Coast Guard Cutter Eagle “America’s Tall Ship” to visit St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

News Release

U.S. Coast Guard 7th District Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands Contact: Coast Guard Puerto Rico PA Office Office: 787-729-2381 After Hours: 787-510-7923 7th District Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands online newsroom

Coast Guard Cutter Eagle “America’s Tall Ship” to visit St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands



U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Eagle file photo.

Click on above second image to play U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Feature Video

SAINT THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands - The Coast Guard Cutter Eagle, "America's Tall Ship," will arrive to St. Thomas at 10a.m. Friday, May 25, on four-day-visit, where the ship will moor at the West Indian Company (WICO) dock in St. Thomas Harbor for public tours.

While in St. Thomas, Eagle will be providing free public tours during the following schedule:

Friday, May 25 from 1 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 26 from 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Sunday, May 27 from 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.

“We couldn’t think of a better place to kick off our 2018 summer than lovely St Thomas,” said Capt. Matt Meilstrup, Commanding Officer of the EAGLE. “Many Virgin Islanders have sailed EAGLE and served in the Coast Guard. The cadets and crew are eager to experience the warm hospitality, explore the island, and help in the community. We will be open for public tours and we would love to have you see the 82-year-old EAGLE.”

At 295 feet in length, the Eagle is the largest tall ship flying the stars and stripes and the only active square-rigger in U.S. government service.

Constructed in 1936 by the Blohm and Voss Shipyard in Hamburg, Germany, and originally commissioned as the Horst Wessel by the German Navy, the Eagle was taken by the United States as a war reparation following World War II.

With more than 23,500 square feet of sail and six miles of rigging, the Eagle has served as a classroom at sea to future Coast Guard officers since 1946, offering an at-sea leadership and professional development experience.

A seasoned permanent crew of 8 assigned officers and 50 assigned enlisted personnel maintain the ship and provide a strong base of knowledge and seamanship for the training of up to 153 cadets or officer candidates at a time. Augmented by temporary crew during training deployments, Eagle routinely sails with over 230 hands on board.

For more on Eagle's adventures, click on the following links to check Eagle’s 2018 schedule and Coast Guard Cutter Eagle Video.

 

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