USCGC Bailey Barco’s original crew at commissioning, called plank owners, await the start of the commissioning ceremony in Juneau on June 14, 2017. (Photo by Matt Miller/KTOO)
The U.S. Coast Guard’s newest vessel for Alaska entered service on Wednesday with a commissioning ceremony on the downtown Juneau waterfront.
The 154-foot USCGC Bailey Barco will be homeported in Ketchikan, but it is expected to patrol most of Southeast Alaska.
“For the President of the United States, I hereby place the United States Coast Guard Cutter Bailey Barco into commission. May God bless and guide all who sail on her,” said Vice Adm. Fred Midgette, the Coast Guard’s Pacific area commander.
Lt. Frank Reed, commanding officer of the Coast Guard cutter Bailey Barco, salutes Vice Adm. Fred Midgette, Coast Guard Pacific Area commander, as the vessel is officially commissioned into the Coast Guard during a ceremony. (Public domain photo by photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Jon-Paul Rios/Coast Guard)
With just those words, the Bailey Barco became an officially commissioned vessel of the United States Coast Guard and could begin its service. Absent was the stereotypical cliché of bashing a champagne bottle against the hull.
Public tours are scheduled for Thursday and Friday on the Intermediate Vessel Float on the downtown waterfront. Tours will be available 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. on both days.
Tour participants are asked to wear closed-toe shoes for safety. Large bags will not be allowed.
The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Bailey Barco gathers on deck during the vessel's commissioning ceremony in Juneau on June 14, 2017. The Bailey Barco is the second fast response cutter in Alaska and homeports in Ketchikan. (Public domain photo by Petty Officer First Class Jon-Paul Rios/Coast Guard)
Carol Pugh, sponsor of the Coast Guard Cutter Bailey Barco, receives a commemorative photo of the vessel from Lt. Frank Reed, commanding officer of the cutter Bailey Barco during the vessel's commissioning ceremony in Juneau on June 14, 2017. Pugh is the great granddaughter of the vessel's namesake, Coast Guard hero and Gold Lifesaving Medal recipient Bailey Barco. (Public domain photo by Petty Officer First Class Jon-Paul Rios/Coast Guard)
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