USCGC ALERT

• USCGC ALERT (WMEC-630) is a United States Coast Guard medium endurance cutter, commissioned in 1969 and still operational. • The ALERT is a Reliance-class cutter, one of 16 built to serve as multi-mission ships performing search and rescue, law enforcement, and national defense. • Homeported in Astoria, Oregon, ALERT conducts operations primarily along the Pacific Northwest, but has deployed as far as the Eastern Pacific and the Caribbean. • The cutter is named in honor of the US Revenue Cutter ALERT (commissioned in 1867), maintaining a tradition of Coast Guard vessels bearing the name. • ALERT has played a significant role in counter-narcotics operations, including multiple high-profile drug seizures, such as interdicting boats carrying thousands of pounds of cocaine. • In 1998, ALERT assisted in the rescue of the crew of the fishing vessel Alaska Ranger after it sank in the Bering Sea, saving multiple lives in treacherous conditions. • The vessel is 210 feet long, with a displacement of 1,150 tons, and can travel at speeds up to 18 knots. • ALERT’s motto is “Semper Paratus” (“Always Ready”), reflecting the US Coast Guard’s overall motto and the cutter’s commitment to readiness. • In 2017, ALERT participated in the U.S. Navy’s Fleet Week in Seattle, opening its decks to thousands of visitors and showcasing the Coast Guard’s mission. • ALERT has received numerous unit commendations and awards for excellence in law enforcement, search and rescue, and environmental protection missions throughout its service history.