ABOUT USCGC Cape York
- USCGC Cape York (WPB-3833) was a 95-foot Cape-class patrol boat built for the United States Coast Guard in the early 1950s, designed primarily for law enforcement, search and rescue, and patrol duties.
- The vessel was named after Cape York, located in Greenland, following the Coast Guard tradition of naming 95-footers after North and South American capes.
- Cape York was commissioned in 1959 and stationed at various locations throughout her service, including New London, Connecticut, and later in Key West, Florida.
- During the 1960s, USCGC Cape York participated in numerous search and rescue operations, saving the lives of mariners in distress off the East Coast of the United States.
- The cutter was actively involved in law enforcement missions, including anti-smuggling operations during the Cuban refugee crisis and the increased drug trafficking activities in the Caribbean.
- Cape York, along with other Cape-class boats, played a critical role during the Mariel boatlift in 1980, helping to rescue and process thousands of Cuban refugees arriving in Florida.
- The vessel was powered by two diesel engines, capable of reaching speeds up to 20 knots, and was equipped with advanced radar and communication equipment for the era.
- In addition to her operational duties, Cape York took part in community outreach and public relations events, representing the Coast Guard in parades and maritime festivals.
- The Cape-class cutters, including Cape York, were notable for their rugged design and reliability, serving as the backbone of the Coast Guard’s patrol fleet until the introduction of the 110-foot Island-class cutters in the 1980s.
- After decades of service, USCGC Cape York was decommissioned in 1989, and her fate after decommissioning is not widely documented, with some sources suggesting she was transferred to another country or scrapped.