The Coast Guard cutter Harriet Lane (WMEC 903) and crew held a ceremony recently celebrating the cutter's recent homeport shift to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. The ceremony was presided over by Adm. Steven Poulin, vice commandant, Coast Guard.
Harriet Lane, commissioned in 1984, is a 270' medium endurance cutter currently homeported in Honolulu to support Coast Guard missions in the Pacific region. The service's medium endurance cutter fleet supports a variety of Coast Guard missions including search and rescue, law enforcement, maritime defense, and protection of the marine environment.
The Harriet Lane is the Coast Guard Pacific Area’s newest Indo-Pacific support cutter. Harriet Lane and crew departed Coast Guard Base Portsmouth, Va., in November 2023, and arrived at Pearl Harbor in December 2023, after transiting more than 8,000 nautical miles for over 36 days.
The homeport shift of Harriet Lane marks a significant milestone in strengthening the Coast Guard's capabilities and relations with nations in the Pacific Ocean. As part of this historic homeport shift, Harriet Lane will work alongside allies and partner nations within the Oceania region with a focus on advising, training, joint deployments, and capacity building to promote and model good maritime governance.
"The U.S. has long supported peace, security and stability in the Pacific Islands," said Cmdr. Nicole Tesoniero, commanding officer of the Harriet Lane. "Joining like-minded partners including Australia, New Zealand, and France, Harriet Lane stands ready to deliver sustained regional presence while signaling the Coast Guard's commitment to be a steadfast partner in one of the world’s most dynamic economically significant regions."
"The presence of the Harriet Lane in the Pacific is significant," said Vice Adm. Andrew Tiongson, commander, Pacific Area. "The demand for maritime governance has never been higher especially today in this dynamic region. Harriet Lane is a shining symbol of maritime governance, and it will make a positive impact in this world to align their operations with overarching strategies."
"The Pacific stands out as a strategic and vital region for the United States," said Poulin. "All Pacific nations must maintain sovereignty and must be able to enjoy their sovereign rights. The U.S. Coast Guard has unique capabilities and authorities that often make us the partner of choice, and we can meet the needs of other nations because we are flexible. We listen to what our partners and allies need and maintain strong relationships. This cutter reflects our enduring commitment to our partners."
