The U.S. Coast Guard christened its second National Security Cutter, Waesche (WMSL 751), Saturday, during a ceremony at the Northrop Grumman Ship Building yard in Pascagoula, Miss.
The Waesche's keel was laid September. 11, 2006, about six months after first-in-class Bertholf's keel was laid. The Bertholf is scheduled to be commissioned August 4, 2008, in its homeport of Alameda, here in San Francisco Bay (see the story link below).
"This is an exciting time for both the Waesche, and the National Security Cutter program," said Rear Admiral Gary T. Blore, the Coast Guard's assistant commandant for acquisition. "With the Waesche in the water and christened, it has not only passed a major construction milestone, but it has also demonstrated the Coast Guard's ability to simultaneously oversee multiple National Security Cutter construction contracts. We look forward to the next steps, including Waesche's initial at-sea trials and commissioning next year."
The christening of a vessel is a traditional part of shipbuilding when a ship generally enters the water for the first time and is named. More recently, in the interest of the safety and comfort of ceremony participants and observers, ships are launched into the water several days before the christening. The Waesche was successfully launched July 12, during an overnight float-off. Waesche will remain under construction at pierside through 2008 and is slated to start sea trials in 2009.
"Today's christening represents a significant milestone for the Coast Guard as we begin to see the certainty of a changing of the guard in our aging cutter fleet," said Waesche's prospective commanding officer, Captain Lance Bardo. "The crew looks forward to commissioning and sailing this all-new ship once construction is complete. The new capabilities brought by Bertholf, Waesche, and each future National Security Cutter will change how maritime missions are accomplished for the next generation."
Waesche is named for Admiral Russell R. Waesche who led the Coast Guard from 1936 through World War II until 1946. Waesche assumed the duties of commandant as a rear admiral and was the first Coast Guard commandant to achieve the ranks of vice admiral and admiral. His granddaughter, Marilla Waesche Pivonka, is the cutter's sponsor. Her father, Admiral Russell R. Waesche, Jr. and her maternal grandfather, Captain B.C. Thorn, were both career Coast Guard officers as well.
Waesche is the second of eight planned National Security Cutters (NSC). The NSCs, part of the Coast Guard's Deepwater major-acquisition program, will be the flagships of the Coast Guard fleet and will replace the 378-foot, Hamilton-class High Endurance Cutters, which entered service during the 1960s.
Story Resources:
- Coast Guard's National Security Cutter Program
Admiral Russell R. Waesche, USCG
Northrup-Grumman report on the construction of the Waesche
Coast Guard and Related Stories from Sam Spade's San Francisco:
- Coast Guard Dogs Guard Their Eagle - Photo
U. S. Coast Guard's Bertholf at Sea - Commissioning Aug 4 in Alameda
USCGC Bertholf Comes Home to Alameda for First Time
U. S. Coast Guard Ocean Rescue - see video here
USCGB Eagle - America's Tall Ship - New Photo - USCGB Eagle Meets USCGC Bertholf in San Francisco Bay - Historic Photo!
- Eleventh Coast Guard District- USCG (headquartered in San Francisco Bay)
- Sector San Francisco, USCG
- Air Station San Francisco, USCG
- Station Golden Gate, USCG
- Main web site for the United States Coast Guard
Saving Lives and Guarding the Coast Since 1790.
The United States Coast Guard
Proud History. Powerful Future. Click here.
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