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Marine Log Employees
Screengrab from video
Jap Shipbuilding Group christened and launched USCGC Argus (WMSM-915), the U.S. Coast Guard’s first Heritage-class Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC), in an October 27 ceremony held at its Nelson St. Shipyard in Panama Metropolis, Fla.
The ceremony was attended by greater than 3,000 dignitaries and company. Admiral Linda Fagan, Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, delivered the keynote handle, whereas ship sponsor, Captain (Ret.) Beverly Kelley, christened the primary Heritage-class OPC, Argus. Captain Kelley was the primary girl to command a U.S. navy vessel because the commanding officer of the 95-foot patrol boat, USCGC Cape Newagen and was subsequently the primary girl to command each a medium endurance cutter and a excessive endurance cutter.
“We’re proud to christen this primary of sophistication nationwide safety asset in entrance of her crew at present,” stated Joey D’Isernia, CEO of Jap Shipbuilding Group, Inc. “With every milestone we attain, our workers are establishing essentially the most superior and succesful ship the U.S. Coast Guard has ever seen.”
“The Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) is among the service’s highest acquisition priorities and is totally important to recapitalizing the aptitude offered by our legacy fleet of 210-foot and 270- foot Medium Endurance Cutters (MEC),” stated Adm. Fagan.
“We now have overcome unprecedented challenges to reach at this pivotal second to witness this spectacular vessel enter the water for the very first time. Individuals are solely simply starting to see what this vessel is really able to and just like the metal solid on her, we won’t compromise,” stated D’Isernia
“This primary-in-its-class vessel is a testomony to the nice coordination between Jap Shipbuilding and the Coast Guard that now offers the service a a lot wanted improve with the instruments and capabilities wanted for the nice ladies and men of the Coast Guard to take the service even additional sooner or later,” stated Senator Rick Scott. “As Florida’s U.S. Senator, I’m combating every single day to help the continued success of Florida companies and our Coast Guard as they work to make sure to security and wellbeing of People throughout the nation.”
“The story of Offshore Patrol Cutter Argus is one in every of perseverance. Jap Shipbuilding began engaged on Argus previous to Hurricane Michael. Within the days that adopted the storm, the Jap Shipbuilding crew returned to their yard able to do their half,” stated Rep. Neal Dunn. “Regardless of the challenges of recovering from a catastrophic hurricane, this crew caught collectively to see this undertaking by means of. This offshore patrol cutter means a lot greater than many understand. Argus is a reminder of not solely how proud Jap Shipbuilding and Florida’s Second Congressional District ought to be of their onerous work and willpower, however it’s also an important asset to sustaining nationwide safety dominance.”
Over 1,500 craft workers and program professionals at Jap Shipbuilding Group and 200 companies from over 25 states are supporting the manufacturing of the primary 4 Offshore Patrol Cutters in Panama Metropolis. The OPC is designed to conduct an array of missions together with legislation enforcement, drug and migrant interdiction, search and rescue, catastrophe aid, and different homeland safety and protection operations in help of the nation’s maritime safety and border safety.
The primary Heritage-class OPC is known as for the Income Cutter Argus, which was one of many first 10 ships assigned to the U.S. Income Cutter Service, a predecessor service to the U.S. Coast Guard. Income Cutter Argus started 13 years of service to the newly fashioned United States of America in 1791.
