USCG Cutter Munro Crew Return to Alameda

Crew from the Coast Guard cutter Munro prepare to disembark after boarding South Korean-flagged fishing vessel Dong Won in the South Pacific, Southwest of the Howland/Baker islands, as part of Operation Blue Pacific. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Nate Littlejohn.

After 128 days at sea, the crew of U.S. Coast Guard cutter Munro returned to its Alameda homeport in mid-July.

The crew traveled 20,000 nautical miles for a series of missions in the Pacific Ocean, emphasizing illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing enforcement and bolstering partnerships that fortify maritime sovereignty and security in the region with its support of Operation Blue Pacific and North Pacific Guard, the Coast Guard said.

Munro’s deployment demonstrated the Coast Guard’s unique authorities in the support of (combating) IUU fishing,” said Vice Adm. Andrew J. Tiongson, commander of the USCG’s Pacific Area. “Through Operation Blue Pacific, the Coast Guard aims to strengthen relationships with like-minded nations. Our shared efforts will improve maritime governance within the Pacific Ocean, increase capacity for bilateral search-and-rescue and law enforcement, and promote shared technical expertise and proficiency.”

Munro is a 418-foot long Coast Guard Legend class national security cutter with a 12,000-nautical-mile range, 90-day endurance and a crew capacity of up to 170 members. It is one of four cutters based in Alameda and was named after Signalman First Class Douglas A. Munro, the only Coast Guardsman bestowed the Congressional Medal of Honor.

By Karen Robes Meeks