Sri Lanka commissions 4th US Coast Guard Cutter after record 12,000-nautical-mile voyage

Consular Affairs
By Editor_1
The commissioning ceremony at the Port of Colombo was attended by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, US Chargé d’Affaires Jayne Howell, Deputy Defence Minister K. P. Aruna Jayasekara, Defence Secretary Sampath Thuyacontha, and Sri Lanka Navy Commander Kanchana Banagoda US Embassy/Colombo

COLOMBO – Sri Lanka on Thursday (4) commissioned SLNS Samudravijaya, a former United States Coast Guard cutter transferred under the US Excess Defence Articles Program, marking a significant milestone in maritime cooperation between Colombo and Washington.

The vessel arrived after a historic 12,000-nautical-mile journey from Baltimore, Maryland – the longest voyage ever undertaken by a Sri Lanka Navy crew to bring a vessel home and the Navy’s first transit through the Panama Canal.

The commissioning ceremony at the Port of Colombo was attended by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, US Chargé d’Affaires Jayne Howell, Deputy Defence Minister K. P. Aruna Jayasekara, Defence Secretary Sampath Thuyacontha, and Sri Lanka Navy Commander Kanchana Banagoda.

Formerly known as USCGC Decisive (WMEC-629), the vessel is the fourth former US Coast Guard cutter transferred to Sri Lanka. Built at the United States Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore, the ship underwent refurbishment before being handed over to the Sri Lanka Navy.

The addition of SLNS Samudravijaya is expected to strengthen Sri Lanka’s maritime surveillance and operational capabilities, including efforts to combat illegal fishing, narcotics trafficking, and other maritime crimes, while enhancing search-and-rescue and humanitarian response operations.

Speaking at the ceremony, Howell said the vessel symbolized the strong partnership between the two countries.

“SLNS Samudravijaya begins a new chapter of service today. Her transfer reflects the trust and cooperation that unite our two nations and our shared commitment to a free, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” she said.

The Sri Lanka Navy crew departed Baltimore on February 20 and navigated a route spanning three oceans and multiple continents before arriving in Trincomalee on May 8. During the voyage, the vessel made port calls at Key West, Los Angeles, Honolulu and Guam, receiving logistical support from US military and Coast Guard personnel.

Infographic showing the route taken by P628, the SLNS Samudravijaya. [Map is for illustrative purposes only. The route and dates of SLNS Samudravijaya (P628) are accurate, but some geographic features and vessel positions shown on the map may be approximate] -US Embassy/Colombo

With the commissioning of SLNS Samudravijaya, Sri Lanka now operates four former US Coast Guard cutters, joining SLNS Samudura, SLNS Gajabahu, and SLNS Vijayabahu, giving the island nation the world’s largest fleet of cutters transferred under the US Excess Defence Articles Program.

US Defence Attaché Lieutenant Colonel Matthew House praised the Sri Lanka Navy’s stewardship of previously transferred vessels, saying their excellent operational record had helped pave the way for the latest transfer.

“Few partners have demonstrated the commitment to maintaining and operating these vessels as successfully as the Sri Lanka Navy. Their professionalism and technical expertise gave us the confidence to support this fourth transfer,” he said.

House added that the vessel represented more than a military asset.

“The story of SLNS Samudravijaya is about partnership, readiness and shared security interests. The United States is proud to support partners who contribute to regional stability and help ensure a secure and prosperous Indian Ocean,” he said.

Commissioned into the US Coast Guard in 1968, USCGC Decisive served for more than 54 years as a Reliance-class medium-endurance cutter, conducting maritime law enforcement, search-and-rescue, fisheries enforcement and counter-narcotics missions across the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of America before being decommissioned in 2023.

-ENCL

Editor_1
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