The U.S. Coast Guard decommissioned the 39-year-old cutter Mustang (WPB 1310) during a ceremony in Seward, Alaska, on Tuesday.
Capt. Christopher Culpepper, commander of Coast Guard Sector Western Alaska and U.S. Arctic, presided over the ceremony honoring the nearly 40 years of service provided by Mustang and its crews.
Built by Bollinger Shipyards, Lockport, La., the 110'x21' Mustang was the 10th Island-Class cutter to join the fleet and first WBP to serve in the Pacific. The ship is named after Mustang Island, off the coast of Corpus Christi, Texas, and its nickname is "The Hungry Horse."
Based in Seward since its commissioning 1986, the multi-mission patrol boat routinely patroled the Gulf of Alaska and Prince William Sound in support of search-and-rescue, environmental protection, and national defense efforts. The vessel has handled over 200 search-and-rescue missions and completed more than 2,000 law enforcement sorties, according to the Coast Guard.
Its power plant includes two Paxman Valenta diesel engines delivering 5,760 total shaft horsepower at 15,000 rpm. The vessel has a max speed over 28 knots and range of 3,300 nautical miles.
The Coast Guard is replacing the aging Island-Class patrol boats with Bollinger-built Sentinel-Class fast response cutters (FRCs). There are currently four FRCs homeported in Alaska, with two more scheduled for delivery in the near future.
“The decommissioning of Mustang is a bittersweet moment,” said Lt. Gabrielle Troise, the ship's commanding officer. “It’s been my honor to be a member of the final crew, and I’m incredibly proud of the legacy we will leave behind within the community of Seward where Mustang has faithfully served since her commissioning.”
