ALAMEDA, Calif. – The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Waesche is scheduled to return to its homeport at Coast Guard Island in Alameda Sunday, after a 106-day deployment.
Waesche departed Alameda in August on its 18,000-mile deployment ranging from the coast of Southern California to the Arctic Ocean, and the Bering Sea. During this deployment, Waesche’s crew completed two weeks of weapons system testing and certification, patrolled the Arctic in support of Operation Arctic Shield, and enforced federal fisheries laws and safety regulations in the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea.
Law enforcement personnel aboard the cutter conducted numerous at-sea boardings of fishing vessels to ensure compliance with federal fisheries regulations and conduct spot checks of required safety equipment. The cutter patrolled in the Arctic, furthering national strategic goals by enhancing maritime domain awareness and improving preparedness, prevention, and response capabilities in the region. While in the Bering Sea, Waesche assisted in a search-and-rescue case that resulted in the successful medical evacuation of an ailing fisherman.
Waesche crewmembers worked closely with the communities of Dutch Harbor and Barrow, Alaska while in the area. The crew hosted community leaders from Barrow aboard the cutter to discuss the rapidly evolving economic landscape in the Arctic and volunteered during their time ashore to complete several community service projects in the community of Dutch Harbor.
Waesche is 418 feet long with a top speed of 28 knots, a range of 12,000 nautical miles and a permanent crew of approximately 120. Waesche is equipped with a flight deck and hangars capable of housing two multi-mission helicopters, and outfitted with three cutter boats capable of operating over the horizon.
