Updated: 09 Jul 2022 08:05
Skipper Aye-Aye: Jessica Rozzi-Ochs, captain of the Coast Guard Academy training vessel Eagle (Photograph by Sarah Lagan)
Nearly 200 cadet trainees, officers and permanent crew members of the U.S. Coast Guard training ship Eagle called in Bermuda under the guidance of the ship’s first female captain, Jessica Rozzi-Ochs.
The 295-foot barque is visiting the island for the 39th time since 1946, when she was first used as a training ship for future United States Coast Guard Academy officers.
Arriving in Hamilton Harbor yesterday, the crew have a packed itinerary during their week-long stay, including hosting the US Independence Day reception by the US Consul General with guests including Prime Minister David Burt, Governor Rena Lalgie and Karen Grissette, US Consul to Bermuda.
The Tall Ship of the US Coast Guard Eagle arrives in Bermuda (Photograph by Akil Simmons)
They will also do community service for the Bermuda Zoological Society’s Trunk Island Restoration Project, where they will clear vegetation and plant mangroves, and the Sandys Boat Club where they will help with maintenance and meet sailing crews. young people. Members of the public will be able to take tours of the ship while it is in port.
Bermuda is part of the academy’s summer deployment training program and is the only non-US port of call the ship will make this summer.
The Tall Ship of the US Coast Guard Eagle arrives in Bermuda. Pictured are Karen Grissette, US Consul General to Bermuda and Lawrence Scott, Minister of Transportation. (Photograph by Akil Simmons)
Ms Rozzi-Ochs explained: “Every year it changes based on priorities within the Coast Guard and the United States. With Covid it changed the way we trained on board.
“Last year we started to get back to normal – this year it was mainly the east coast depending on the priorities of some of the ports we wanted to visit and also with the change of commander.
The Tall Ship of the US Coast Guard Eagle arrives in Bermuda. Pictured is Rena Lalgie, Governor of Bermuda (photograph by Akil Simmons)
“She is being brought to her home in New London, Connecticut, where she left in early May. She made various stops – the last stop before coming here was Key West, Florida. That’s where we had the change of command ceremony on June 24, when I assumed command of that ship.
“After here, we go home to New London, Connecticut. Most of the trainees we have on board will disembark and we will take on a new group of trainees.
US Coast Guard tall ship Eagle arrives in Bermuda (Photograph by Akil Simmons)
Mrs Rozzi-Ochs said that she was the first female captain of the Eaglethe Coast Guard is inclusive and progressive, and women have served as captains of other Coast Guard vessels.
“I think the Coast Guard is an incredible service where we promote inclusion and diversity. I feel very fortunate that the Coast Guard has fostered this environment and this culture.
Ms. Rozzi-Ochs is trained as a mechanical engineer and served in the Coast Guard for 22 years. She has primarily done naval engineering in the Coast Guard as well as operations, working in the Budget Office and most recently in the Office of Congressional Affairs. Between 2013 and 2015, she served aboard the Eagle as a senior executive.
She said she had had a fulfilling career with the service so far.
“Loved it – it’s amazing service, lots of opportunity,” she said.
“It’s a smaller service within the armed forces, but we’re empowered to have responsibility and leadership. We have a wide range of assignments so you can fit in – I enjoyed that. It’s very favorable to women in the service, it is quite progressive.
“Aboard a ship, you are together 24/7 and you learn to live together, to communicate and to work together towards this common goal.
“It’s also amazing to be able to see several different international ports and work with different countries. In most ports you will have some free time to enjoy the local cuisine and culture.
The Tall Ship of the US Coast Guard Eagle arrives in Bermuda (Photograph by Akil Simmons)
The Coast Guard is a maritime service that falls under the Department of Homeland Security rather than the Department of Defense.
Ms Rozzi-Ochs added: ‘We have 11 statutory missions – search and rescue and fisheries are the most important, we do law enforcement, humanitarian training, international relations and we train other countries in maritime operations.
“Eagle was in Bermuda last year and it was an important visit – we were able to have high level discussions between the Consul General and the Coast Guard regarding illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. Eagle was able to serve as a platform to facilitate some of these discussions. »
The public is invited to take advantage of tours of the Eagle Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The Tall Ship of the US Coast Guard Eagle arrives in Bermuda (Photograph by Akil Simmons)
