National Security Cutter Returns to Home Port in Alameda

One of the nation’s only two national security cutters returned to its home port Sunday in Alameda after a 13,000 nautical-mile patrol in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, U.S. Coast Guard officials said. The 79-day journey took the crew of the cutter Waesche to waters off of Central America where it spent time disrupting organized crime networks.

The crew and other agencies seized about 1,400 pounds of cocaine estimated in value at $22 million. Crewmembers completed proficiency exercises off the coast of San Diego during the last four weeks of their deployment. The exercises were meant to sharpen the crew’s ability to conduct their military, homeland defense and law enforcement duties. Waesche is the second of eight planned national security cutters to be built. The ship is 418 feet long and can travel at a top speed of 28 knots. It has a range of 12,000 nautical miles.

Waesche has a flight deck and hangars to house two helicopters and is outfitted with the latest command, control and communications equipment. U.S. officials designed the ship to conduct military, homeland security and law enforcement operations.

By Bay City News

Photo via Shutterstock

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