The US Coast Guard officially decommissioned the Coast Guard Cutter Naushon (WPB 1311) during a ceremony held in Homer on Friday, marking the end of nearly four decades of service. Rear Adm. Megan Dean, commander of Coast Guard District 17, presided over the event celebrating the vessel’s legacy and the dedication of its crews.
Commissioned on Oct. 3, 1986, Naushon was the 11th Island-Class cutter to join the Coast Guard fleet. The 110-foot patrol boat, a versatile multi-mission platform, has been used in supporting search and rescue operations, marine environmental protection, and national defense. Since being stationed in Homer in 2016, Naushon responded to more than 50 search-and-rescue cases and conducted nearly 900 law enforcement sorties.
Lt. Markham Ross, Naushon’s commanding officer, reflected on the cutter’s impact on both the mission and the local community.
“I’m incredibly proud of the partnerships we’ve built and the positive impact Naushon and its crew have had on the local community and economy,” Ross said.
The Coast Guard is phasing out its aging Island-Class patrol boats, including Naushon, as part of a modernization effort. These vessels are being replaced by the Sentinel-Class Fast Response Cutters (FRCs), which offer more capabilities to meet the service’s evolving needs. Currently, four FRCs are homeported in Alaska, with two additional cutters slated for delivery in the near future.
Naushon’s decommissioning is the end of an era for the Island-Class fleet.