USCGC Ida Lewis

Relive and share the memories of your service-time with your brothers and sisters in arms today. VetFriends.com can help you reconnect.

Did you proudly serve in the USCGC Ida Lewis?

Are you looking for someone who is or was in the USCGC Ida Lewis?

Do you have USCGC Ida Lewis photos you'd like to share?

Then join a community with your brothers and sisters of the USCGC Ida Lewis.

Branch

U.S. Coast Guard

Members

About USCGC Ida Lewis

USCGC Ida Lewis (WLM-551) is a Keeper-class coastal buoy tender of the United States Coast Guard, commissioned in 1997. Named after the famed lighthouse keeper Ida Lewis, the vessel is primarily tasked with maintaining aids to navigation along the New England coast. Homeported in Newport, Rhode Island, USCGC Ida Lewis has also participated in search and rescue operations, environmental protection missions, and homeland security patrols. Over its service, the cutter has played a crucial role in ensuring the safety of maritime traffic in some of the busiest and most challenging waters of the Northeast United States.

Unit Members

Michael Bray

U.S. Coast Guard

USCGC Ida LewisView Profile

Photos

USCG Station San Francisco, CA

USCG Station San Francisco, CA • U.S. Coast Guard • 1989

USCGC Point Brower Homeport San Diego CA

USCGC Point Brower (WPB-82372) • U.S. Coast Guard • 1986

USCGC Boutwell (WHEC-719)

USCGC Boutwell (WHEC-719) • U.S. Coast Guard • 1982

USCGC Campbell (WHEC-32)

U.S. Coast Guard • 1975

About USCGC Ida Lewis

About this Unit

Historical Facts

• Namesake Legacy: USCGC Ida Lewis (WLM-551) is named after Ida Lewis, a famed 19th-century lighthouse keeper known for saving at least 18 lives during her tenure at Lime Rock Light in Newport, Rhode Island. • Keeper-class Cutter: Ida Lewis is the lead ship of the Keeper-class coastal buoy tenders, a class designed to maintain aids to navigation along the U.S. coastlines. • Commissioning Date: The ship was commissioned on April 12, 1997, and is homeported in Newport, Rhode Island — the same area where its namesake served. • Modern Technology: The cutter is equipped with dynamic positioning systems, allowing it to maintain position precisely, which is vital for servicing buoys. • Multi-mission Platform: While primarily focused on aids to navigation, Ida Lewis has also participated in search and rescue, environmental protection, and homeland security missions. • Historic Homeport: Newport, Rhode Island, the homeport of the Ida Lewis, is itself a historic maritime city, adding to the ship's unique connection to American coastal history. • Women in Service: Naming the vessel after a woman highlights the Coast Guard’s recognition of female pioneers and their contributions to maritime safety. • Community Engagement: The crew of the Ida Lewis is active in local outreach, participating in maritime festivals and education programs to raise awareness of the Coast Guard's missions. • Operational Area: USCGC Ida Lewis maintains more than 300 aids to navigation in some of the busiest shipping lanes in the Northeast United States. • Cutting-edge Features: The ship uses a Z-drive propulsion system, which provides exceptional maneuverability compared to traditional propeller and rudder setups.