The US Coast Guard's cutter 'Boutwell' was decommissioned on March 16 to be transferred to the Philippine Navy as part of a foreign military sale program through the foreign assistance act.
The 115-metre vessel was the fifth of the Coast Guard's fleet of high endurance cutters. Built in 1967 the cutter served for 48 years carrying out drug traffic prevention operations and aiding law enforcement officers globally.
In 2015, 'Boutwell's' final year of operation, the cutter spent 219 days away from homeport, travelling more than 40,000 nautical miles spanning 65 degrees of latitude, called on 12 ports, and performed six of the Coast Guard's statutory missions.
During the past two years, 'Boutwell' partook in Operation Martillo. The multinational operation conducted 22 go-fast vessel pursuits, resulting in 10 interdictions, six disruptions, the apprehension of 33 suspected narcotics smugglers, and the seizure of nearly 3,700kg of cocaine valued at US$115 million.
This is the seventh cutter to be decommissioned, with other vessels being transferred to Bangladesh, the Philippines, and Nigeria.
