California’s Keeper: How the Coast Guard Cutter George Cobb Shields Maritime Commerce

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.