The first "high endurance" US Coast Guard cutter built in 35 years was christened Sat Nov 11, 2006, Veterans' Day in the United States, in Pascagoula, Mississippi on the Gulf of Mexico coast. Northrop Grumman Ship Systems built the 408 foot $500 million "Bertholf", named for the Coast Guard's first Commandant. The ship is the first "national security" cutter and several more like it are planned as part of the Coast Guard's modernizing effort named "Deepwater".
Noteworthy is the fact that the Pascagoula area was hit very hard by Hurrican Katrina in Aug. 2005. Shipyard workers returned to work on the Bertholf within two weeks of the hurricane despite the fact that many of the workers lost their homes in the hurricane. The US Coast Guard played a major role in rescuing victims of the hurricane and was one of the very few government agencies that performed well in the hurricane's aftermath. The shipyard workers were apparently saying thanks to the Coast Guard by their fast return to work in difficult circumstances.
It is not clear how the cutter will be used to combat terrorism but it will also be used to interdict drug smugglers and illegal immigrants, and serve in diaster relief operations.
The Bertholf will be delivered to the Coast Guard in 2007.
Topic: New USCG high endurance cutter christened (Read 917 times)