Cutter James pulls away from its dock in Fells Point, Baltimore, Aug. 21, 2015 after a three-day port call. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Senior Chief Petty Officer Sarah B. Foster)
BALTIMORE — The Coast Guard’s newest National Security Cutter, James, continues its commissioning cruise departing Baltimore today after a three-day public relations port call.
Coast Guard Cutter James, recently commissioned in Boston Aug. 8, is scheduled to arrive to its inaugural homeport in Charleston, South Carolina Aug. 28.
“We’ve certainly enjoyed the warm welcome we’ve had in Baltimore,” said Capt. Andrew J. Tiongson, Cutter James commanding officer.
“While serving aboard the Coast Guard’s newest national asset, we continue to strive to be worthy of the great legacy of our namesake, Capt. Joshua James.”
Cutter James’ namesake links the next generation of men and women serving aboard to the renowned lifesavers of the past, most notably of Capt. Joshua James, a native of Hull, Massachusetts, who is credited with saving more than 600 lives during his time with the U.S. Life-Saving Service, which merged with the Revenue Cutter Service in 1915 to create the modern U.S. Coast Guard.
The Cutter James will gain full operational capacity as it continues to complete crew and equipment qualifications, training and certifications in the following months after settling into its homeport in Charleston.
The James is the fifth of eight NSC’s – the largest and most technologically advanced class of cutters in the Coast Guard’s fleet. The cutters’ design provides better sea-keeping, higher sustained transit speeds, greater endurance and range, and the ability to launch and recover small boats from astern, as well as aviation support facilities and a flight deck for helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles.
