USCGC WAESCHE - WELCOME ABOARD

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Press Release
Date: Ferbruary 26, 2010
Contact:  District 11 Public Affairs

Coast Guard's newest National Security
Cutter departs San Diego for home.



SAN DIEGO, Calif. — Seaman Apprentice Melissa Gray, a crewmember stationed aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche, conducts a security round aboard the Waesche while it’s moored to the pier at the San Diego Navy Base in San Diego. Security watch-standers ensure that machinery is operating within normal perimeters and physically inspect the ship’s spaces to check for fire, flooding or any other threat to the safety and security of the ship and its crew.

Above right:  Seaman Carrie Shultzebarger a deck hand stationed aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche, and her fellow line handlers heave around on line two as the Waesche pulls away from the pier at the San Diego Navy base in San Diego to commence the final leg of its journey to its new home port at Coast Guard Island in Alameda, Calif., Feb. 26, 2010. (U.S. Coast Guard photos by Petty Officer 3rd Class Caleb Crichfield)



Above left:  Crewmembers stationed aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche lower one of the ship’s small boats over the side to perform maintenance on the anchor pockets during the final leg of the Waesche’s transit to its new home port in Alameda, Calif., Feb. 26, 2010. The Waesche is scheduled to pull into its new homeport for the first time on Feb. 28, 2010 after a two-month transit, which took the ship and its crew from Pascagoula, Miss., across the Caribbean Ocean, through the Panama Canal and north along the west coast of North America.

Above right:  Crewmembers stationed aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche deploy one of their short range small boats via the stern launch in order to perform maintenance on the Waesche’s anchor pockets during the transit from San Diego to their new homeport at Coast Guard Island in Alameda, Calif., Feb. 26, 2010. The Waesche's transit took the crew from Pascagoula, Miss., across the Caribbean Ocean, through the Panama Canal and north along the west coast of North America. (U.S. Coast Guard photos by Petty Officer 3rd Class Caleb Critchfield)

Press Release

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Press Release
Date: Ferbruary 28, 2010
Contact:  District 11 Public Affairs
PACS Keith Alholm - (510) 388-1313

Coast Guard's newest National Security
Cutter to arrive at Alameda, Calif.



ALAMEDA, Calif. — The Coast Guard’s newest cutter is scheduled to arrive at its new homeport of Coast Guard Island in Alameda, Feb. 28 at 1 p.m.

The Coast Guard Cutter Waesche, named for Adm. Russell R. Waesche, is the second of eight planned Legend Class cutters preceding the Coast Guard Cutter Dorothy Stratton and following the Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf.

“We are proud to bring the Coast Guard’s newest and most technologically advanced ship to its home in Alameda,” said Coast Guard Capt. Lance Bardo, commanding officer of Waesche.

The 418-foot cutter has a top speed of 28 knots, a range of 12,000 miles and a crew of 110. It's equipped with a 4,000 square-foot flight deck that is outfitted with an automated landing and dual track hangaring system.

Waesche is also equipped with two Short Range Prosecutor small boats that can be deployed and recovered from the stern launch system, increasing the ability to launch and recover boats in heavy seas.

The ship will be commissioned at a ceremony on Coast Guard Island in May.

“I look forward to the future accomplishments of this ship and crew as it contributes to the safety of America’s coasts,” said Bardo.

Adm. Russell R. Waesche was the Coast Guard’s longest serving Commandant who presided over the greatest expansion of the service in history. Waesche ensured the integration of the U.S. Lighthouse Service into the Coast Guard and is also credited with the organization of the Coast Guard Reserve. He graduated from the Revenue Cutter School of Instruction and was commissioned as an Ensign in 1906.   Waesche retired from active duty Coast Guard service and passed away shortly thereafter in 1946.  He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Media interested in attending the arrival must RSVP to Pacific Area Public Affairs at 510-437-3318 or via duty cell phone 510-816-0215. Photo I.D., and proof of insurance are required to drive on base.

Press Release

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Photo Release
Date: Ferbruary 28, 2010
Contact:  District 11 Public Affairs

The Coast Guard's Newest Cutter
Complete's Maiden Voyage to Homeport.

 

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — The Coast Guard Cutter Waesche transits through the San Francisco Bay for the first time en route to its homeport of Alameda, Calif., Feb. 28, 2010. The Waesche is the second Legend Class cutter and is scheduled to be commissioned in May.



Above left:  Vice Adm. Jody Breckenridge, Pacific Area commander, and Master Chief Marvin Wells, Pacific Area command master chief, acknowledge honors rendered by the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Waesche Feb. 28, 2010. The Waesche passed the Yerba Buena Lighthouse while transiting to its homeport of Alameda, Calif., for the first time.  (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Michael Anderson)

Above right:  The Coast Guard Cutter Waesche approaches its new homeport at Coast Guard Island in Alameda. Adm. Russell R. Waesche was the Coast Guard’s longest serving commandant who presided over the greatest expansion of the service in history and is also credited with the organization of the Coast Guard Reserve. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Rachel Polish)  



Above left:  U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche crewmembers man the forecastle as the Waesche begins to moor up for the first time at Coast Guard Island, its new homeport, Feb. 28, 2010. Family members, friends, a cadre of Sea Cadets and a local jazz band, “And That's Jazz”, were all on hand to welcome the Waesche’s crew after their two-month transit from Pascagoula, Miss. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Caleb Critchfield)

Above middle and right:  The children of crewmembers wait patiently for the cutter to dock. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Rachel Polish)  

 

Above left:  Vice Adm. Jody Breckenridge, the Coast Guard Pacific Area commander, offers thanks and congratulations to the crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche and welcomes them to their new homeport at Coast Guard Island in Alameda, Calif., Feb. 28, 2010. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Caleb Critchfield)  

Above right:  Capt. Lance Bardo, commanding officer of the Coast Guard Cutter Waesche, is interviewed by a Bay Area-based news station after the Waesche arrived at its new homeport at Coast Guard Island in Alameda, Calif., Feb. 28, 2010. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Rachel Polish)  

VIDEO:  Waesche transits San Francisco Bay
VIDEO:  Waesche moores at CG Island Berth

Photo Release

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Photo Release
Date: May 07, 2010
Contact:  District 11 Public Affairs

The Coast Guard's Newest Cutter
is commissioned at CG Island, Alameda, CA.

 

ALAMEDA, Calif. — Captain Lance L. Bardo, commanding officer of USCG Cutter Waesche, speaks at the Waesche's commissioning ceremony on May 7, 2010 at Coast Guard Island, Alameda. Waesche is the second 418-foot National Security Cutter put into service. The Legend Class cutter will be homeported in Alameda and conduct long-range, multi-mission operations. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer First Class Sherri Eng.

Above right:  Vice Admiral David Pekoske (center), vice commandant of the Coast Guard, congratulates Captain Lance L. Bardo, commanding officer of USCG Cutter Waesche, at the Waesche's commissioning ceremony on May 7, 2010 at Coast Guard Island, Alameda, as Vice Admiral Jody A. Breckenridge looks on. Waesche is the second 418-foot National Security Cutter put into service. The Legend Class cutter will be homeported in Alameda and conduct long-range, multi-mission operations. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer First Class Sherri Eng.




Above left:  The crew of the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Waesche runs to man the rails and bring the ship alive during the commissioning ceremony for the Waesche on Coast Guard Island in Alameda, May 7, 2010. The Waesche is the second of eight planned National Security Cutters and will improve operational readiness and enable the Coast Guard to fulfill its multi-mission roles more effectively through better sea keeping, higher sustained transit speeds, and greater endurance and range. 

Above right:  Seaman Shannon L. Fieste stands ready to raise the union jack on the forecastle of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche during the commissioning ceremony for the Waesche on Coast Guard Island in Alameda, May 7, 2010. The Waesche is the second of eight planned National Security Cutters and will improve operational readiness and enable the Coast Guard to fulfill its multi-mission roles more effectively through better sea keeping, higher sustained transit speeds, and greater endurance and range.

Photo Release