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Cutter Hamilton News

05 Feb 2019

USCG Offloads 34,780 Pounds of Cocaine

Photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Brandon Murray 
U.S. Coast Guard District 7

The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Forward (WMEC-911) offloaded approximately 34,780 pounds of cocaine Tuesday in Port Everglades worth an estimated $466 million wholesale seized in international waters in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.The drugs were interdicted off the coasts of Mexico, Central and South America and represent 21 separate, suspected drug smuggling vessel interdictions by the U.S. Coast Guard:The cutter Forward was responsible for eight cases seizing an estimated 14…

15 Feb 2018

Coast Guard Offloads 14,000 Pounds of Cocaine in Port Everglades

Photo courtesy of USCG

The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton is scheduled to offload approximately 7 tons of cocaine Tuesday in Port Everglades worth an estimated $190 million wholesale seized in international waters in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. The drugs were interdicted off the coasts of Mexico, Central and South America by multiple U.S. Coast Guard cutters. The cutter Hamilton was responsible for two cases, seizing an estimated 1,931 kilograms of cocaine. The Coast Guard Cutter Northland was responsible for two cases, seizing an estimated 2,871 kilograms of cocaine.

17 Mar 2017

USCG Commandant Delivers State of the Coast Guard Address

U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Paul Zukunft  (Photo: USCG)

U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Paul Zukunft delivered the 2017 State of the Coast Guard Address at the National Press Club Thursday. This was Adm. Zukunft's third State of the Coast Guard Address and he emphasized the service as a unique instrument of national security. First and foremost an armed service, the Coast Guard is the only branch of the U.S. armed forces that has broad law enforcement authorities and a portfolio of more than 60 bi-lateral agreements that extend around the globe, Zukunft said.

15 Jan 2015

USCG’s New Cutter Powered by GE

Hamilton enroute to commissioning (photo courtesy of HII)

National Security Cutter Hamilton (WMSL 753) was commissioned by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) on December 6, 2014, at its home port of Charleston, S.C. GE Marine reports that the vessel is powered by one GE LM2500 gas turbine and two diesel engines in a Combined Diesel And Gas turbine (CODAG) propulsion system. Constructed in Pascagoula at Huntington Ingalls Industries' Ingalls Shipbuilding division, Hamilton previously completed a series of sea trials that proved the successful operation of a variety of components including the CODAG system.

08 Dec 2014

USCG Welcomes Cutter Hamilton to Fleet

Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton, the first national security cutter homeported on the East Coast, entered into active service today at Union Pier Terminal in downtown Charleston. The commissioning ceremony for the Coast Guard’s largest and newest 418-foot cutter was presided by Vice Adm. William “Dean” Lee, Coast Guard Atlantic Area commander. Commandant of the Coast Guard, Adm. Paul F. Zukunft, delivered the keynote address. “Together with my shipmates, we’re beginning the most important milestones in the life of a cutter,” said Capt. Doug Fears, Hamilton’s commanding officer and the most senior member of the crew. While being “new” to the Coast Guard is the highlight of the ceremony, Cutter Hamilton’s most enthusiastic crewmembers are just as new to the Coast Guard.

16 Sep 2014

Fourth National Security Cutter Delivered to USCG

The Coast Guard accepted delivery of the fourth National Security Cutter, Hamilton, in Pascagoula, Mississippi, Monday. Hamilton will be the first of two NSCs to be homeported in Charleston, South Carolina. The cutter will be commissioned into service Dec. “After three years of fabrication and expert craftsmanship, Ingalls shipyard has delivered a great ship to the Coast Guard,” said Capt. Douglas Fears, the prospective commanding officer of Hamilton. The cutter is now officially an asset of the Coast Guard and custody is turned over from the shipyard to its commanding officer and crew. “Hamilton's crew has prepared over six months for this day…

15 Sep 2014

Ingalls Delivers NSC Hamilton to USCG

Ingalls Shipbuilding President Brian Cuccias (right) presents a ceremonial key to the National Security Cutter Hamilton (WMSL 753) to Rear Adm. Bruce D. Baffer, the U.S. Coast Guard’s assistant commandant for acquisition and chief acquisition officer, during a delivery ceremony. Also pictured is Capt. Douglas Fears (right), the ship’s prospective commanding officer. Photo by Andrew Young/HII

Huntington Ingalls Industries' (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division delivered the National Security Cutter Hamilton (WMSL 753) to the U.S. Coast Guard today. The ship will be commissioned in Charleston, S.C., on Dec. "Our performance on the National Security Cutter program is a blueprint for success in building high-quality, affordable ships," said Ingalls Shipbuilding President Brian Cuccias. "We've significantly improved our learning, efficiency and affordability with each successive ship in the Legend class, and this one, our fourth, is the best yet.

18 Aug 2014

USCG Cutter Hamilton Completes Acceptance Trials

U.S. Coast Cutter Hamilton performs sea trials in the Gulf of Mexico Aug. 13, 2014. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Carlos Vega)

The fourth National Security Cutter, Hamilton, successfully completed several days of rigorous acceptance trials Thursday to ensure the cutter meets its contractual requirements and is ready for delivery to the U.S. Coast Guard. The Hamilton, which will be home ported in Charleston, South Carolina, conducted the acceptance trials in Pascagoula, Mississippi, and at sea in the Gulf of Mexico by the Coast Guard and the U.S. Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey. Acceptance trials are the final significant milestone, or final exam, before the government takes ownership of a new cutter.

19 Jul 2014

HII Completes Sea Trials on Fourth National Security Cutter

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) announced today the successful completion of builder’s sea trials for the company’s fourth U.S. Coast Guard National Security Cutter, Hamilton (WMSL 753). The ship, built by HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division, spent three full days at sea testing all of the ship’s systems. “It’s a team effort to bring one of these magnificent ships to life, and the NSC team has performed superbly—from the first cut of steel to the completion of a very successful builder’s trials,” said Jim French, Ingalls’ NSC program manager. “The NSC team continues to improve performance from ship to ship. While underway, Ingalls’ test and trials team conducted extensive testing of the propulsion, electrical, damage control, anchor handling, small boat operations and combat systems.

19 Jun 2014

US Navy Build Programs Face Budget Pressure

(U.S. Navy photo by Shelby F. W. West/Released)

Ship construction programs move ahead, but it’s not smooth sailing. Navies and Coast Guards everywhere face budgetary pressure, even in the U.S. which has the largest Navy in the world. The balance between desire for capacity and capability and pressure for affordability has never been more acute with the precarious budgetary issues presented by declining defense budgets, sequestration, continuing resolutions and government shutdowns. Even so, there are ongoing major construction efforts to include large nuclear aircraft carriers and submarines…

18 Apr 2014

Homeland Security Secretary Visits Ingalls Shipbuilding

Ingall Shipbbuilding visit: Photo credit HII

Huntington Ingalls Industries' Ingalls Shipbuilding division apprises it has hosted a visit by Secretary of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson and U.S. Rep. Steven Palazzo (R-Miss.). In the course of their visit the guests toured the shipyard and the Ingalls-built National Security Cutter 'Hamilton'(WMSL 753). "Today was a great opportunity to show Secretary Johnson the quality craftsmanship of our shipbuilders," said Ingalls Shipbuilding President Brian Cuccias. "We have…

19 Mar 2014

Ingalls Shipbuilding Visited by Mississippi Senator Cochran

Senator Cochran's shipyard visit: Photo courtesy of HII

Huntington Ingalls Industries' Ingalls Shipbuilding division inform of the recent visit of U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran of Mississippi to its facility. Cochran visited various areas of the shipyard and toured the National Security Cutter 'Hamilton' (WMSL 753). "Ingalls Shipbuilding employs thousands of Mississippians building ships that are essential to our national defense," Cochran said. "The Marine Corps, Navy and Coast Guard are all stronger because of the high-quality, modern vessels constructed here by Mississippians.

28 Oct 2013

USCG Christens Fourth National Security Cutter

The U.S Coast Guard christened its fourth National Security Cutter Saturday, during a ceremony at Ingalls Shipyards in Pascagoula, Miss. The cutter's sponsor, Linda Kapral Papp, led the time-honored tradition of breaking a champagne bottle on the cutter's bow, officially giving the cutter the name Hamilton. She was accompanied by Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Bob Papp, who was the keynote speaker for the event. "A ship's sponsor is considered a permanent part of the ship's crew and an advocate for its continued service and well-being," said Linda Kapral Papp. The Hamilton was named after Alexander Hamilton, the first Secretary of the Treasury and the driving force behind the establishment of the Revenue Cutter Service, a precursor to the modern U.S. Coast Guard.

05 Sep 2012

New Coast Guard Cutter's Keel Ceremonially Etched

Mrs Papp 'Signs' the Keel: Photo credit HII

Ingalls Shipbuilding authenticates the keel of U.S. Coast Guard National Security Cutter 'Hamilton' (WMSL 753) with sponsor's intitials welded in. Mrs. Linda Kapral Papp, wife of Adm. Robert J. Papp Jr., commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, is the ship's sponsor. Her initials were welded on a keel plate that will be part of the ship as long as it remains in the operational fleet. Ingalls has delivered three NSCs, the flagships of the Coast Guard's cutter fleet. They are designed to replace the 378‐foot Hamilton-class high-endurance cutters, which entered service during the 1960s.

30 Aug 2011

Ingalls Starts Fabrication on USCG Cutter

Ingalls Shipbuilding celebrated "start of fabrication" for the U.S. Coast Guard National Security Cutter Hamilton (WMSL 753) at its Steel Fabrication Shop in Pascagoula, Miss. Pictured (left to right) are U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Dave Osborne, test lead, hull and electrical; Jim French, deputy program manager, NSC Programs; and Len Janowski, ship design manager, Surface Ship Combatants.

Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (NYSE:HII) said that its Ingalls Shipbuilding division celebrated the "start of fabrication" of the U.S. Coast Guard's fourth National Security Cutter, Hamilton (WMSL 753). The shipbuilding milestone signifies that 100 tons of steel have been cut and fabricated utilizing a robotic plasma arc cutting machine at Ingalls' steel fabrication complex. Ingalls received the $480 million contract to build Hamilton in November 2010. The ship is scheduled to be delivered to the U.S. Coast Guard in the fall of 2014.

18 Mar 2011

This Day in U.S. Coast Guard History - March 18

1909-  Stations Holly Beach, and Hereford Inlet, New Jersey: the schooner C.B. parted its chain while weighing anchor. She set a distress signal which was discovered by the lookouts at both stations. The surfboats proceeded to the scene and surfmen swept for the chain and assisted in securing it on board. 1943- USS Ingham, CG, rescued all hands from the torpedoed SS Matthew Luckenbach. 1967-The 378-foot high endurance cutter Hamilton, first in her class, was commissioned. This was the first class of major vessels in the U.S. government's inventory that were powered by jet turbines. 1991- CGC Cape Hatteras (WPB 95305) was decommissioned on 18 March 1991. She was the last 95-foot patrol boat in the Coast Guard. She was then transferred to Mexico.

18 Mar 2010

This Day in Coast Guard History – March 18

1909-  Stations Holly Beach, and Hereford Inlet, New Jersey: the schooner C.B. parted its chain while weighing anchor. She set a distress signal which was discovered by the lookouts at both stations. The surfboats proceeded to the scene and surfmen swept for the chain and assisted in securing it on board. 1943- USS Ingham, CG, rescued all hands from the torpedoed SS Matthew Luckenbach. 1967-The 378-foot high endurance cutter Hamilton, first in her class, was commissioned. This was the first class of major vessels in the U.S. government's inventory that were powered by jet turbines. 1991- CGC Cape Hatteras (WPB 95305) was decommissioned on 18 March 1991. She was the last 95-foot patrol boat in the Coast Guard. She was then transferred to Mexico.