Photos: US Coast Guard’s New Cutter
The U.S. Coast Guard will officially debut its newest National Security Cutter (NSC), Coast Guard Cutter James (WMSL 754) during a ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 8 at Coast Guard Base Boston.
Ahead of the commissioning ceremony, Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City coordinated a photo opportunity with the Coast Guard Cutter James and Coast Guard Barque Eagle while underway in the Atlantic Ocean.
The new cutter is named for Capt. Joshua James, who is one of the most celebrated lifesavers in history. His lifesaving career began at age 15 when he joined the Massachusetts Humane Society and ended with his death while on duty with the U.S. Life-Saving Service in Hull, Massachusetts, at age 75. James 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 vessel was built by Huntington Ingalls Industries' (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division, who has so far delivered five NSCs to the Coast Guard with two more presently under construction. Ingalls was awarded a contract for the construction of an eighth NSC earlier this year.