Coast Guard

Strapped to their 44-foot rescue boat and hanging on as the small but mighty vessel takes on another huge Lake Michigan wave, Ludington Coast Guardsmen head into the teeth of a storm. If it were to capsize, the boat is designed to right itself within 15 seconds and forge ahead. Crews purposely go out to train in such weather conditions in order to be able to safely and successfully aid mariners in distress in similar wind and seas. As a Coast Guard Reservist, I served as a “coxswain” or captain of this incredible vessel, 44345, for more than 25 years. Oh to have been able to take photographs during some of those boat rides! I scrambled part way out the Ludington north breakwall to take this off-duty photograph. I think it speaks volumes and will always be one of my favorite photographs, especially because I like to think of 44345 as a best friend, one that never has failed me and never will

There were many times at Coast Guard Station Ludington that the rescue boats were at rest. The crew was usually still busy carrying out the work and training of the Plan of the Day, but there was down time too when crew members could pause to take in a rainbow or other impressive waterfront view. There were also many times when “Always Ready” search and rescue boat crews scrambled to respond to a call for assistance, like fighting a fire at the carferry docks.

Petty Officer Barry Schultz stands lookout watch aboard MLB44345. Schultz also serves as one of the motor lifeboat's engineers. They are responsible for keeping the Coast Guard rescue boat's twin diesel engines, and other machinery, maintained and operating properly. The boat looks and operates as if new despite having served as Coast Guard Station Ludington's heavy weather rescue boat since 1965.

Coast Guard Motor Lifeboat 47225 heads out the Grand Haven Channel for a "heavy weather" training exercise during Superstorm Sandy. At the helm is Senior Chief Kirk McKay, a Coast Guard Surfman highly trained in extremely heavy weather rescue boat operations. F4.5 at 1/2000, ISO 1600, 300mm lens at 300mm

I am feeling envious as I watch a Coast Guard self-righting motor lifeboat head out of Grand Haven harbor for training in the big waves generated by Superstorm Sandy. I was privileged to drive Coast Guard motor lifeboats in big seas on Lake Michigan for 30 years before retiring from the Coast Guard Reserve in 2005. I miss the roller coaster rides on these 47-footers and the 44-footers that preceded them. F5.6 at 1/1600, ISO 800, 80-200mm lens at 175mm

A smartly flemished line finished off the squared-away appearance of a six-man Coast Guard rowing surfboat housed in the VanOort U.S. Coast Guard Boathouse at the Michigan Maritime Museum. The craft is part of an exhibit featuring the nation’s only complete and restored collection of the last three types of wooden rescue craft used by the Coast Guard.

During a two-boat, Coast Guard Auxiliary Safety Patrol from the Holland area to Muskegon, I wanted to make an image from the 44-foot patrol boat I am on of the 41-foot patrol boat passing by Coast Guard City USA, Grand Haven, Michigan. I am grateful to the Auxiliarists who have made this voyage possible for Brad and me.

During a two-boat, Coast Guard Auxiliary Safety Patrol from the Holland area to Muskegon, I wanted to make an image from the 44-foot patrol boat I am on of the 41-foot patrol boat passing by Coast Guard City USA, Grand Haven, Michigan. I am grateful to the Auxiliarists who have made this voyage possible for Brad and me. Nikon D800. F6.3 at 1/1600, ISO 800. 70-200mm lens at 82mm. Handheld without a flash. October 22, 2017 at 12:15pm.

Small but mighty, the Coast Guard Cutter Raritan towed the carferry City of Midland into Ludington harbor. The 100-foot tug and the Coast Guard Icebreaker Mackinaw had come to the assistance of the carferries Spartan and City of Midland after the ships became lodged in the ice just outside of Ludington breakwaters in February 18, 1977. The ice, packed tight by the wind, had damaged the rudder of the Midland.

Ice Breaking Coast Guard Biscayne Bay

Manistee Lighthouse and USCG

When the ice on the Great Lakes started impeding shipping, Coast Guard icebreakers bust open paths. On this ice-cold February morning the Coast Guard Cutter Biscayne Bay broke up the ice in Ludington harbor.

A Coast Guard helicopter flies right over me as I am photographing stormy seas on the Lake Michigan shoreline. I make the shot of these aerial lifesavers after having only seconds to change camera shutter speed and aperture in order to render the helicopter sharp but its rotor blades blurred to show their motion. F8 at 1/640, ISO 800, 80-200mm lens at 200mm

The Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw looks formidable as it docks in Ludington during the three-year-old ship's first visit to this port. The icebreaker stopped in Ludington before heading to Wisconsin to the shipyard. F7.1 at 1/400, ISO 100, 80-200 mm lens at 120 mm

The former Coast Guard Cutter Snohomish looks shipshape docked on Pere Marquette Lake at the Lake Michigan Carferry docks. The privately owned 110-foot tug was built in 1943. F4.0 at 1/125, ISO 200, 12-24 mm lens at 24 mm

The 225-foot-long Coast Guard Cutter Hollyhock looks inspection-ready after arriving in Grand Haven for the annual Coast Guard Festival. Thousands of people will tour the Port Huron based buoy tender during the festival. The Hollyhock is responsible for about 150 aids to navigation in the lower Great Lakes. It also performs icebreaking, search and rescue, and environmental protection duties.

The Coast Guard was founded by Alexander Hamilton on August 4, 1790. In honor of the Coast Guard’s birthday today, I made this image down at Stearns Beach in Ludington at the newly redone Veteran’s Mall. My dad served in the Coast Guard for over 33 years. I used my external flash to light up the gold Coast Guard shield in the sidewalk and tried to time it when all the flags in the background were blowing sideways and looked nice.