The Coast Guard maintains about 50,000 aids to navigation, including beacons, buoys and lighthouses, and I got a firsthand look at how crews make them last.

Cutters like the Valiant are key to the Coast Guard’s counter-drug efforts and migrant interdiction, and we got a unique, onboard experience.

In a single year, the Coast Guard responded to nearly 20,000 search-and-rescue cases, saving nearly 3,600 lives.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Coast Guard announced Monday night that it had suspended the search for a man who disappeared after falling overboard near Blount Island on Sunday. The Tugboat Pop notified Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville around 3 a.m. Sunday that the 42-year-old man fell into the water while moving from the vessel to a barge. The commercial tugboat worker was not wearing a life jacket and did not resurface, according to the Coast Guard. Mark Vlaun, commanding officer of Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville. “We ask that all mariners keep a sharp lookout while transiting the waterways near Blount Island and to call our command center at 904-714-7555 with any reports of new information.”

ST. MARY'S INLET, Ga. – The U.S. Coast Guard rescued eight people and one dog out of the water after their sailboat hit the north jetty in St. Mary’s Inlet on Sunday afternoon. At around 5 p.m., the Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville was alerted to the boat in distress. A Coast Guard Station Mayport Response crew rushed to the area and rescued four children, four adults and one dog off the 30-foot sailing vessel. The sailing vessel struck the rocks on the jetty due to reported engine failure, according to USCG. Authorities recommend for all boaters to be cautious and stay off the water until Tropical Storm Eta passes and weather conditions improve.