CAPE MAY, N.J. – The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Dependable, homeported here, is scheduled to return Friday at 3 p.m. following a 59-day patrol in the North Atlantic.
The Dependable crew departed Cape May Jan. 4 and will return after patrolling more than 8,000 miles off New England’s coast in support of Operation Atlantic Venture, which supports maritime safety, security and stewardship missions in the water from Maine to northern New Jersey.
During the patrol, the Dependable’s crew enforced fisheries and safety regulations, marine mammal protection laws and coordinated the efforts of several other Coast Guard surface and air assets, which were conducting the same missions. The Dependable’s law enforcement teams conducted more than 55 boardings to help ensure regulation compliance.
Additionally, the crew responded to two search and rescue cases, which included a diversion 50 miles offshore after receiving a distress call from the 75-foot disabled fishing vessel Bulldog. The vessel was stranded due to engine failure in 15-foot seas with winds exceeding 30 knots with gusts up to 40 knots. The Dependable’s crew towed the boat and crew to a safe haven in nearby Gloucester, Mass.
While on patrol, the ship’s crew enhanced their readiness through a training program by conducting frequent drills and exercises in areas such as shipboard engineering, gunnery, command and control, firefighting, navigation and small boat handling.
Dependable is a 210-foot medium endurance cutter with 85 crewmembers.
