U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Campbell recently returned to its homeport at U.S. Naval Station Newport after a 54-day maritime border security patrol in the Windward Passage.
Campbell falls under the command of the U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area based in Portsmouth, Va. Its primary missions are counter-drug, alien interdiction and search and rescue in support of U.S. Coast Guard operations throughout the Western Hemisphere.
During its recent patrol, Campbell was deployed to the Coast Guard District Southeast area in support of Operation Vigilant Sentry. The operation’s missions protect the safety of life at sea while preventing unlawful maritime entry into the United States and its territories.
Campbell’s crew coordinated with an HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircrew from Aviation Training Center Mobile on Sept. 21 to interdict an unsafe, overloaded Haitian sailing vessel with 103 people aboard approximately 15 miles from Turks and Caicos.
“This interdiction demonstrates the power of teamwork and international cooperation,” Cmdr. Krystyn Pecora, Campbell commanding officer, said. “Our combined efforts helped to support the Coast Guard’s ongoing mission of deterring illegal maritime migration and ensuring the safety of life at sea. I could not be prouder of this crew’s hard work and dedication throughout this deployment in ensuring Campbell remained mission ready.”