Coast Guard Cutter Eagle arrives in Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

Coast Guard Cutter Eagle file photo by Seamen Lisa Ferdinando.

Coast Guard Cutter Eagle file photo by Seamen Lisa Ferdinando.

SAINT THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands – The Coast Guard Cutter Eagle, “America’s Tall Ship,” arrived to St. Thomas Harbor Friday morning and moored at the West India Company dock, where the crew will be offering free public tours through Sunday.

While in St. Thomas, Eagle will be providing free public tours during the following schedule:

  • Friday, May 25 from 1 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, May 26 from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
  • Sunday, May 27 from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

“We couldn’t think of a better place to kick off our 2018 summer than lovely St Thomas,” said Capt. Matt Meilstrup, Commanding Officer of the EAGLE. “Many Virgin Islanders have sailed EAGLE and served in the Coast Guard. The cadets and crew are eager to experience the warm hospitality, explore the island, and help in the community. We will be open for public tours and we would love to have you see the 82 year old EAGLE.”

At 295 feet in length, the Eagle is the largest tall ship flying the stars and stripes and the only active square-rigger in U.S. government service.

Constructed in 1936 by the Blohm and Voss Shipyard in Hamburg, Germany, and originally commissioned as the Horst Wessel by the German Navy, the Eagle was taken by the United States as a war reparation following World War II.

With more than 23,500 square feet of sail and six miles of rigging, the Eagle has served as a classroom at sea to future Coast Guard officers since 1946, offering an at-sea leadership and professional development experience.

A seasoned permanent crew of 8 assigned officers and 50 assigned enlisted personnel maintain the ship and provide a strong base of knowledge and seamanship for the training of up to 153 cadets or officer candidates at a time. Augmented by temporary crew during training deployments, Eagle routinely sails with over 230 hands on board.


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