U.S. Coast Guard Sentinel-class fast response cutters USCGC Glen Harris (WPC 1144) and USCGC Emlen Tunnell (WPC 1145) will enter Malta’s historic Grand Harbor on Friday, January 14, 2022.
During the visit, officers and crew will engage in at-sea exercises and professional exchanges with the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM). The U.S. Coast Guard and the AFM have a long-standing relationship that has enhanced the AFM’s capabilities including Maritime Law Enforcement and Search and Rescue operations. The U.S. Coast Guard provides training to approximately ten AFM soldiers per year in courses such as Officer Formation, Maritime Search and Rescue Planning, Maritime Domain Awareness, and International Boarding Officer.
U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Gwendolyn “Wendy” Green welcomed the arrival of the ships, stating, “The U.S. Coast Guard is America’s oldest, continuous maritime service devoted to rescuing people in distress and combating crime at sea. We are especially proud of the mutually beneficial collaboration between the Armed Forces of Malta and the U.S. Coast Guard to keep the Mediterranean safe.”
Fast response cutters are a key component of the Coast Guard’s surface fleet, which is capable of deploying independently to conduct missions that include port, waterways, and coastal security. These vessels are transiting to their new home port of Manama, Bahrain where they will conduct maritime security, maritime infrastructure protection, and theater security cooperation in support of U.S. Central Command.
USCGC Emlen Tunnell’s namesake is Pro Football Hall of Famer Emlen Tunnell who was the first African American player to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
USCGC Glen Harris’s namesake co-piloted the first U.S. amphibious landing in the Pacific Theater in World War II.