ALAMEDA, Calif., 4 Aug. 2008. The Northrop Grumman-built National Security Cutter (NSC)USCGC Bertholf was commissioned today on the U.S. Coast Guard's birthday.
Meryl Chertoff, the ship's sponsor and wife of the Department of
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, ordered the men and women of the Bertholf crew to "man our ship and bring her to life." The crew responded with an "aye aye ma'am" and double-timed it through the 2,500 spectators on Coast Guard Island in Alameda, Calif.
The vessel is the service's most capable and technologically-advanced maritime asset in its 218-year existence, Northrop Grumman officials say.
"Bertholf is the flagship of the fleet-the largest and most technically advanced class of cutter the Coast Guard has ever known," said Mike Petters, corporate vice president and president of Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding.
In partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard, Northrop Grumman, and
Lockheed Martin – the joint venture partners of Integrated Coast Guard Systems – worked to design a ship that is not only capable and flexible, but also an economical platform, Northrop Grumman officials say.
"We are in an era of a persistent conflict, with hazards and threats to be dealt with," says U.S. Coast Guard commandant Adm. Thad Allen. "This ship represents a remarkable step forward, not only in capability and capacity, but also in the competency of this crew. Today, the crew will bring this ship to life and Bertholf will be up to the challenges of the 21st century."
U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Patrick H. Stadt, of Ft. Belvoir, Va., assumed command as commanding officer of Bertholf. The ship will be home-ported in Alameda.
Bertholf, is named to honor Commodore Ellsworth P. Bertholf, the first commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard. The ship is 418 feet long, with a 54-foot beam. Powered by a twin-screw combined diesel and gas turbine power propulsion plant, the NSC is designed to travel at 28 knots maximum speed.
