Staff Writer
CARIBOU — United States Coast Guard (USCG) officials announced on Jan. 7 that beginning Monday, Feb. 8, the Coast Guard will cease transmission of the Loran-C signal, which includes the Loran-C signal generated at the Caribou station.
Aroostook Republican photo/Natalie Bazinet
Bud Rudkin, MK1; Andrew Peterson, ET2; Senior Chief Skip Ripley, and Chris Calhoun, AT1 monitor the Loran-C signal transmitted from the Loran Station Caribou.
“The Caribou Loran Station is part of the Canadian-American Loran chain and is covered by a bi-lateral agreement,” explained Lt. Com. Chris O’Neil, chief of media relations for the USCG. “The U.S. signal transmitted from the station will cease on Feb. 8, but the Canadian signal will continue transmission until the Coast Guard delivers notification to Canada and it is accepted,” he explained, estimating that the acceptance of the signal termination will take place around June of 2010.
Currently, four Coast Guardsmen operate and maintain the Caribou Loran Station and interact with the community as a whole.
“It’s been a wonderful experience up here,” said Senior Chief Skip Ripley of the Caribou station. Originally from Maine, Ripley has been in Caribou for two and a half years, during which he thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the community. “We’ve had a lot of open houses, we’ve had barbecues, marched in parades — it’s something the men look forward to and I would like the people of Caribou to know that my men and I are thankful for the opportunity to be a part of Caribou.”
“The mayor, the city manager, the chamber of commerce director, have all been very supportive along with the businesses in town, the American Legion and the VFW,” Ripley added. “It’s been a real honor to be stationed up here being from Maine myself, and of course the scenery is beautiful, even in the winter.”
Though the signal is scheduled for termination, the four Guardsmen stationed at the Loran Station — Ripley, Bud Rudin, MK1; Andrew Peterson, ET2; and Chris Calhoun, AT1 — continue equipment operation and maintenance on the two buildings, four 770-foot towers, and 298 acres.
“The Loran-C signal is an antiquated system and is no longer needed for transportation, safety, or by the armed forces,” O’Neil explained. “It is still used by a small percentage of the population and we understand that it will be an inconvenience for them to switch over to a GPS system, but the Loran Signal is no longer a prudent use of taxpayer funds.”
The Caribou Loran signal reaches as far north as northern Canada, stretches east almost to Greenland, and reaches as far south as North Carolina.
According to Ripley, the USCG purchased the land in Caribou in 1973. Originally, the base was billeted for approximately 20 people, but technological advancements have allowed for the signal to be adequately maintained by four Coastguardsmen.
The Caribou Loran Station will still be holding their yearly open house later this year.
