Cutter Midgett News

Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Ingalls Shipbuilding division delivered the National Security Cutter Midgett (WMSL 757) to the U.S. Coast Guard yesterday (May 1, 2019). Midgett is scheduled to sail away in June and will be commissioned later this year.“We have a mission statement in the NSC program that says during the construction of each NSC we will provide the men and women of the United States Coast Guard with the finest ship in their fleet,” said Derek Murphy, NSC program manager.“This excellence will be provided by our shipbuilders through working safely, attention to detail and ownership of work. Since the beginning of construction on NSC 8…

Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division has launched its eight National Security Cutter (NSC) built for the U.S. Coast Guard. NSC Midgett (WMSL 757) was launched on November 22, 2017, and will be christened during a ceremony on December 9. The ship is named to honor John Allen Midgett, who was awarded the Silver Cup by the U.K. Board of Trade in 1918 for the rescue of 42 British sailors aboard the British tanker Mirlo after it was torpedoed by a German U-boat off the coast of North Carolina. He was also awarded the Gold Lifesaving Medal by the U.S.

Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (NYSE:HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division today authenticated the keel of the eighth U.S. Coast Guard National Security Cutter, Midgett (WMSL 757). “The National Security Cutter Program is vital to our Coast Guard, our country and to Ingalls Shipbuilding,” said Ingalls Shipbuilding President Brian Cuccias. “Today, we lay the foundation upon which this great ship will be built. The ship is named to honor John Allen Midgett, who was awarded the silver cup by the U.K. Board of Trade in 1918 for the renowned rescue of 42 British sailors aboard the British tanker Mirlo after it was torpedoed by a German U-boat off the coast of North Carolina. He was also awarded the Gold Lifesaving Medal by the U.S. Coast Guard in 1924.

Adm. Robert E. Kramek, former Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, has died October 20, 2016. Kramek served as the Coast Guard's 20th commandant from 1994 through 1998, during which time he significantly expanded the Coast Guard's global reach and influence as commandant, including directing active participation in the combined service/international anti-narcotic smuggling operations Frontier Shield and Gulf Shield, along with other law enforcement operations. He led the Coast…

An ailing crewmember aboard the fishing vessel Seafreeze Alaska was medevaced approximately 195 miles north of Cold Bay, Alaska, Thursday. A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew, deployed aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Midgett, hoisted the 21-year-old man, who reportedly lost consciousness for 45 minutes, and transferred him to awaiting Guardian Flight emergency medical personnel in Cold Bay. Coast Guard 17th District watchstanders were notified at approximately 7:45 a.m. by personnel at Health Force Partners of a medical situation aboard the Seafreeze Alaska. Watchstanders consulted the duty flight surgeon who recommended the medevac. Crewmembers from Midgett rendezvoused with the vessel north of Cold Bay and launched the rescue helicopter crew.

GE Marine reports that its LM2500 gas turbine will power the United States Coast Guard’s eighth National Security Cutter Midgett (WMSL 757). The ship will be powered by one GE LM2500 gas turbine and two diesel engines in a Combined Diesel And Gas turbine (CODAG) propulsion system. All eight ships in the U.S. Coast Guard’s Legend-class cutter program feature the same LM2500-based CODAG propulsion arrangement. Similar to its sister NSCs, Huntington Ingalls Industries' Ingalls Shipbuilding division will construct the 418-foot-long Midgett at its Pascagoula, Mississippi, shipyard.

Capt. Brendon McPherson  relieved Capt. Laura Dickey as commanding officer of Coast Guard Cutter Midgett, a 378-foot high endurance cutter homeported in Seattle, during a change-of-command ceremony presided over by Vice Adm. Charles Ray, commander of Coast Guard Pacific Area, held at Coast Guard Base Seattle, July 16, 2014. Dickey is transferring to Washington, D.C., to serve as the special advisor for homeland security to the vice president of the United States. The crew of Midgett completed four deployments under Dickey’s command, conducting Coast Guard missions from the Arctic to Central America.

Ingalls Shipbuilding division says it has received an $76.5 million fixed-price contract from the U.S. Coast Guard to purchase long-lead materials for the eighth National Security Cutter, Midgett (WMSL 757). Construction and delivery of Midgett would take place at the company's Pascagoula facility. The advance procurement funds will be used to purchase major items for Midgett, including steel, the main propulsion systems, generators, electrical switchboards and major castings. "The long-lead material contracts give our shipbuilders the ability to immediately start construction of the ship if and when that contract is awarded," said Jim French, Ingalls' National Security Cutter program manager.

Coast Guard Cutter Midgett interdicts a 35-foot self-propelled semi-submersible vessel (SPSS) carrying approximately 6,000 kilograms of cocaine on Jan. 20, 2011. The SPSS was located 335-miles off the coast of Costa Rica. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Coast Guard Cutter Midgett.

The commanding officer of the Coast Guard Cutter Midgett submitted his request for retirement following an administrative hearing, Coast Guard Pacific Area. Capt. Elmo Alexander was given nonjudicial punishment by Vice Adm. Charles Wurster in response to an incident aboard Midgett during a port call in where Alexander berated and struck a watchstander he thought was improperly standing the watch.  Capt. Lance Bardo has assumed command of the Midgett until Alexander's scheduled relief. Alexander is retiring after 31 years with a previously unblemished record.  In addition to the Midgett, Alexander commanded Coast Guard cutters ,  and . Midgett is a 378-foot high endurance cutter homeported in .   It is scheduled for a change of command in the summer.

James H.I Weakley has been selected to be the next President of Lake Carriers' Association. He will succeed George J. Ryan when the latter retires after 20 years of service on January 15, 2003. Weakley will begin serving as President-Elect of LCA on October 1 to ensure an orderly succession. "I am delighted to turn the helm over to Jim Weakley," said Ryan. "I have worked with him for more than 10 years and consider Jim ideally suited to represent U.S.-Flag shipping on the Great Lakes. He possesses both managerial and operational skills that, combined with his knowledge of the U.S. "As both a member of the Coast Guard and then private industry, I have held George Ryan in the highest regard," said Weakley. Weakley's maritime experience is extensive. A 1984 graduate of the U.S.

The U.S. Coast Guard seized more than 93,000 pounds of cocaine in the Eastern Pacific Ocean in the fiscal year that ended September 30; an amount equal to 80 percent of the 117,280 pounds of cocaine seized. Combine that with the nearly 40,000 pounds of marijuana seized, equals $3.9 billion in illegal drugs the Coast Guard kept off America’s streets. Pacific Northwest units have played a major role in these seizures, which includes the third largest recorded amount of cocaine seized, while maintaining a demanding homeland defense mission. "The Coast Guard is committed to securing America from all maritime threats, whether they be terrorist or smugglers, and we will continue to deny the seas to those who would harm our citizens," said Vice Adm.