Vice Adm. Joseph R. Buzzella, commander, Coast Guard Pacific Area, unveils a 9/11 memorial at Coast Guard Island in Alameda, California, Sept. 11, 2026. The ceremony commemorated the 25th anniversary of the attacks and honored those who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001. (U.S. Coast Guard video by Petty Officer 3rd Class Austin Wiley)
SAN PEDRO, Calif. — Every day, billions of dollars in cargo move through California’s ports, carrying everything from food, fuel, vehicles and medical supplies. Most people never think about the buoys that guide ships through crowded waterways, but when one of those guides fails, the consequences could be major, threatening lives at sea, the environment and the uninterrupted flow of maritime commerce.
