USCGC Dependable ( WMEC-626)

• Commissioning: USCGC Dependable (WMEC-626) was commissioned on November 20, 1968, as part of the United States Coast Guard’s Reliance-class medium endurance cutters. • Homeport: The cutter has been homeported in several locations, including Galveston, Texas; Panama City, Florida; Portsmouth, Virginia; and currently Virginia Beach, Virginia. • Naming Tradition: Dependable is one of only two active cutters in the Coast Guard named “Dependable,” the first being a 125-foot cutter that served from 1927 to 1952. • Vietnam War Service: Although not deployed to Vietnam, ships of the same class were involved in Operation Market Time, conducting coastal surveillance and interdiction missions. • Drug Interdictions: Dependable has been a key player in drug interdiction missions, seizing thousands of pounds of illegal narcotics in operations throughout the Caribbean and Atlantic. • Search and Rescue: The cutter has conducted hundreds of search and rescue operations, saving numerous lives at sea, including dramatic rescues during hurricanes and severe storms. • Major Overhaul: In 1992, Dependable underwent a Major Maintenance Availability (MMA) period, receiving significant upgrades to extend her service life and improve operational capabilities. • Notable Rescue: In 2016, Dependable rescued 29 Cuban migrants from an overloaded vessel in the Florida Straits, highlighting the cutter’s humanitarian role. • Joint Operations: Dependable frequently operates with other U.S. military branches, federal agencies, and international partners, including joint exercises with the U.S. Navy and foreign coast guards. • Cutter’s Motto: The ship’s motto is “Count on Us!”, reflecting the reliable and steadfast service it has provided to the nation for over five decades.