USCGC STEADFAST

• Commissioned in 1968: USCGC STEADFAST (WMEC-623) was commissioned on June 3, 1968, making it one of the oldest serving cutters in the United States Coast Guard fleet. • "The Steadfast Lady": Nicknamed "The Steadfast Lady," the cutter has a storied reputation for reliability and endurance over five decades of service. • Drug Interdiction Success: STEADFAST has seized over 210,000 pounds of marijuana and cocaine throughout its service, making it one of the Coast Guard’s most successful drug interdiction cutters. • Rescue Operations: The cutter has rescued more than 4,000 migrants and mariners in distress, performing search and rescue missions from the Caribbean to the Pacific. • Service in Two Oceans: Originally homeported in St. Petersburg, Florida, STEADFAST transferred to Astoria, Oregon in 1994, serving in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. • Vietnam War Support: STEADFAST was constructed for the Vietnam War-era Coast Guard Squadron Three, designed for high-endurance missions supporting naval operations. • International Cooperation: The cutter regularly participates in international exercises and operations with the navies and coast guards of Mexico, Canada, and Central/South America. • Humanitarian Missions: STEADFAST has delivered humanitarian aid to disaster-stricken areas, including earthquake and hurricane relief missions. • Unique Badge: The crew of STEADFAST designed a distinctive cutter emblem, featuring a seahorse and the motto “Courage, Sacrifice, Devotion,” embodying its core values. • Major Overhaul: In 2015, STEADFAST underwent a major midlife renovation, receiving new engines, updated electronics, and modernized living quarters, ensuring continued service into the 2020s and beyond.