The US Coast Guard’s newest fast response cutter, the USCGC John Patterson, took center stage Thursday morning in a ceremony in Portland marking its commission.

“This is an important day for Maine, and an important day for the coast guard,” Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) said at the ceremony.

The vessel, a sentinel-class, was built by Louisiana-based Bollinger Shipyards, and will be based in Boston. It will patrol all of New England, including Maine. 

Admiral Steven Poulin, vice commandant of the coast guard, who was born in Kittery and still has family in Freeport, also addressed the crowd. He noted that John Patterson, for whom the ship is named, was a Civil War veteran in the US Army, and after the war joined the U.S. Life-Saving Service, which later became the Coast Guard. 

He distinguished himself on July 27, 1885, off the coast of New Jersey, when he led efforts to rescue the passengers and crew of a yacht that foundered in bad weather, all with a crowd of 4,000 onlookers on shore. 

Patterson was awarded the Gold Lifesaving Medal for his actions, and his crew were given Congressional Silver Lifesaving Medals.

“He demonstrated the best of devotion to duty, under extreme hardship,” Poulin said.

Mary I. Patterson, John Patterson’s great-great-granddaughter, who lives in Freeport, served as the sponsor of the new ship. She said she learned in May that the cutter would be named in honor of John Patterson. She said she grew up hearing stories about “John C.,” and was surprised to hear about the dedication.

“I still can’t believe it,” she said.

To the assembled crew, Mary Patterson said, “I know the spirit of my grandfather’s will be with you.”

(Mary I. Patterson, center, speaks at a dedication ceremony for the US Coast Guard's newest cutter, named after her great-great-grandfather, John Patterson. Looking on are, at left, Lt. Vaughn D. Gehman, the vessel's new commander, and US Sen. Angus King (I-Maine), seated at right, front row. (Spectrum News/Sean Murphy)

The vessel is 154 feet long and armed with four .50-caliber machine guns and one 25mm chain gun. Its duties will include search and rescue, protection of marine resources, and general patrol and security along the coast. It has a crew of 24, led by Lt. Vaughn D. Gehman. 

This will be the third vessel Gehman has commanded. He has previously served the guard in the Gulf of Mexico, and most recently for 18 months off the coast of Bahrain.

“This has definitely been the crowning achievement of my career so far,” he said.