The U.S. Coast Guard (USGS) cutter Munro returned to its homeport in Alameda, Calif. in mid-July after concluding a 128-day, 20,000-mile deployment to the South and North Pacific Ocean to counter illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU) and strengthen maritime security in the region.
The Munro crew supported Operation Blue Pacific and Operation North Pacific Guard during the patrol. Both missions promote international efforts to uphold principles of security, safety, sovereignty and economic prosperity in Oceania and the North Pacific through engagements to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Vice Adm. Andrew J. Tiongson, commander for the USGS Pacific Area, said the Munro’s deployment demonstrated the Coast Guard’s unique authority in support of combatting IUU fishing.
“Through Operation Blue Pacific, the Coast Guard aims to strengthen relationships with like-minded nations,” Tiongson said. “Our shared efforts will improve maritime governance within the Pacific Ocean, increase capacity for bilateral search and rescue and law enforcement and promote shared technical expertise and proficiency.”
Capt. Rula Deisher, who assumed command of Munro mid-patrol at Guam, said the mission offered an opportunity for the crew to work alongside allies and share law-enforcement concepts.
The Munro, commissioned in 2017, is one of four Coast Guard Legend-class national security cutters homeported in Alameda. National security cutters are 418-feet long and have a range of 12,000 nautical miles, endurance of up to 90 days and hold a crew of up to 170.