty Smith bought out Kingston Aluminum Yachts and changed its direction from yachts to a patrol and workboat market. While it continually grew throughout the 1990s, MetalCraft began operations in Clayton before relocating up the river to Cape Vincent a few years later. Page 8 Ithaca Flotilla Newsletter February 2021

SEA SCOUT SHIP 25 February 2021 By Ship 25 Yeoman, Ben Ashbaugh

Photos © by Jim Graney

Activities: On the 24th of last month, Ship 25 attended the Taughannock District Winter Camporee “Knights and Castles''. Our group won the skill competition featuring orienteering, trebuchet construction, emergency ‘dragon attack ’ first aid, jousting, the sword toss, and constructing a bridge with lashings. It was a fun yet cold time with not much snow and plenty of sunshine.

Training: Our advancement has been focused on online training taught by and for the youth.

Fundraising: K&H Bottle and Can Redemption Center is now set up to take donations of your bottles and cans as a fundraiser for the Ship. Just bring your returns to their location at 900 West State St., Ithaca and say you’d like them to go to Ship 25. K&H will then send a check to the Friends of Ithaca Sea Scouts, the 501-c3 that sponsors Ship 25.

Contact: Sea Scouts is a co-ed program for young men and women ages 13-20. Prior to COVID-19, Sea Scout Ship 25 met at 6:30pm most Friday nights at the Coast Guard Auxiliary in Ithaca, NY. Currently, meetings are online or attendance-restricted with distancing requirements. For more information and a copy of Ship 25’s meeting and activity calendar, please visit www.ithacaseascouts.org or contact Committee Chairman Jim Graney at 607-327-1226 (work/cell) or email [email protected].

Page 9 Ithaca Flotilla Newsletter February 2021