NEWPORT, RI (AP) — Two 270-foot (82.3-meter) U.S. Coast Guard vessels involved in search and rescue operations, military exercises and maritime law enforcement are now based in Rhode Island , authorities said on Friday.
Cutters Tahoma and Campbell, each with a crew of about 100, were welcomed to Naval Station Newport in a ceremony attended by Democratic U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, the Commandant of Coast Guard Adm. Linda Fagan and other dignitaries.
“Saving lives, arresting drug traffickers, supporting national security missions overseas, and keeping commerce through the waves are part of the Coast Guard’s day-to-day work, and we are grateful for the unwavering dedication and professionalism of our Coast Guard members,” Reed said in a statement. “The Coast Guard has an active presence here in Rhode Island, and we’re excited to see it grow even stronger.”
Both cutters were previously based at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in New Hampshire.
Medium-endurance cutters are part of the Famous class of vessels which began service in the late 1980s. Both are fitted with sophisticated communications and navigational equipment and armed with a deck gun of 76 mm and carry an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter.
Newport is already home to three other Coast Guard cutters.
