Life Saving Service News

Bollinger Shipyards has delivered the USCGC John Patterson to the U.S. Coast Guard in Key West, Fla. This is the 179th vessel Bollinger has delivered to the U.S. Coast Guard over a 35-year period and the 53rd Fast Response Cutter (FRC) delivered under the current program.The USCGC John Patterson will be the fourth of six FRCs to be homeported in Sector Boston.Each FRC is named for an enlisted Coast Guard hero who distinguished themselves in the line of duty. The cutter’s namesake, John C. Patterson, was born in New Jersey in 1834. In 1870, after serving in the U.S.

The U.S. Coast Guard commissioned the 48th Sentinel-class fast response cutter (FRC) Pablo Valent (WPC 1148) into service at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg, Fla., Wednesday.Rear Adm. Brendan McPherson, commanding officer of the Coast Guard Seventh District, presided over the ceremony. Cecilia Guillot, Valent’s great-niece, is the ship's sponsor.The cutter’s namesake Pablo Valent was originally from Corpus Christi, Texas, and joined the United States Life-Saving Service in 1912.

Bollinger Shipyards has delivered the USCGC JOSEPH DOYLE, the 33rd Fast Response Cutter (FRC) to the U.S. Coast Guard. The Coast Guard took delivery on the 21st of March, 2019 in Key West, Florida. The 154-foot Sentinel-class Fast Response Cutter has a flank speed over 28 knots, state of the art command, control, communications and computer technology, and a stern launch system for the vessel’s 26-foot cutter boat. The FRC has been described as an operational “game changer,” by senior Coast Guard officials.

Bollinger Shipyards said it has delivered the USCGC Benjamin Dailey, the 23rd Fast Response Cutter (FRC) to the U.S. Coast Guard. The Coast Guard took delivery of the 154-foot patrol craft on April 20, 2017 in Key West, Fla. The vessel’s commissioning is scheduled for July 4, 2017 in Pascagoula, Miss. The 23rd vessel in the Coast Guard's Sentinel-class FRC program, USCGC Benjamin Dailey will be the first FRC to be stationed in the 8th Coast Guard District in Pascagoula, Miss. Previous cutters have been stationed in Florida; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Cape May, N.J. and Ketchikan, Alaska.

Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division christened the seventh Legend-class National Security Cutter, Kimball (WMSL 756), on March 4 in front of approximately 1,000 guests. “We wouldn’t be able to bring this ship to life without the great work that we see here at Huntington Ingalls shipyard,” said U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Paul F. Zukunft, who was the ceremony’s keynote speaker. “I am moved every time I come onto this facility and I see ‘What you do today matters.’ And the reason why it matters so much is that in the year 2060…

Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (NYSE:HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division launched the National Security Cutter Kimball (WMSL 756) on Saturday. Kimball is the seventh NSC Ingalls has built for the U.S. Coast Guard; christening is scheduled for March 4, 2017. “This is an important milestone for Kimball and the National Security Cutter program,” Ingalls Shipbuilding President Brian Cuccias said. Kimball was translated via Ingalls’ rail car system to the floating dry dock last week, and the dock was moved away from the pier on Saturday morning. With the assistance of tugboats, Kimball launched off the dock on Saturday afternoon. A video of the translation and launch is available at: http://newsroom.huntingtoningalls.com/releases/national-security-cutter-kimball-launch.

1790 - The Revenue Cutter Service is established by Congress, authorizing the construction of 10 vessels to enforce federal tariff and trade laws and prevent smuggling. The service receives its present name, U.S. Coast Guard, in 1915 under an act of Congress that merges the Revenue Cutter Service with the Life-Saving Service, thereby providing the nation with a single maritime service dedicated to saving life at sea and enforcing the nation's maritime laws. 1846 - During the Mexican-American War…

Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division authenticated the keel for the company’s seventh U.S. Coast Guard National Security Cutter, Kimball (WMSL 756), today. “Kimball, like her sister ships, is being built to the highest-quality standards with outstanding cost and schedule performance, and the NSC team is energized to make this one the best yet,” said Ingalls Shipbuilding President Brian Cuccias. “The National Security Cutter is the most technologically advanced ship in the Coast Guard fleet.

The National Security Cutter James (WMSL 754) sailed away from Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division on Sunday, July 12, one month after being delivered to the U.S. Coast Guard, HII announced. The newbuild vessel James was commissioned on August 8 in Boston before heading to Charleston, S.C., where it will be stationed alongside Ingalls’ fourth NSC, Hamilton (WMSL 753). The shipbuilder has delivered five NSCs so far, with two more under construction. An additional construction contract for an eighth NSC was awarded to Ingalls earlier this year.

Fresh from commissioning festivities in Boston, Coast Guard’s newest National Security Cutter, James, made its first port call to Baltimore, Tuesday. Wednesday, Aug. 19 from 8 to 10 a.m.; 1 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 20 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (GPS unit: 920 S Broadway, Baltimore, Md. Cutter James was recently commissioned for operational service at Boston Aug. 8 and is making way to its inaugural homeport in Charleston scheduled to arrive Aug. 28. Its namesake links the next generation of men and women serving aboard to the renowned lifesavers of the past, most notably of Capt. Joshua James, a native of Hull, Massachusetts, who is credited with saving more than 600 lives during his time with the U.S.

The Coast Guard commissioned its newest National Security Cutter, the 418-foot Coast Guard Cutter James, Saturday during a ceremony at Coast Guard Base Boston. "Joshua James began his life-saving career at 15 and saved more than 600 lives," said Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Paul Zukunft. During the ceremony, Zukunft, Charlene James Benoit, of Milford, Connecticut, the ship's sponsor and great-great niece of the ship's namesake, and James' commanding officer, Capt. Andrew J. Tiongson, a native of Somerville, ordered the ship to "come to life", officailly appointing James as an active cutter in the Coast Guard's fleet. James's crew will play a vital role in the Coast Guard's ability to secure our nation's maritime domain and borders…

The U.S. Coast Guard will officially debut its newest National Security Cutter (NSC), Coast Guard Cutter James (WMSL 754) during a ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 8 at Coast Guard Base Boston. Ahead of the commissioning ceremony, Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City coordinated a photo opportunity with the Coast Guard Cutter James and Coast Guard Barque Eagle while underway in the Atlantic Ocean. The new cutter is named for Capt. Joshua James, who is one of the most celebrated lifesavers in history.

The U.S. Coast Guard’s (USCG) latest 418-foot National Security Cutter James (WSML 754) entered Boston Harbor August 3 ahead of her commissioning scheduled for August 8. James is the fifth of eight planned National Security Cutters – the largest and most technologically advanced class of cutters in the USCG fleet. A $482.8 million contract for James’ construction was awarded to Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Ingalls Shipbuilding division on September 9, 2011. James was launched on May 3, 2014 and christened August 16 of that year.

The National Security Cutter James (WMSL 754) sailed away from Huntington Ingalls Industries' (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division on Sunday, July 12, one month after being delivered to the U.S. Coast Guard, HII announced. The newbuild vessel James will be commissioned on August 8 in Boston before heading to Charleston, S.C., where she will be stationed alongside Ingalls' fourth NSC, Hamilton (WMSL 753). "James is an excellent ship and another example of the outstanding work accomplished by our shipbuilders," said NSC Program Manager Derek Murphy.

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) announced today that the company's fifth U.S. Coast Guard National Security Cutter (NSC), James (WMSL 754), has completed her acceptance trials. The Ingalls-built NSC spent two full days in the Gulf of Mexico proving the ship's systems. "Once again our shipbuilding team proved their mettle as the ship performed well," said Jim French, Ingalls' NSC program manager. "The National Security Cutter program continues to prove the benefits of serial production, and we incorporate our learning from ship to ship.

The fifth National Security Cutter, James, completed builder’s trials in Pascagoula, Mississippi, marking the next step in preparing the cutter for delivery to the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG). "James’ successful completion of builder's trials means it’s one step closer to joining the Coast Guard fleet and executing some of  the most challenging maritime security missions facing our Nation. The men and women of Huntington Ingalls Industries and the Coast Guard Acquisitions Program should feel proud of getting James to this point in construction," said Capt.

Huntington Ingalls Industries' (NYSE:HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division christened the company's fifth U.S. Coast Guard National Security Cutter (NSC), James (WMSL 754), today in front of nearly 1,000 guests. Charlene James Benoit, great-great niece of the ship's namesake, Capt. Joshua James, is the ship sponsor. "The boundaries surrounding illegal migrant activity, weapons, drug smuggling and terrorism continue to blur and converge," said Vice Adm. Peter Neffenger, vice commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard and the ceremony's principal speaker. "The challenges created by that convergence require a 21st century Joshua James. We need his spirit and his adherence to our values. We need his adaptability, his staying power and his multi-mission focus.

NOAA announced it has found the underwater wreck of the passenger steamer City of Chester, which sank in 1888 in a collision in dense fog near where the Golden Gate Bridge stands today. The announcement was made during a press event at Gulf of Farallones National Marine Sanctuary’s San Francisco headquarters at Crissy Field. NOAA’s predecessor agency first located ship in 1890, two years after it sank. The story of City of Chester will be shared with the public in a future waterfront exhibit NOAA will place at the sanctuary office at Crissy Field. The office is the former U.S.

Huntington Ingalls Industries' (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division authenticated the keel of the company's fifth U.S. Coast Guard National Security Cutter, James (WMSL 754). "Our shipbuilders have done outstanding work to make us more efficient in building this ship, driving the cost down and becoming more competitive," said Ingalls Shipbuilding President Irwin F. Edenzon. "This not only positions us to continue all the way through the current build plan of eight ships, but we're going to see if we can get the Coast Guard interested in four more.

The U.S. Coast Guard awarded Huntington Ingalls Industries a contract action valued at approximately $482 million for the production of the fifth National Security Cutter.Construction of the ship to be named James, is scheduled to begin this spring at the Huntington Ingalls Industries’ shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss. following prefabrication.“The contract award for production and delivery of the fifth NSC is an important step forward in the Coast Guard’s efforts to recapitalize its aging surface fleet,” said Rear Adm. Bruce Baffer, the Coast Guard Acquisition Directorate’s program executive officer. “The NSC is desperately needed to replace the service’s 40-year-old high endurance cutters and to be able to perform today’s challenging homeland security missions.” Captain Joshua James…

1912- President Taft recommended abolishing Revenue Cutter Service. His actions led to the creation of the Coast Guard by merging the Revenue Cutter Service and the Life-Saving Service on 28 January 1915. 1933- Navy airship USS Akron crashed off the Barnegat Lightship. The search employed over 20 Coast Guard vessels under Navy supervision. 1972- On 4 April 1972 BMC (later BMCM) Thomas D. McAdams became the first Coast Guardsmen to receive the new Coxswain insignia. Then-Commandant ADM Chester Bender presented the insignia to Chief McAdams at a ceremony at the Coast Guard's Small Boat School in Ilwaco, WA, where McAdams was the OIC. 1977-The Coast Guard designated its first female Coast Guard aviator, Janna Lambine. She was Coast Guard Aviator #1812.

1897- Federal Civil Service rules were applied to Life-Saving Service (under Executive Order May 6, 1896). 1916-The official birthday of Coast Guard aviation. On this date LT Elmer F. Stone reported to Pensacola Naval Air Station for flight training. He was the Coast Guard's first naval aviator. 1945- Invasion of Okinawa in the Ryukyu Islands commenced. In all, seven Coast Guard-manned transports, 29 LSTs, the cutters Bibb and Woodbine, and 12 Coast Guard-manned LCI(L)s participated in the bloodiest invasion ever undertaken by the U.S. Over 13,000 Americans were killed and another 36,000 were wounded during the conquest of this Japanese possession. 1946- A tsunami swept away the light station at Scotch Cap, Alaska, killing the station's entire five-man crew. They were: BMC Anthony L.

1885-Keeper Marcus Hanna of the Cape Elizabeth Light Station saved two men from the wrecked schooner Australia. For this rescue Hanna was awarded the Gold Lifesaving Medal. He was also awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at Port Hudson in 1863. He is the only person to have ever received both awards. 1915- President Woodrow Wilson signed into law the "Act to Create the Coast Guard," an act passed by Congress on 20 January 1915 that combined the Life-Saving Service and Revenue Cutter Service to form the Coast Guard (38 Stat. L., 800). The Coast Guard, however, still considers the date of the founding of the Revenue Cutter Service, 4 August 1790, as its "official" birthday, even though the Lighthouse Service, absorbed in 1939, is even older than that, dating to 7 August 1789.