Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico – Over Memorial Day weekend, Puerto Vallarta welcomed three historic U.S. Coast Guard cutters – USCGC Liberty (WPB 1334), USCGC Mustang (WPB 1310), and USCGC Naushon (WPB 1311) – during their final voyage to Colombia. This special visit marked the end of nearly 40 years of service for the last of the Island-Class patrol boats.
Arriving on Saturday, May 24, the crews were warmly received by American Legion Post 12 Banderas Bay, which hosted a sunset reception at Murphy’s Irish Pub on the Malecón. On Sunday, May 25, a private tour of the Mustang was given to Post 12 members and friends, led by the Mustang’s commanding officer, LT Gaby Troise, the youngest female to command the vessel.
“American Legion Post 12 Banderas Bay was honored to host a welcoming reception for the captain’s and crews of these three fine cutters on their final voyage together as they make their way to Colombia,” said Jesse Cole Rivera, past commander of Post 12. “We also really enjoyed learning about the long, proud history of these cutter’s on the tours led by the Mustang’s commanding officer, LT Gaby Troise, who herself made history as the Mustang’s youngest female commanding officer.”
Patrick Pickett, owner of Pat’s Plates PV, also praised the crews: “I was really impressed with the pride and professionalism of the cutter captains and crews. They all really seemed to love what they do and were very knowledgeable about each cutter’s long, proud history of service. I wish them fair winds and following seas as they make their way to Colombia.”
The Liberty, Mustang, and Naushon are part of the 110-foot Island-Class built in the late 1980s by Bollinger Shipyard in Louisiana. These cutters were designed for five-day missions without resupply and staffed by a crew of up to 18. Over their decades of service, they performed key roles in homeland security, drug and migrant interdiction, defense, fisheries protection, and search and rescue.
All three vessels were decommissioned earlier this year in Alaska and have been transferred to the Colombian Navy under the U.S. government’s Excess Defense Articles (EDA) program. Other Island-Class cutters have previously been transferred to countries such as Costa Rica, Greece, Ukraine, and the Philippines.
As they make way for the more advanced Sentinel-Class Fast Response Cutters, the Liberty, Mustang, and Naushon leave behind a legacy of dedication and service – honored and remembered during this meaningful stop in Puerto Vallarta.