The Long Blue Line (Summer 2020)

THE COAST GUARD AND EASTERN
SHIPBUILDING GROUP AUTHENTICATED
THE KEEL for the first Offshore Patrol Cutter
ARGUS, in Panama City, Florida, April 28.
The keel authentication, a time-honored tradition
in shipbuilding, was conducted by Joey D’Isernia,
President of Eastern Shipbuilding, and Captain
Andrew Meverden, Commanding Officer of Coast
Guard Project Resident Office Panama City.
“We are here today to celebrate and memorialize
the keel laying of the cutter ARGUS,” said D’Isernia,
“the first in a new class of cutters for the U.S. Coast
Guard. Keel authentication is the beginning of a
ship’s life, laying the foundation for construction of
the rest of the vessel.”
Bradley Remick, a welder with Eastern, used a
welding torch to apply the initials of the sponsor,
retired U.S. Coast Guard Captain Beverly Kelley,
to the ceremonial plate, which declares the keel of
Argus to be “truly and fairly laid.”
Captain Kelley shared, “I am honored and humbled
to have been selected to sponsor the new Coast
Guard Cutter ARGUS, the first vessel of the Heritage
Class fleet of Offshore Patrol Cutters.”
A pioneer in her own right (see sidebar), Kelley
continued, “As someone who knows it’s not easy
being a first, I am pleased to be participating in this,
the first milestone of the ship. I already do feel a
connection to the ARGUS as it will be replacing two
of the cutters that I served on during my cutterman
career.” She then pledged her support of the future
crew members of the vessel.
Admiral Karl Schultz, Commandant of the Coast
Guard, emphasized the importance of the Offshore
Patrol Cutter program, “OPC will secure and defend
the U.S. maritime approaches. It will deploy for the
geographic combatant commanders across the
globe. The Offshore Patrol Cutter fleet will constitute
70% of our major cutter fleet, richly complementing
our National Security and Fast Response Cutters as
they combat transnational criminal organizations, as
they respond in times of crisis and as they secure
the global Maritime Commons.”
THE LONG BLUE LINE SUMMER 2020
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