Ready and waiting

Lt. John Kidwell/Special to the Pilot

* Editor’s Note: During a 35-day journey from New Orleans to Newport

Beach via the Panama Canal, Lt. John Kidwell, commander of the new Coast

Guard cutter Narwhal, has offered to keep the Newport-Mesa community

updated on the crew’s journey through a series of e-mail reports and

photos from a dozen ports of call. The following is his second report as

he takes our readers aboard the ship:

The crew endures a lot of training and drills to get prepared for

service. The drill we run most often is called a “Machinery Space Fire

Drill.”

The drill simulates a fire or major fuel/oil leak in the engine room.

This is one of the most devastating things that can ever happen to any

vessel at sea and we must be 110% prepared to deal with it.

As you can imagine, the hot Louisiana sun beat down on the crew during

training, but this is one of those times that each member must put

everything else aside and focus on learning their jobs.

Without reservation, I feel this crew is trained and ready to make the

journey back to Newport Beach. We run about five drills per day and then

conduct all-hands training for the rest of the afternoon. A typical day

of training for the crew would look something like this.

0800-0930: Machinery Space Fire Drill

0930-1030: Loss of Steering Drill

1030-1130: Flooding Drill

1130-1230: Noon meal

1230-1400: Machinery Space Fire Drill

1400-1500: Damage Control Training

1500-1600: Navigation/Engineering Training

1600-1730: Mass CONFLAG, General Quarters

As you can see, we train, train, train so that we are able to perform

our jobs up to the standard that the Newport Beach-area residents are

used to. I and the entire crew look forward to doing just that.

We were able to finally take the ship out by ourselves after I signed

for it.

We left the pier as soon as possible in order to try out our new baby.

She runs great and handles like a “Caddy.” This new ship is definitely

going to make the residents of Newport proud and safe.

We have been in New Orleans for three days. We are getting many things

placed aboard during our short stay here. Electronics, a few weapons, new

gadgets, etc. It seems that the first malfunction we had with the ship

after we got her was something that no “coasty” could live without -- our

galley coffee maker. It has a small electrical short and must be replaced

before we leave for our journey. Anyone who has spent time in the

military will agree that coffee is a mainstay in everyone’s diet.

The crew is having a blast in New Orleans. The French Quarter is where

most of the guys spend the little bit of off time they have.

Of course, there are the casinos that are frequented also. If my guys

can make it out of here with any money at all, I will be happy.

Still training, training and more training. We are spending this week

just getting acquainted with the new cutter -- wondering where to store

this or that for the trip and where the light switch is for this light or

where the breaker panel is for the electronics. Many questions get

answered by trial and error.

We will be taking a group photo on Monday evening. Kent Burton flew in

today, so we are also getting him settled in. He even got a brand new

haircut (actually more like a shave) for the trip. There will be more to

follow. All is well.

Burton wrote the following essay:

“Friday the 13th at 4 a.m., the alarm goes off. One hour and 55

minutes from now I will be in the air heading to New Orleans. It will be

great to see the crew and the new boat.

“Once I arrived at the Coast Guard Station and boarded the USCGC

Narwhal, I was amazed.

“First of all it is a beautiful boat, even with technicians running

around installing new devices. The new technology is laid out before you.

I have to admit that it is very intimidating.

“I am sure, however, we will train hard and get up to speed. Tomorrow

and for the next two weeks, there will be training each day. Everyone is

eager to get underway and see all of the sights along the way back to

Newport Beach.”