U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Harriet Lane reaches midway point of Operation Blue Pacific Patrol in Australia

CAIRNS, Australia – U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Harriet Lane (WMEC 903) and crew arrived in Cairns, Australia, Thursday, marking the midway point of the cutter’s inaugural Operation Blue Pacific patrol, which strengthens the U.S. Coast Guard’s relations with partners in Oceania. Harriet Lane and crew departed Pearl Harbor in January 2024 for Operation Blue Pacific and have since traveled more than 8,600 nautical miles with port calls in American Samoa, Samoa, Fiji, Vanuatu and Australia, working alongside partner nations in Oceania. Operation Blue Pacific has allowed the Harriet Lane crew to work alongside partners with each nation’s unique expertise enhancing maritime governance architectures. The U.S. Coast Guard, using assets like Harriet Lane, will continue to serve allies and partners by engaging with local technical experts for exchanges, joint patrols, and bolstering capacity thus promoting a model of stability in the maritime environment.