251215-G-AT057-3319
U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Active (WMEC 618) crew members offload bales of seized cocaine in San Diego, Dec. 15, 2025. The drugs, worth $203.9 million, were seized in international waters of the Eastern Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Loumania Chenlo)

This started as just another offload report (attached below),

“U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Active crew offloads $203M in cocaine in San Diego”

USCGC Active is the only Pacific Area WMEC210 remaining, and one of only three WMECs in Pacific Area. With the other two based in Kodiak and Hawaii, Active is the only one that is used to interdict drugs in the Eastern Pacific. Active is one of only nine large patrol cutters in the entire Pacific Area which encompasses 84% of the entire US EEZ, while Atlantic Area has at least 23 large patrol cutters with only 16% of the US EEZ. In addition, LANTAREA drug interdiction efforts in the Caribbean are routinely aided by the  Canadian, Netherlands, and UK units. In addition, District SE smaller units including 20 FRCs also conduct drug and immigrant interdiction.

About the same time I saw another offload report,

“Coast Guard Cutter Alert returns home after interdicting more than $18.4M in narcotics during 45-day patrol” –Southeast District Jan, 15, 2026

I was struck by the difference in the value of the drugs unloaded, $203M vs $18.4M.

Active landed 27,551 pounds of cocaine, with an estimated value of $203.9 million. That was the result of three interdictions, two by Active and one by USCGC Munro, also a Pacific Area cutter. For the analysis below I assumed Active only interdicted two thirds of the offload total, but the difference is still striking.

Then I saw another end of patrol report.

Coast Guard cutter returns to Florida after escorting recently seized motor tanker, 20 Jan. 2026, no interdictions

This was USCGC Vigilant (WMEC 617). She capped a 33-day counter drug patrol in the Caribbean Sea by escorting a seized tanker, but made no interdictions of drugs or migrants.

This seemed to confirm my long held suspicion that the Eastern Pacific is a target rich environment while the Atlantic side is much less so, and that Atlantic Area should be sending more medium endurance cutters to the Eastern Pacific.

Still three end of patrol reports was too small a sample to make the case convincingly so I went to the Coast Guard News page and searched for WMEC. In addition I found a report on the Joint Interagency Task Force South web site. This gave a total of 19 reports that had happened in 2025 or later. In addition to the three reports mentioned above the 16 additional reports are listed below with brief notes on the results of these patrols.

The list includes five patrols that included operations in the Eastern Pacific, and 14 that included operations only on the Atlantic side, primarily in the Caribbean. Each of these patrols was intended to interdict drugs and/or migrants. Only one patrol was by a PACAREA cutter, all the rest were by LANTAREA cutters. Of the five Eastern Pacific patrols, three were by WMEC270s and two were by WMEC210s.

Atlantic results: Of the 14 patrols in the Atlantic Area, five resulted in no interdictions at all (35.7%). Five patrols (35.7%) interdicted a total of 374 migrants. Five patrols (35.7%) interdicted drugs totaling 16,520 pounds of cocaine and 7,662 pounds of marijuana.

Pacific results: Of the five patrols in the Eastern Pacific, every patrol involved at least one interdiction. Assuming Active was responsible for 2/3 of its offload these five patrols interdicted 4,270 pounds of marijuana and 29,996 pounds of cocaine.

In terms of cocaine interdiction, patrols in the Eastern Pacific, with about 5/14 the effort had resulted in almost twice the catch. Eastern Pacific patrols were about five times as effective. 

I can’t help but think that because of the way the areas are divided, LANTAREA is more inclined to put resources on the Atlantic side rather than send them to the Pacific. If LANTAREA were responsible for interdiction on both sides, we would probably get a more efficient allocation of resources, and there are good reasons that should be the case.

What should we do?

A first reaction might be, PACAREA needs more ships and they do. They were expected to get the first four OPCs, but we know how that turned out.

Transferring ship from LANTAREA to PACAREA is a pain and it is not justified by a need to put more ships on patrol in the Eastern Pacific, because it is better if they are based in LANTAREA.

LANTAREA should not only continue to send ships into the Pacific, they should supply all the ships patrolling the Eastern Pacific because the transit times are much shorter from the East Coast. Panama City, Panama, is almost exactly due South of Charleston, SC.

Distance from Charleston to the Pacific end of the Panama Canal is about half as far as the distance from Alameda to the same destination. West Coast ships may require up to two weeks additional transit time going to and from the Eastern Pacific drug transit zones.

An adjustment of the Area Commanders Areas of Responsibility (AOR), putting all of 4th Fleet’s AOR in LANTAREA’s AOR would make this seem a lot more natural.

The chart below shows the US Navy Fleet AORs. The 4th Fleet AOR is also corresponds to the SOUTHCOM AOR. Right now, this AOR includes parts of both PACAREA and LANTAREA AORs. It does not have to be that way. LANTAREA is expected to work with Atlantic Fleet and 4th Fleet is an Atlantic Fleet unit. PACAREA should not be expected to work with an Atlantic Fleet unit. LANTAREA ships operating in the Eastern Pacific Drug transit zone should not have to change their OPCON to PACAREA.

It may seem like a small thing but, all the major players, Joint Interagency Task Force South, 4th Fleet, and SOUTHCOM are headquartered in Florida along with CG District SE making coordination and planning a lot easier.

Below are the additional reports I used for the analysis.

• • Coast Guard Cutter Tampa returns home after 67-day counterdrug patrol in the Eastern Pacific Ocea, Nov. 21, 2025, one interdiction, 620 kilograms of the cocaine
  • Coast Guard Cutter Spencer returns home to Portsmouth, Virginia after 83-day maritime border security patrol in the Caribbean Sea, Windward Passage, Sept. 18, 2025, one interdiction, 191 aliens
  • Coast Guard Cutter Vigilant returns home after seizing 3,100 pounds in drugs during multi-mission patrol in the Caribbean Sea, Windward Passage, Sept. 2, 2025, two interdictions, total 1,410 pounds of cocaine and 1,695 pounds of marijuana
  • Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk returns home to Key West, Florida after 75-day maritime border security patrol, Aug. 29, 2025, contributed “to the disposition of 21 drug smugglers, 2,425 pounds of cocaine, and 4,300 pounds of marijuana with an estimated street value of nearly $23 million;” five Haitians who were attempting to illegally enter Jamaica.
  • Coast Guard Cutter Reliance (WMEC 615) returns home to Florida after 60-day patrol, July 18, 2025. No drugs or immigrants interdicted.
  • “Coast Guard Cutter Vigorous returns home after 51-day counter-migration patrol in the Windward Passage” July 1, 2025, no interdictions of drugs or immigrants.
  • Coast Guard Cutter Campbell returns home after 62-day patrol in the Windward Passage, June 23, 2025, no interdictions of drugs or immigrants.
  • Coast Guard offloads more than $138 million in illicit drug interdictions in Caribbean Sea, (Vigilant) June 9, 2025, two interdictions total 10,395 pounds of cocaine
  • Coast Guard Cutter Diligence returns home after 61-day counter-drug and fisheries patrol, June 2, 2025, two interdictions, 1,660 pounds of marijuana and 40 pounds of cocaine.
  • Coast Guard Cutter Forward returns home after seizing more than $23M in cocaine during 79-day patrol in Eastern Pacific Ocean, May 19, 2025, one interdiction, 2,039 pounds of cocaine worth more than $23 million.
  • Coast Guard Cutter Seneca returns home after 54-day maritime border security patrol in the Windward Passage, April 22, 2025, no drugs interdicted, 99 immigrants from one boat.
  • Coast Guard Cutter Spencer returns home after Operation Vigilant Sentry patrol, service life extension upgrades, April 14, 2025, 92 days, no interdictions
  • Coast Guard Cutter Reliance returns home after 60-day maritime border security patrol, March 14, 2025, “assisted in the interdiction of 12 aliens”
  • Coast Guard Cutter Vigorous returns home after 46-day alien interdiction operations, maritime border security  patrol, March 5, 2025, “five interdictions of vessels attempting to smuggle aliens,” “interdicted, processed and repatriated more than 67 aliens”
  • Coast Guard Cutter Campbell returns home after interdicting $91M in illicit narcotics during Eastern Pacific Ocean patrol, Feb. 5, 2025, 8,061 pounds of cocaine worth an estimated street value of more than $91 million
  • Florida-based cutter returns home after 40-day patrol in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, Jan. 13, 2025, two interdictions, 4,270 pounds of marijuana, 165 pounds of cocaine.

Naval News reports,

On 5 February, 2026, PIRIOU shipyard launched Trolley de Prévaux in Concarneau, Brittany. It is the first Patrouilleur Hauturier (PH)-class offshore patrol vessel built for the French Navy.

Patrouilleur Hauturier translates as High Seas Patroller.

Despite the title of the post, ten ships of this class are planned.

Specifications:

• Tonnage: 2400t
• Length: 92m
• Width: 14.2m
• Draft: 3.8m
• Speed: 21 knots
• Accommodations: 84 (crew is likely to be about 60)

Based on earlier information, I would expect them to be based in Metropolitan France, in Brest on the Atlantic coast, Cherbourg on the English Channel, and Toulon on the Mediterranean coast.

Among their duties is escort of French Navy nuclear ballistic missile submarines as they depart or enter port. Consequently they have a hull mounted sonar.

Their equipment includes Thales’s NS54 4D (range, bearing, elevation, doppler) AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) multi-function radar that provides fire control for the  RAPIDFire 40mm main gun.

There are also counter drone radars ranged around the bridge and a Mistral 3 SIMBAD RC short-range air defense missile system all parts of a Sea Warden Counter UAS system..

French Félix Éboué class POM (80 meter Offshore Patrol Vessel) makes seizure. 

gCaptain reports,

“French naval forces have seized 4.24 tons of cocaine in waters off French Polynesia, marking the second massive drug interdiction in the Pacific territory in less than three weeks and underscoring an intensifying battle against transnational narcotics trafficking in the region.

The back-to-back seizures represent more than 9 tons of cocaine intercepted in French Polynesian waters in a span of 17 days.

After removal of the contraband, the vessel and crew were released. “Authorities confirmed the drug cargo was not destined for French Polynesia and was subsequently destroyed.”

This was a joint operation with New Zealand customs, so presumably the drugs were enroute to New Zealand.

French Polynesia is SSE of Hawaii, East of American Samoa, and NE of New Zealand.

Back in May the Coast Guard issued a Request for Information (RFI) for two classes of small domestic icebreakers. The “Big Beautiful Bill” included $816 million for light and medium Icebreaking Cutters that were presumably included in the 17 new icebreakers that were reportedly funded by the bill.

Turns out the Acquisitions Directorate (CG-9) has a section devoted to domestic icebreakers. They are now referring to these as “Homeland Security Cutters–Light, Medium, and Heavy.

The “Heavy” will be about the size and capability of USCGC Mackinaw and will augment rather than replace Mackinaw.

The eleven planned “Mediums” will replace the nine 140 foot icebreaking tugs (WTGB).

The seven planned “Lights” (pictured above) will replace the 65 foot tugs (WYTL). There are currently six WYTLs in active service and five “In Service, Special”status.  It appears the “Light” will be the first to see completion.

The Coast Guard is developing a contract design to be included within its planned request for proposal. The Coast Guard will solicit a contract in 2026 to include completion of the production design and construction.

I have repeated below some of the information found on the CG-9 site below.

Homeland Security Cutter Light Icebreakers (HSC-L)

The Coast Guard’s Homeland Security Cutter-Light Icebreakers (HSC-L) program is modernizing its domestic icebreaking fleet by combining icebreaking and aids to navigation (ATON) functions into a single, versatile vessel. These vessels are designed to replace the aging 65-foot WYTL light icebreaking tugs, ensuring year-round support for the Marine Transportation System in the Coast Guard Northeast and East districts.
HSC-L’s new design reduces crew requirements, training demands, maintenance needs and sustainment costs while enhancing operational efficiency and mission readiness.

The Heavy, Medium, and Light designations don’t square with how the Coast Guard has been classifying icebreakers for the last few years. Additionally, the “Homeland Security Cutters” title is appropriate. It sounds too much like the National Security Cutter which might lead to confusion and it implies that other cutters are not “Homeland Security Cutters” which, really, they all are. I would call them:

• Great Lakes Icebreaker (the Heavy)
• Light Icebreaker (the Mediums)
• Icebreaking buoy boat (the Light)

More descriptive.

Thanks to Walter for bring this to my attention. 

21 round Rolling Airframe Missile launcher. Image credit Darkone via Wikipedia.

Since RAM is going on the FF(X) and could easily go on either the National Security Cutters and the Offshore Patrol Cutters, Thought I would pass along this short article about the system.

Baird reports,

The Colombian Navy took delivery of a new offshore patrol vessel (OPV) on Saturday, January 31.

The future ARC 24 de Julio is the lead ship of a new class of OPVs to be built by Colombian shipyard Cotecmar.

It is a pretty typical OPV, a bit larger than a WMEC270:

• Length: 93 meters (305 ft)
• Beam: 14 meters (46 ft)
• Draft: 3.9 meters (12.8 ft)

A poster at the Pentagon, Dec. 12, 2025, lets employees know that a new artificial intelligence tool is available to use at the War Department, and that employees are highly encouraged to use it. (Credit: C. Todd Lopez, DOW)

Defense Scoop reports,

“Almost two months after the Pentagon deployed GenAI.mil on government desktops across its sprawling workforce, all but one of the military services have formally declared the asset to be their teams’ AI platform of choice.

“In response to questions from DefenseScoop on Monday, a Pentagon official said that there have been “1.1 million unique users” on GenAI.mil to date.”

Guess which armed service is not using this particular AI tool?

Not sure I would want a subordinate to rely too much on AI, but it is sure to be used. My limited experience is that AI tells me something I would have found by googling the question but it doesn’t give me the source of the information so I have less confidence.

Of course I have no experience with GenAI.mil, maybe it is better.

I am also uncomfortable with having Secretary Hegseth standing in for Uncle Sam. Are they going to take down the posters when we get a new Secretary? The poster would be inappropriate for use by the Coast Guard.

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Kimball (WMSL 756) conducts a passing exercise with the Royal Canadian Navy ship HMCS Regina while Kimball patrols the Bering Sea, July 18, 2024. During Kimball’s 122-day patrol, the crew also interacted with strategic partners in Victoria, Canada, strengthening relationships by focusing on shared interests in the Bering Sea and the expanding Artic region. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Ensign James Bongard.

The Indo-Pacific Defense Forum has a report on an exercise that indicates some degree of cooperation between the Coast Guard and the Air Force.

A key drill involved two B-52s simulating a long-range maritime strike. In a display of joint force precision, the bombers received targeting data from the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Kimball and U.S. Navy assets, allowing their crews to acquire targets from a significant distance and simulate a weapons engagement.

From SixtyDegreesNorth

SixtyDegreesNorth reviews the prospects for replacing the National Science Foundation’s leased Antarctic Research Ship, Nathaniel B. Palmer. Along the way, they suggest that the MPPS100 version of the Arctic Security Cutter appears to be a good candidate to fill this role.

USCGC Healy is already hosting scientific research in the Arctic, so such a role would not be unexpected.

The program name, “Arctic Security Cutter,” suggests these ships would not be used in Antarctica, but I doubt that will be the case.

The article also notes that while Healy is expected to receive a service life extension, it is only expected to add five years to the life of the ship. Having been commissioned in 2000, I presume that means she is expected to be decommissioned in 2035, so if the Coast Guard plans to retain an icebreaker configured for scientific research, it will likely have to  use one of the fourteen currently planned (three Polar Security Cutters, five Davie/Helsinki MPPS 100, and six Bollinger/RMC Multi-Purpose Icebreakers).

The report does seem to indicate that Davie and Helsinki have been awarded contracts for five ships, but while that is anticipated, I don’t think it has happened yet. It may have been pending acquisition of the shipyard in Texas where Davie is expected to build these ships. That deal only closed January 9, 2026.

Davie’s proposal for the USCG Arctic Security Cutter.