Coast Guard releases top videos of 2010

WASHINGTON (WAVY) - The U.S. Coast Guard released its top 11 video compilation for 2010 (seen in video player accompanying this story, courtesy of the U.S. Coast Guard) highlighting the year's most compelling cases from the work done every day by America's Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard selected 11 videos to recognize the services 11 statutory missions and is inviting the public to vote for theri favorite video as part of the service's 2010 Video of the Year contest, Coast Guard officials announced Wednesday.

In 2010 the Coast Guard:

• Saved more than 4,300 lives and conducted more than 22,000 search and rescue cases.
• Prevented more than 200,000 pounds of cocaine from reaching the United States.
• Continued to provide unique military capability alongside the other armed services with six - Coast Guard cutters and 400 personnel deployed to train Iraqi naval forces and protect Iraqi maritime oil infrastructure critical to that country's recovery.
• Boarded more than 2,100 High Interest Vessels bound for U.S. ports to ensure security and conducted nearly 9,000 inspections on foreign vessels entering U.S. ports to ensure safety and protect the environment.
• Interdicted nearly 4,700 undocumented migrants attempting to illegally enter the United States from the sea.
• Conducted more than 11,000 inspections on U.S.-flagged vessels ensuring they operated safely and in compliance with environmental laws.
• Conducted more than 5,000 fisheries conservation boardings.

From Dec. 21 through Dec. 31, the Coast Guard's official blog, the Coast Guard Compass will publish one of the 11 videos each day featuring commentary from a service member involved in the mission. The public is encouraged to vote for their favorites by leaving a positive comment for the video on the blog or by choosing to “like” their favorites on YouTube in the Coast Guard's 2010 Video of the Year playlist or on the Coast Guard’s Facebook page .

For complete contest details visit Coast Guard Compass .