Coast Guard Beefs Up Fleet With 2nd Cutter

The Coast Guard cutter Chase sailed Friday into its new home port on Terminal Island, joining another recently arrived vessel to bolster enforcement of federal fishing laws along the West Coast.

Coast Guard officials say the 378-foot cutter will help them better protect endangered fish between the Canadian and Mexican borders as well as along the Alaskan coastline.

“There will be quicker response time during emergencies,” Petty Officer Brandy Ian said. “We will be able to protect and cover the areas much better.”

In addition, she said, the 185-member crew will help with drug enforcement, marine protection and search and rescue missions.

The 2,748-ton cutter has state-of-the-art equipment that includes a closed-circuit television system monitoring flight deck operations, machinery conditions, towing and damage control. Its two 3,500-horsepower diesel engines allow the cutter to cruise at 20 knots for 9,600 miles without refueling, the Coast Guard said.

The vessel is the second cutter that has been relocated here from Boston and is the 10th high-endurance cutter stationed at Terminal Island. It and the cutter Hamilton, which arrived in July, are expected to add about $16 million annually to the economy of local communities, Ian said.

“Between rent, salaries and maintenance costs, the Chase should be good to the local area,” she said.

Capt. Ernest R. Ruitta added that more than half of the Coast Guard crew members assigned to the vessels will be living with their families in the Long Beach and San Pedro areas.

The arrival of the Chase was greeted with a welcoming ceremony attended by about 200 local officials and featuring a 15-gun salute. With Coast Guard families looking on, the Army’s 7th Infantry band played the national anthem as the ship’s captain gave the command to take down the flag of Boston and replace it with the red and white flag of California.

The vessel was launched on May 20, 1967, and named after Salmon Portland Chase, who served as Treasury secretary under President Lincoln.