In mid -January the US Coast Guard announced from Pensacola, Florida, that the crew of the USCGC Decisive returned to their homeport of Pensacola on 13 January following a 33-day patrol in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, concluding 55 years of service to the Nation.

Decisive patrolled the Eastern Pacific Ocean in the Coast Guard Eleventh District’s area of operations. While underway, Decisive’s crew supported the Coast Guard’s drug interdiction and search and rescue missions to promote safety of life at sea and deter the flow of illegal narcotics into the United States. 

While deployed, Decisive’s crew collaborated with Coast Guard assets and foreign military aircraft to detect, deter, and interdict illegal narcotics voyages. At one point, Decisive disrupted two vessels suspected of drug trafficking in the same night. Decisive also collaborated with the USCGC Alert to safely transfer three suspected smugglers. While aboard Decisive, the detainees received food, water, shelter and medical attention.

Commander Aaron Delano-Johnson, CO of Decisive commented: ‘The crew’s remarkable professionalism, competence and determination were on full display as we met the diverse challenges of operations at sea.

‘Whether it was conducting simultaneous boardings or our skilled engineers conducting voyage repairs in Panama, the crew exceeded expectations at every turn. After a successful, final patrol for Decisive, we are looking forward to returning home to our family and friends on shore.’

During the patrol, Decisive steamed more than 6,000 miles and traversed through the Panama Canal. By transiting the historic waterway, Decisive’s crew earned their Order of the Ditch certificates, a time-honoured nautical tradition recognizing mariners who have crossed the Panama Canal between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Decisive is a 210-foot, Reliance-class medium endurance cutter with a crew of 72. The cutter’s primary missions are counter drug operations, migrant interdiction, and search and rescue in support of US Coast Guard operations throughout the Western Hemisphere.

Picture caption

The Reliance-class medium endurance cutter USCGC Decisive conducted at sea engagements with the navy of Guatemala in the territorial seas of Guatemala on last October.

The US Coast Guard conducts routine deployments in the Southern Command area of responsibility, works alongside partners, builds maritime domain awareness, and shares best practices with partner nation navies and coast guards.

Courtesy Photo:

US Coast Guard Atlantic Area

USCG ©.