Coast Guard’s Newest Cutter Commissioned

Taking a break from the nation’s war on terrorism, Coast Guard officials and government dignitaries gathered Friday at Newport Harbor to commission the Narwhal, a state-of-the-art cutter that has been on constant patrol since Sept. 11.

“The Coast Guard is on the front line as never before,” said Rep. Christopher Cox (R-Newport Beach), who spoke at the commissioning ceremony. “Your task is formidable. I want to thank the crew for its commitment to national security.”

The Narwhal, named after an Arctic whale known for its long tusk, replaces the Point Stuart, a Vietnam-era cutter that patrolled the waters off Southern California for 34 years before it was donated to El Salvador’s navy in April.

The Coast Guard is steadily replacing its fleet of vintage 82-footers as part of a nationwide modernization program. More than 50 patrol boats have been ordered for service in the Gulf of Mexico and the east and west coasts.

In Southern California, the Blacktip has been assigned to the Channel Islands and the Blackfin to Santa Barbara. The Halibut is scheduled to arrive in Marina del Rey in December to replace the Point Bridge.

The Narwhal sailed into Newport Harbor on Sept. 5 after a 5,280-mile maiden voyage from Louisiana. With little rest for its crew, the cutter was assigned to the Coast Guard’s port security program after the East Coast terrorist attacks.

Since then, the 87-foot Narwhal has been escorting tankers and cruise ships going to and from the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, the world’s third-largest harbor complex. It has been an around-the-clock job.

“The Narwhal was the first patrol boat to arrive at the port on Sept. 11,” said Capt. Holmes, the Coast Guard commander for the two ports, who spoke at the ceremony in Corona del Mar where the cutter will dock. “The ship and its crew have already proven their capabilities to the country.”

Compared to the Point Stuart, the Narwhal is more ship than boat. Built by Bollinger Shipyards for about $3.5 million, the cutter has a steel hull and an aluminum superstructure.

With two 1,600-horsepower diesel engines, the vessel can reach speeds of 26-plus knots, a vast improvement over the vintage 82-footers, which could do no more than 15 knots.

The Narwhal is equipped with three computers for navigation and engine room operations. The systems are so sophisticated they can plot courses to anywhere in the world and monitor things as small as the temperature of individual engine valves.

Like other cutters in its class, the Narwhal is armed with two .50-caliber machine guns, M-16 rifles, shotguns and pistols. It is designed to keep its crew of 10 at sea for up to five days.

Another key feature is a bay in the cutter’s stern that allows for the quick launch and recovery of a high-speed inflatable boat in swells of up to eight feet. Older patrol boats have a more cumbersome hoist to drop and retrieve small craft.

“This boat handles 300% better than the old 82s,” said Lt. j.g. John Kidwell, the Narwhal’s skipper. “We’ve got automatic pilot, the latest radar, and every chart in the world in our computer.”

The Narwhal’s normal responsibilities include search-and-rescue, interdiction of drugs and illegal immigrants, maritime safety and environmental protection.

Earlier this week, the crew spent several days preparing the cutter for commissioning. Electric cords crisscrossed the deck.

Hatches to storage lockers stood open on the stern. The ship’s brass bell, polished to a high sheen, sat on a chart table in the pilot house waiting to be remounted. Blue masking tape lined the bridge windows. It was hard to find a smudge of grease in the engine room.

On the dock, crew members sanded and scraped the sleek hull readying it for a fresh coat of white paint.

By Friday, the ship was in full dress with guns mounted and colorful signal pennants flying from bow to stern.