Portland based Coast Guard Cutter launching “Own the Coast” campaign with move to new moorings

PORTLAND, Maine — U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Jefferson Island, a Portland-based 110-foot patrol boat, will permanently move from its current moorings at the Coast Guard base in South Portland across the Fore River to the newly renovated Coast Guard pier at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, Thursday, December 30th.

The 16-person crew and their spouses will mark the move by launching their “Own the Coast” campaign, a two-month long initiative to collectively run, bike or swim the 3,478 miles of Maine coastline in the gym while attempting to match the mileage with donated cans of non-perishable food items. The crew will also conduct beach clean-ups to raise public awareness of environmental management and protection.

The donated food items collected throughout the campaign will be donated to the Good Shepherd Food Bank of Portland in late February.

The Jefferson Island, which has been based in Portland since its commissioning in 1991, primary missions include search and rescue, law enforcement, domestic fisheries enforcement, and homeland security.

The Jefferson Island will be open for public tours on December 30th from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at its new berthing on 354 Commercial St.