{{Short description|U.S. Coast Guard vessel}} {{Infobox ship |section1={{Infobox ship/image | image = USCGCLiberty(WPB-1334).jpg | image_caption = USCGC ''Liberty'', off the coast of Alaska, 2008. }}
|section2={{Infobox ship/career | hide_header = | country = United States | flag = {{shipboxflag|USA|coast guard}} | name = USCGC ''Liberty'' | owner = | namesake = | ordered = | builder = | laid_down = | launched = | acquired = | commissioned = December 19, 1989 | decommissioned = April 29, 2025 | in_service = | out_of_service = | struck = | reinstated = | identification = *{{MMSI Number|367949000}} *Callsign: NJHT | honours = | fate = | status = Active | notes = }}
|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics | hide_header = | header_caption = | class = Island-class patrol boat | displacement = 155 tons | length = {{convert|110|ft|m}} | beam = {{convert|21|ft|m}} | draught = | draft = {{convert|7|ft|m}} | propulsion = 2 diesel engines | speed = 29.6 knots | range = | complement = 2 officers, 16 enlisted | sensors = | EW = | armament = *Mk 38 25 mm chain gun *2 × M2 .50-cal MG | armour = | armor = | aircraft = | aircraft_facilities = | notes = }} }}
'''USCGC ''Liberty'' (WPB-1334)''' was an Island-class cutter of the United States Coast Guard. Commissioned on December 19, 1989, she spent her first thirty-three years of service homeported in Juneau, Alaska, where she patrolled territorial waters, including the Inside Passage. In 2016, she won the Hopley Yeaton Cutter Excellence Award for outstanding operational and humanitarian achievements.<ref>{{Cite web|title=WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT – 2016 Hopley Yeaton Cutter Excellence and Superior Cutterman Awards – National Cuttermen Chapter|url=http://chapter.navysna.org/Cuttermen/winner-announcement-2016-hopley-yeaton-cutter-excellence-and-superior-cutterman-awards/ |access-date=2020-06-15|website=chapter.navysna.org}}</ref> From 2022 to 2025, she was reassigned to Valdez, Alaska. ''Liberty'' was decommissioned in Valdez on April 29, 2025.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=decomm>{{cite press release |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=April 30, 2025 |title=Coast Guard Cutter Liberty, final Island-Class cutter, decommissioned after over 35 years of service |url=https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/4170932/coast-guard-cutter-liberty-final-island-class-cutter-decommissioned-after-over/ |location=Valdez, Alaska |publisher=Defense Media Activity |agency=United States Coast Guard |access-date=May 1, 2025}}</ref>
==Design and characteristics== left|thumb|USCGC ''Liberty'' mooring at Auke Bay, Alaska
The Island-class patrol boats, including ''Liberty'', were constructed in Bollinger Shipyards, Lockport, Louisiana. Their design was based on the British Vosper Thornycroft {{convert|33|m}} patrol boats and have similar dimensions''.'' ''Liberty'' had an overall length of {{convert|110|ft|m}}, a beam of {{convert|21|ft|m}}, and a draft of {{convert|7|ft|m}} at full load. The patrol boat had a displacement of 155 tons at full load and 138 tons at half load.
The Coast Guard purchased 49 Island-class cutters, and over the course of their construction made several modifications. The ships were grouped into A, B, and C classes depending on their design. ''Liberty'' was a B-class ship and thus had heavier bow plating to prevent hull cracking in heavy seas, among other enhancements.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=WPB 110' Island Class|url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/wpb-110.htm|website=Global Security}}</ref>
''Liberty'' was powered by two Paxman Valenta 16 CM Diesel engines which drove two 5-blade propellers. She had two {{convert|99|kW|PS shp}} Caterpillar 3304T diesel generators for electrical power. Her hull was constructed from high-strength steel, and her superstructure and main deck were constructed from aluminium.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=USCG 110' "Island Class" Patrol Boats (WPB) {{!}} Bollinger Shipyards|url=http://www.bollingershipyards.com/portfolio/uscg-110-island-class-patrol-boats-wpb|access-date=2020-06-17|website=www.bollingershipyards.com}}</ref> Stern flaps were retrofitted to reduce hull friction and increase speed and fuel efficiency.<ref name=":2" /> ''Liberty'' had active fin stabilizers to improve her seakeeping characteristics.<ref name=":1" />
The Island-class patrol boats had maximum sustained speeds of {{convert|29.6|kn|km/h mph|abbr=}}. They were fitted with one 25mm machine gun and two Browning .50 Caliber Machine Gun. They were equipped with satellite navigation systems, collision avoidance systems, and surface radar. They had a range of {{convert|3380|mi|nmi km|abbr=}} at 8 knots, and an at-sea endurance of five days.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":2" />
''Liberty'' carried one 18-foot rigid hull inflatable boat with seating for eight crew.<ref name=":4">{{Cite book|url=https://www.gao.gov/assets/600/593163.pdf|title=Legacy Vessels' Declining Conditions Reinforce Need for More Realistic Operational Targets|publisher=GAO|year=2012|location=Washington, D.C.}}</ref>
''Liberty's'' complement was 2 officers and 16 enlisted crew.<ref name=":0" />
''Liberty's'' namesake was Liberty Island in New York Harbor, site of the Statue of Liberty.<ref>{{Cite news|date=December 1989|title=Coast Guard Commissions New 110' Cutter, Liberty|work=Daily Sitka Sentinel|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/11663944/?terms=%22cutter%2Bliberty%22}}</ref>
==Operational history== ''Liberty'' was the 34th of the Island-class cutters. Her original cost was reported as $6.5 million. After commissioning, she was assigned to Juneau, where she moored at Auke Bay. She replaced USCGC ''Cape Carter'' at this station.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Coast Guard Cutter Liberty to celebrate 20th anniversary in Southeast Alaska {{!}} Coast Guard News|url=https://coastguardnews.com/coast-guard-cutter-liberty-to-celebrate-20th-anniversary-in-southeast-alaska/2009/12/18/|access-date=2020-06-15|language=en-US}}</ref>
Her primary missions were law enforcement, fisheries management, search and rescue, and oil spill response. She is credited, along with Alaska State Troopers, with the largest hash oil seizure in Alaska history. On October 30, 2007 crew from ''Liberty'' boarded the fishing vessel ''819'' in the Ketchikan area. They found five half-pint jars of the drug with a street value between $40,000 and $50,000.<ref>{{Cite web|title=SitNews: Largest "hash oil" seizure on record in Alaska made in Ketchikan area|url=http://www.sitnews.us/1007news/103007/103007_seizure.html|access-date=2020-06-16|website=www.sitnews.us}}</ref>
The United States and Canada disagree on the location of the maritime border in Dixon Entrance. This led to a series of seizures of Canadian fishing boats by ''Liberty'' in the disputed waters. ''Diane S.'' was fishing 400 yards into U.S. waters when she was seized on July 20, 1991.<ref>{{Cite news|date=July 30, 1991|title=U.S. seizes fishing boat|work=Journal Times|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/343057234/?terms=%22cutter%2Bliberty%22}}</ref> ''Eliza Joye'' was seized on July 29, 1991.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Eggerston|first=Laura|date=August 1, 1991|title=Pact may resolve fishing disputes in B.C., Alaska|work=Whitehorse Daily Star|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/578806668/?terms=%22cutter%2Bliberty%22}}</ref>''. Serene'' was seized 875 yards north of the border claimed by the U.S. on July 20, 1992.<ref>{{Cite news|date=July 22, 1992|title=Coast Guard Seizes Ship|work=Daily Sitka Sentinel|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/22168810/?terms=%22cutter%2Bliberty%22}}</ref> A 1990 agreement between the two countries reduced fishing conflicts and ''Liberty's'' seizures of Canadian boats when it became effective in 1992.<ref>{{Cite web|date=September 26, 1990|title=AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA ON FISHERIES ENFORCEMENT|url=http://extwprlegs1.fao.org/docs/pdf/can5111.pdf|access-date=June 18, 2020|archive-date=June 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200615211207/http://extwprlegs1.fao.org/docs/pdf/can5111.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> After the conflict with Canada faded, ''Liberty'' continued to board U.S.-flagged fishing boats to enforce fishing and safety regulations. In the summer of 2018, for instance, ''Liberty's'' boardings found five vessels in violation of various regulations.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Yang|first=LCDR Yvonne|url=https://meetings.npfmc.org/CommentReview/DownloadFile?p=bd41d08b-6a3b-4825-b15e-b5d82b89c345.pdf&fileName=B5%20USCG%20Report.pdf|title=17th Coast Guard District Enforcement Report|publisher=U.S. Coast Guard|year=2018|location=Juneau, Alaska|pages=23–24}}</ref> left|thumb|USCGC ''Liberty'' evacuating passengers from grounded ''Empress of the North'', May 15, 2007
''Liberty'' was involved in many search and rescue missions. Often, they consisted of assisting fishing vessels with mechanical problems. For example, in September 2001, ''Liberty'' rescued five crewmen from the fishing vessel ''Baranof Queen'', which had been disabled off Cape Spencer.<ref>{{Cite news|date=September 11, 2001|title=Coast Guard rescues crew of Seattle fishing boat|work=Longview Daily News|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/576782257/?terms=%22cutter%2Bliberty%22}}</ref> In other instances, the distressed vessel was wrecked. After the {{convert|38|ft|m|1|adj=on}} salmon-fishing vessel ''Belle-Tech'' was wrecked on the Gilanta Rocks ({{coord|54|51|00|N|130|56|30|W|name=Gilanta Rocks}}) in Dixon Entrance on July 19, 1999, ''Liberty'' rescued her crew of two, which had abandoned ship in a small boat.<ref name="alaskashipwrecksb">[https://alaskashipwreck.com/shipwrecks-a-z/alaska-shipwrecks-b/ alaskashipwreck.com Alaska Shipwrecks (B)]</ref> ''Liberty'' took eight people off the beached charter yacht ''Alaskan Song'' in 2001.<ref>{{Cite news|date=May 25, 2001|title=Chartered Yacht Strikes Rock In Chatham Strait; No Injuries|work=Sitka Daily Sentinel|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sitka-daily-sentinel-may-25-2001-p-7/}}</ref> Sometimes, her searches were for a single person in a canoe.<ref>{{Cite news|date=June 30, 2009|title=CG Searches For Missions Canoer|work=Sitka Daily Sentinel|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sitka-daily-sentinel-jun-30-2009-p-9/}}</ref> On a few occasions, however, Liberty was dispatched on rescue missions involving dozens or hundreds of people. At approximately 12:35 AM on May 15, 2007, the sternwheel cruise ship ''Empress of the North'' went aground on Hanus Reef at the eastern entrance of Icy Strait. She had 281 passengers and crew aboard. While her outer hull was pierced by a rock, the inner hull was intact and pumps were able to keep up with the flooding.<ref>{{Cite news|date=May 15, 2007|title=291 rescued after paddlewheeler hits rock in Alaska|work=The Province|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/505816587/?terms=%22cutter%2Bliberty%22}}</ref> ''Liberty'', the ferry ''Columbia'', and a number of nearby fishing boats responded. ''Liberty'' took off about 130 passengers and transferred them to ''Columbia''.<ref>{{Cite news|date=May 15, 2007|title=Cruise Ship Runs Aground, Passengers Evacuate|work=Stevens Point Journal|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/251999494/?terms=%22cutter%2Bliberty%22}}</ref> Private vessels evacuated the remaining passengers, and most were transferred to the ferry. All the passengers were off the stricken vessel by about 5:30 AM. ''Columbia'' arrived in Juneau at 11 AM with the passengers, while ''Liberty'' remained with ''Empress of the North''. The grounded ship was able to refloat and make its way to Auke Bay under its own power, escorted by ''Liberty''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=SitNews: Cruise Ship Empress of the North Runs Aground|url=http://www.sitnews.us/0507news/051507/051507_cruiseship.html|access-date=2020-06-16|website=sitnews.us}}</ref>
In July 2008, ''Liberty'' responded to another grounded cruise ship, ''Spirit of Glacier Bay''. She ran onto a sandbar at the head of Tarr Inlet in Glacier Bay National Park. Her passengers were evacuated by park vessels before ''Liberty'' arrived. When the high tide refloated the cruise liner, ''Liberty'' escorted her to port in case further assistance was required.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Cruise Ship Spirit of Glacier Bay Grounding|publisher=ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION|year=2008}}</ref> ''Liberty'' had assisted another disabled cruise liner, ''Spirit of Columbia'', owned by the same company, Cruise West, as ''Spirit of Glacier Bay'', just two months before.<ref>{{Cite news|date=May 12, 2008|title=Crippled Ship Gets To Juneau|work=Sitka Daily Sentinel|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sitka-daily-sentinel-may-12-2008-p-3/}}</ref>
After her decommissioning on April 29, 2025, ''Liberty'' sailed from Ketchikan, Alaska on May 14, 2025, in company with two other decommissioned Island-class patrol boats, ''Mustang'' and ''Naushon''. At that time, ''Liberty'' and her two sister ships were earmarked to be transferred to the Columbian Navy via the Excess Defense Articles program.<ref>{{cite press release |last=McKenzie |first=Melissa |date=May 16, 2025 |title=Honoring the legacy of the Island-Class patrol boats |url=https://www.mycg.uscg.mil/News/Article/4189096/honoring-the-legacy-of-the-island-class-patrol-boats/ |location=Anchorage, Alaska |publisher=Defense Media Activity |agency=United States Coast Guard, U.S. Department of Homeland Security |access-date=May 17, 2025}}</ref>
''Liberty'' was awarded the meritorious unit commendation several times in her career.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://media.defense.gov/2017/Mar/29/2001723556/-1/-1/0/CIM_1650_25E.PDF|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170904105203/https://media.defense.gov/2017/Mar/29/2001723556/-1/-1/0/CIM_1650_25E.PDF|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 4, 2017|title=Coast Guard Military Medals and Awards Manual|publisher=U.S. Coast Guard|year=2016|location=Washington, D.C.}}</ref> In 2016, she won the Hopley Yeaton Cutter Excellence Award for outstanding operational and humanitarian achievements.
== Replacement plans == As early as the mid-2000s, the mechanical reliability of the aging Island-class ships became an issue.<ref name=":4" /> The Coast Guard began retiring Island-class cutters in 2012, replacing them with Sentinel-class fast-response cutters.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book|url=https://www.cusnc.navy.mil/Portals/17/Task%20Forces/CG_Cutters-Boats-Aircraft_2015-2016_.pdf?ver=2018-06-18-074838-497|title=The Cutters, Boats, and Aircraft of the U.S. Coast Guard|publisher=U.S. Coast Guard|year=2018|pages=142–143}}</ref> In 2018, Juneau city officials believed that ''Liberty'' would be decommissioned in 2023, and they advocated with the Coast Guard that ''Liberty'' should be replaced by a fast response cutter home-ported at Auke Bay.<ref>{{Cite web|last=McCarthy|first=Alex|date=2018-01-20|title=City officials hope to bring Fast Response Cutter to capital city|url=https://www.juneauempire.com/news/city-officials-hope-to-bring-fast-response-cutter-to-capital-city/|access-date=2020-06-18|website=Juneau Empire|language=en-US}}</ref> In reply to an inquiry from a U.S. Senator in April 2018, the commandant of the Coast Guard indicated that the service planned to replace ''Liberty'' with a coastal patrol boat rather than a fast response cutter.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Zukunft|first=Admiral Paul F.|url=https://kfsk-org.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/CG-Signed-Letter_25APR18-1.pdf|title=letter to Senator Dan Sullivan|year=2018}}</ref> Indeed, that is exactly what happened in 2022 when USCGC ''Reef Shark'''','' a Marine Protector-class patrol boat, was assigned to Juneau. ''Liberty'' was reassigned to Valdez, Alaska.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news|last=Segall |first=Peter |date=May 26, 2022 |title=After 33 years in Juneau, Coast Guard cutter gets a new home |work=Juneau Empire |url=https://www.juneauempire.com/news/after-33-years-in-juneau-coast-guard-cutter-gets-a-new-home/}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Island class cutter}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Liberty (WPB-1334)}} Category:Island-class patrol boats Category:Juneau, Alaska Category:Ships built in Lockport, Louisiana Category:1989 ships