Coast Guard to decommission patrol boat in Guam after 27 years of service

GUAM

09.21.2017

Story by Chief Petty Officer Sara Muir                  

U.S. Coast Guard District 14 Hawaii Pacific

SANTA RITA, Guam — The Coast Guard will take the Coast Guard Cutter Assateague (WPB 1337) out of service during a pier-side ceremony aboard Naval Base Guam Friday.

"Assateague's operational history showcases the Coast Guard's ability to carry out a diverse and important range of missions vital to the security and prosperity of our nation in remote parts of the Pacific," said Capt. Chris Chase, who leads the service's operations in the area as the commander of Coast Guard Sector Guam. "The Coast Guard remains ready to protect American security and economic interests wherever called, and the recapitalizing of our vessels, aircraft, boats, and infrastructure is our highest priority."

The 110-foot patrol boat will officially be decommissioned Oct. 13 after 27 years of service as part of a service-wide recapitalization effort.

Assateague was commissioned June 15, 1990, as the 37th of 49 "Island" class patrol boats built by Bollinger Shipyards in Lockport, Louisiana. These ships have been homeported and served all over the world.

Originally stationed in Honolulu, Assateague transitioned to Guam. The crew's primary missions were search and rescue and law enforcement. Coast Guard Cutter Kiska (WPB 1136) will backfill Assateague in Guam until new 154-foot Sentinel-class Fast Response Cutters arrive in 2020.

"In recent years Assateague conducted search and rescue and law enforcement missions throughout the South Pacific. The crew supported bilateral operations by hosting foreign enforcement officers during fisheries law enforcement patrols throughout the Federated States of Micronesia and Republic of Palau. The cutter played a critical role in responding to the devastation of Typhoon Soudelor in 2015 in Saipan," said Chase. "This ship and its crews protected America, our people, and their interests around the world. This cutter may leave our service, but another is taking its place and the legacy of all the crew who proudly served aboard Assateague will live on."

-USCG-

• Date Taken: 09.21.2017
• Date Posted: 09.22.2017 04:13
• Story ID: 249203
• Location: GU