The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk returned to their home port in Key West on Feb. 14 after a 60-day patrol in the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, where crew members boarded and escorted two sanctioned oil tankers.
In support of Operation Southern Spear, Mohawk’s crew partnered with the Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security assets as well as additional Coast Guard units to board and escort the two sanctioned vessels, preventing the illicit trade of crude oil in violation of international sanctions.
“Our dedicated crews are the front line of maritime security,” said Cmdr. Taylor Kellogg, commanding officer of Mohawk. “Their vigilance and expertise were instrumental in the successful interdiction and escort of these tankers. This is a clear demonstration of the Coast Guard’s commitment to enforcing international law and our vital role in the Joint Force. I’m proud of their selfless service and devotion to duty.”
On Dec. 20, a Coast Guard tactical law enforcement team intercepted and boarded the Panamanian-flagged motor tanker Centuries. Mohawk escorted Centuries from the Caribbean Sea to the Gulf of Mexico, where the tanker moored pending coordination with the United States and the ship’s home country.
On Jan. 15, a Coast Guard tactical team intercepted and seized the Venezuelan-linked, Aframax motor tanker Veronica, prompting Mohawk’s crew to quickly transit back to the Caribbean Sea and provide escort duties. Following a boarding by a joint warfare team, Mohawk escorted Veronica to a secure anchorage in the Caribbean Sea.
The back-to-back escorts totaled 17 days and covered a combined distance of 2,700 nautical miles.
