topside
Volume 114, Issue 2
Page 14
Division 4
Summer: Time to Get to Work!
Unlike many Americans, Auxiliarists do not have the summer (or even a part of it) off. Summer, at least in the
northern part of the country, is when the Auxiliary really gets to work.
Nowhere is this more true than at TRACEN-Marcus Hook, Division 4’s year-round training facility and summer
headquarters for the Division’s SafeBoat and support of District 5 Northern’s SARDET operations.
As we move into summer 2017, the big focus is on the Auxiliary docks in the Delaware River. Located immedi-
ately in front of the training center, these docks take a year-round beating from tides, debris, and wakes. The result
is an endless round of repair, refitting and coordination. The coordination part is important, because the health
and viability of our docks depends in part on the health and viability of the nearby Borough of Marcus Hook dock.
But the docks are only part of the story. Training continues day and night in the TRACEN building, which also
provides watch stander and communications capacity in support of patrol and SARDET activity. Summer also
brings increased patrolling on the Delaware River as well as expanded Vessel Safety Examinations on the Dela-
ware, Schuylkill and Susquehanna Rivers; in the northern portion of the Chesapeake Bay; and on a number of
lakes, included Marsh Creek Lake and Lake Nockamixon.
All of this is in support of the AUXTRACEN Marcus Hook Mission Statement:
To promote and improve Recreational Boating Safety
To provide facilities and trained crews to augment the United States Coast Guard and enhance safety and secu-
rity of our ports, waterways, and coastal region.
To provide training in the missions of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary as determined by the Comman-
dant of the United States Coast Guard.
To support the United States Coast Guard operationally, administratively and logistically.
Division 4 Safe Boat, with United States Coast
Guard Barque Eagle in the background.
Division 4 Commander: Alan Lindsay
Vice Commander: Dick McConnell