USCG San Juan - 29 January 2014

The USCG Cutter 'Northland' (WMEC 904) seen with the Cutters 'Key Largo' (WPB 1324) and 'Cushing' (WPB 1321) at San Juan, Puerto Rico. Cushing and Key Largo are Island Class Patrol Boats. Northland is a Famous Class Medium Endurance Cutter.

The U.S. Coast Guard is quite unlike the similarly named organisation in the UK which evolved into the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. In the US it is one of the armed forces and comes under the auspices of the Department of Homeland Security which reflects the strength and breadth of its role. A cutter is any CG vessel of 65' or greater length and with crew accommodation. Smaller vessels are known as 'boats'.

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