USCG decommissions high endurance cutter ‘Rush’

The US Coast Guard (USCG) has decommissioned its high endurance cutter ‘Rush’ at Base Honolulu, after completion of its 45 years of service.

Launched in 1968, Rush is the sixth high endurance cutter to be decommissioned, with six more currently operational on the West Coast.

During its service life, the vessel served in a range of roles, which include defence operations during the Vietnam War, counter narcotics patrols off Central and South America, fisheries enforcement all through the Pacific, and search and rescue missions globally.

Rush will be succeeded by Coast Guard Cutter Sherman in Honolulu and its crew members will continue their responsibilities onboard Sherman.

The USCG is replacing the high-endurance cutters with more capable fleet of national security cutters that are capable of performing homeland security, law enforcement and national defence missions globally.

Further, the decommissioning paves way for the transfer of Rush to the Bangladesh Navy as part of a Foreign Military Sale through the Foreign Assistance Act.

Being the USCG’s regional command element and force provider for maritime safety, security, and stewardship in the Pacific, the Coast Guard Pacific Area’s area of responsibility comprises six of the seven continents, 71 countries and more than 74 million square miles of ocean — from the US to Asia, and from the Arctic to Antarctica.

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Image: The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Rush during the decommissioning ceremony at Base Honolulu. Photo: courtesy of US Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Melissa E. McKenzie.