COAST GUARD TO COMMISSION NEW CUTTER IN BOSTON THIS AUGUST

The United States Coast Guard will commission its newest Legends Class cutter, named in honor of a Massachusetts lifesaving hero, at a ceremony in Boston on Saturday, August 8. This event is by invitation only.

The 418-foot USCGC JAMES (WMSL 754), honors the service of legendary Captain Joshua James, who is credited with saving more than 600 lives during his 60-year career  (1842-1902) as a crewman and station keeper at the U.S. Lifesaving Service station at Point Allerton in Hull, Mass. The U.S. Lifesaving Service is one of the organizations that merged - along with the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service and the U.S. Lighthouse Service - into the modern United States Coast Guard.

The “Legends Class” cutters are named in honor of persons affiliated with the Coast Guard or its founding branches who made exceptional and long-standing contributions to the mission of the service.

The JAMES was built at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Miss. and was christened on August 16, 2014. It will be transferred to the Coast Guard in early June. CAPT Andrew J. Tiongson, USCG, is the ship’s Prospective Commanding Officer.

JAMES will be the fifth ship in the Legends Class of National Security Cutters, and is capable of meeting all maritime security mission needs. It is the largest and most technically-advanced class of cutter, with robust capabilities for maritime homeland security, law enforcement, marine safety, environmental protection, humanitarian and national defense missions.

Each Legends Class cutter carries an Mk110 57mm gun; one 20mm Close In Weapons System; and one Mk53 NULKA active expendable decoy system.
The cutter has a flight deck that can handle one MH-65C helo and two vertical launch unmanned aerial vehicles or other combinations. It also has stern launch capabilities for two cutter boats – a Long Range Interceptor and/or Short Range Prosecutor.

JAMES will carry a crew of 120. Displacing 4,200 long tons, it has a speed of 28 knots and a range of up to 12,000 nautical miles or 60 days at sea.

After commissioning ceremonies in Boston, JAMES will be homeported in Charleston, S.C.

USCGC James

USCGC JAMES COMMISSIONING COMMITTEE

Reid Oslin, Chairman
Massachusetts Bay Council – Navy League of the United States

Thomas Rudden, President
Massachusetts Bay Council – Navy League of the United States

Craig C. Hall – Vice Chair, External Relations
DCDR 12, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
First District Northern Region

Tommasina Olson, Vice Chair, Finance
Massachusetts Bay Council – Navy League of the United States

Melinda K. Cheston,
USS Constitution Museum

Donald Ladd, Jr.,
FC 12-8, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
First District Northern Region

Susan P. Ludwig,
Coast Guard Foundation

CAPT Edward J. Marohn, USCG,
Chief, External Affairs
First Coast Guard District

Anne Grimes Rand, President
USS Constitution Museum

BMC Thomas M. Reilly, USCG (ret.)

Victoria Stevens, Curator
Hull Lifesaving Museum

CAPT W. Russ Webster, USCG (ret.)
Author and Historian

Peter D. Wild, Executive Director
Hull Lifesaving Museum

SPONSORSHIP

Download the sponsorship request form and join the Massachusetts Bay Council of the Navy League of the United States in sponsoring Commissioning Events for USCGC JAMES (WMSL 754) in Boston.

Platinum Sponsor - $10,000

  • Name on Platinum Sponsors’ Marquee Sign (displayed at all associated events)
  • Listed as Platinum Sponsor in Commissioning Program
  • Invitation to Commissioning Ceremony
  • 6 tickets to Commissioning Committee’s Reception
  • 4 tickets to Commissioning Committee’s Breakfast
  • Honorary Plankholder Plaque

Gold Sponsor - $5,000

  • Name on Gold Sponsors’ Marquee Sign (displayed at all associated events)
  • Listed as Gold Sponsor in Commissioning Program
  • Invitation to Commissioning Ceremony
  • 4 tickets to Commissioning Committee’s Reception
  • 2 tickets to Commissioning Committee Breakfast
  • Honorary Plankholder Plaque

Silver Sponsor - $2,000

  • Name on Silver Sponsor’s Marquee Sign (displayed at all associated events)
  • Listed as Silver Sponsor in Commissioning Program
  • Invitation to Commissioning Ceremony
  • 2 tickets to Commissioning Committee’s Reception
  • 2 Tickets to Commissioning Committee Breakfast
  • Honorary Plankowner Plaque

Bronze Sponsor - $1,000

  • Name on Bronze Sponsors’ Marquee Sign (displayed at all associated events)
  • Listed as Bronze Sponsor in Commissioning Program
  • Invitation to Commissioning Ceremony
  • 2 tickets to Commissioning Committee’s Breakfast
  • Honorary Plankowner Plaque

Anchor Sponsor - $500

  • Listed as Anchor Sponsor in Commissioning Program
  • Honorary Plankowner Plaque
  • USCGC JAMES Commemorative

Keel Sponsor - $250

  • Listed as Keel Sponsor in Commissioning Program
  • Honorary Plankowner Certificate
  • USCGC JAMES Commemorative

Friend Sponsor - $100

  • Listed as Friend Sponsor in Commissioning Program
  • USCGC JAMES Commemorative

Submit your change of address or e-mail to the Webmaster.

Webmaster: CAPT R. Jeb DeLoach, USNR (Ret)