An aircrew from the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station North Bend hoists and injured hiker from a lava field near North Sister, Oregon, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. Air Station North Bend assisted in the hoist as an agency assist due to loose rock and steep terrain. (U.S. Coast Guard Video Courtesy of Air Station North Bend)
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.
