ABOUT USCGC CONFIDENCE
- Commissioned in 1966: USCGC CONFIDENCE (WMEC-619) was commissioned on April 23, 1966, as a Reliance-class medium endurance cutter designed for law enforcement, search and rescue, and defense operations.
- Named for a WWII Vessel: The cutter is the second Coast Guard ship to bear the name "Confidence." The first was a patrol boat that served in World War II.
- Homeport Changes: CONFIDENCE has been homeported in multiple locations throughout its service, including Kodiak, Alaska; Port Canaveral, Florida; and currently, Cape Canaveral, Florida.
- Drug Interdiction Success: The cutter has been instrumental in numerous drug interdiction missions in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, seizing thousands of pounds of illegal narcotics over its decades of service.
- Notable Rescue Missions: CONFIDENCE has saved hundreds of lives during dangerous search and rescue operations, including high-profile rescues of stranded fishermen and migrants at sea.
- Migrant Interdiction: The cutter is well-known for interdicting vessels carrying undocumented migrants, particularly from Cuba and Haiti, helping enforce U.S. immigration laws and saving lives at sea.
- Modernization: In the early 1990s, CONFIDENCE underwent a Major Maintenance Availability (MMA) program, receiving significant upgrades to extend its service life and improve crew habitability and mission capability.
- Hurricane Response: The cutter has played critical roles in hurricane relief efforts, such as providing humanitarian aid and search and rescue support after major storms like Hurricane Katrina.
- International Cooperation: CONFIDENCE has participated in joint operations and exercises with navies and coast guards from partner nations, strengthening international maritime security and cooperation.
- Legacy of Service: With over 55 years of active duty, USCGC CONFIDENCE is one of the longest-serving cutters in the Coast Guard fleet, symbolizing resilience and adaptability in a changing maritime environment.