By Karen Robes Meeks
The first of three 154-foot fast response U.S. Coast Guard cutters to be stationed in Hawaii arrived in Honolulu last week.
Named after Chief Petty Officer Oliver Fuller Berry – who helped develop the helicopter rescue hoist – the Coast Guard Cutter Oliver Berry will mainly serve the main Hawaiian Islands and is expected to be commissioned in an October 31 ceremony.
The new cutters, which will replace the 110-foot Island-class patrol boats, are built for various missions, including search and rescue, fisheries enforcement, and drug and migrant interdiction and should enhance the Coast Guard’s presence on the water. All three cutters will be based in Honolulu by spring 2019.
