U.S. Coast Guard Sector North Carolina

09/15/2026

Our port partners are powered by purpose.

Last week Sector North Carolina teamed up with other law enforcement agencies to conduct a Multi Agency Strike Force Operation (MASFO) at the North Carolina State Port in Wilmington, NC. Teams verified 50 containers, 100 vehicles, and 65 Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) cards.

A shout out to our Federal, State, and Local partners who work day and night to help keep our port secure, including:

• North Carolina Highway Patrol
• Transportation Security Administration
• Federal Bureau of Investigation
• Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration / Department of Transportation
• NCB Charleston
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection
• Homeland Security Investigations
• Brunswick County Sheriff’s Department
• New Hanover County Sheriff’s Department
• Wilmington Police Department

North Carolina State Highway Patrol
Transportation Security Administration - TSA
FBI – Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Department of Homeland Security
Brunswick County Sheriff's Office, NC
New Hanover County Sheriff's Office
Wilmington, NC Police Department

09/11/2026

Shoutout to our partners at CMPD Lake Division, NC Wildlife, SCDNR, York County Sheriff, Gaston County Sheriff, Mecklenburg ABC, and the Lake Wylie Marine Commission.
Together over Labor Day weekend, we joined forces for 22 underway hours to tackle illegal charter operations, completing 10 safety boardings and taking direct enforcement action on 3 identified illegal charters. Great teamwork and joint education on the water ensure the safety of our boating community!

09/09/2026

Joint ops. United mission. Safety at sea.

Over Labor Day weekend, U.S. Coast Guard Sector North Carolina partnered with Lake Wylie Marine Commission and regional law enforcement agencies to conduct a targeted two-day maritime safety and enforcement surge addressing illegal passenger vessel operations on Lake Wylie, a federally navigable waterway crossing state boundaries.

Underway Mission Hours: 22 hours conducting active patrols

Safety Boardings: 10 comprehensive vessel boardings

Voyage Terminations: 3 vessels ordered back to dock due to unsafe conditions

Captain of the Port Orders: 3 orders issued

Identified Illegal Charters: 3 illegal charters identified

Interagency Cooperation: Joint agency education, tactical integration, and intelligence sharing

09/09/2026

🚨 Water Safety Alert 🚨

Members with U.S. Coast Guard Station Hatteras provided some excellent water safety tips to help you stay safe while soaking up the sun during these final few weeks of summer.

🛟 From safety gear to brightly colored clothing to verifying weather conditions prior to going out, these tips can save your life should an emergency occur.

📝 Other great tips include:
- File a float plan (tell someone where you are going, how long you’ll be out, and when you’ll be back)
- Bring communication devices with you (satellite radio/cell phone, smartwatch with GPS, EPIRB - emergency satellite indicating radio beacon)
- Boat sober

Be prepared before heading out on the water, and stay safe! ⚓️

U.S. Coast Guard
Sector North Carolina

📸 PA3 Christine Bills

08/21/2026

08/21/2026

Good morning,

Please enjoy our livestream of Sector North Carolina’s Change of Command ceremony today at 1000. Thank you, Captain List, for your service to Sector North Carolina and welcome incoming Sector Commander, Captain Harlow. 📢🛟

07/16/2026

OAK ISLAND, N.C. – In a strong display of inter-agency collaboration, personnel from Coast Guard Station Oak Island, alongside a Coast Guard Commercial Fishing Vessel Examiner, Maritime Enforcement specialists, and Investigators from Coast Guard Sector North Carolina (SNC), recently joined forces with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NC DEQ) and NOAA enforcement for a comprehensive, hands-on commercial fishing vessel training exercise.

This invaluable training was conducted aboard a local shrimp boat owned by Royce Potter. During the event, Mr. Potter was presented with a Letter of Appreciation from SNC in recognition of his steadfast support and many years of graciously providing his vessel for these vital readiness exercises.

Ultimately, this joint training evolution fostered a deeper mutual understanding of each agency's unique regulatory roles. The exercise reinforced a unified commitment to working seamlessly together in the future to ensure the safety, sustainability, and lawful operation of North Carolina's coastal fisheries.

07/13/2026

Congratulations BM1!⚓️

07/06/2026

📢 Attention Boaters: Check Your Fire Extinguishers Before You Hit the Water 🚤

US Coast Guard Sector North Carolina has noticed an increase in voyage terminations this year due to non compliant or expired fire extinguishers. To help keep everyone safe, here’s a quick reminder of what’s required onboard:

• Fire extinguishers must be U.S. Coast Guard–Approved
• They must be serviceable and in good condition
• They must have a sufficient charge (needle in the green)
• You must carry the minimum number and type required for your vessel

❗️Important:❗️

Did you know that fire extinguishers have a 12 year service life from the manufacturer’s date?

• The date is usually stamped on the bottom of the extinguisher
• The service life ends on 31 December of the 12th year
• Example: A unit stamped 2020 is no longer compliant after 31 December 2032

Please take a moment to check your extinguishers before getting underway. A simple inspection can prevent delays—and help keep you, your passengers, and other boaters safe.

If you have questions about requirements, contact your local Coast Guard Station. Stay safe on the water! ☀️

04/23/2026

UPDATE:

****LOCATED! The windsurfer has been located alive and has been transported to the hospital for medical evaluation. Thank you to all involved in this case!****

The Coast Guard has received a report of an overdue windsurfer and is actively searching in coordination with local partners. Mr. Jim Stoll was last seen at 3:00pm on Wednesday, 22Apr, in the vicinity of Clam Shoal in the Pamlico Sound approximately 3NM off Frisco, NC. He was windsurfing when his sail broke. He was wearing a black wet suit with a silver helmet, riding a vintage windsurf board. Please report any information or sightings to Sector North Carolina Command Center at (833) 732-8628.