[NJARC] LAST PATROL OF THE STORIS, QUEEN OF THE COAST GUARD FLEET

[John Dilks K2TQN]

BERING SEA, Alaska - The Coast Guard Cutter Storis is scheduled to be 
decommissioned in Kodiak, Alaska after over 75 years of service. The 
decommissioning ceremony is tentatively scheduled to be held February 
8, 2007. The Storis crew will complete one last Bering Sea Patrol 
carrying with them a chaplain, a dentist and conducting humanitarian 
missions through many remote Alaskan ports including villages in the 
Aleutian Islands.

Coast Guard District 17 Alaska's Public Affairs Office will be 
posting information and imagery throughout this final patrol, which 
is scheduled to end the morning of December 3, 2006 with the Storis 
returning to Kodiak.

  Storis keel was layed July 14, 1941. Built as an ice patrol tender, 
she was assigned to patrol the North Atlantic during World War 2 in 
1942. The 230 foot cutter was home ported in Boston Massachusetts and 
assigned to participate in the Greenland Patrols, a mission targeted 
at preventing the establishment of German weather stations in 
Greenland. After World War 2 Storis remained in the Atlantic home 
ported in Curtis Bay, Maryland.

  On September 15, 1948 Storis was reassigned to the home port of 
Juneau Alaska beginning what would be 59 years of service in the last 
frontier state. Her new mission would be the Bering Sea Patrol, 
delivering medical, dental and judicial services to isolated native 
villages in the far reaches of the territory. Crews aboard the Storis 
also assisted in establishing LORAN radio navigation stations, 
providing supplies for the Defense Early Warning System and 
conducting hydrographic surveys in the uncharted waters off the arctic.

On July 1, 1957 the Storis, accompanied by the Coast Guard Cutters 
Bramble and Spar, began searching for a deep draft channel through 
the Arctic Ocean. The mission was a success, and ended a 450 year 
search for the Northwest Passage. Storis became the first U.S. 
registered vessel to circumnavigate the North American continent. 
Shortly after her return from this historic mission Storis was 
reassigned to the homeport of Kodiak, Alaska.

  In 1972 Storis underwent major renovations, which converted her 
from a light ice breaker to a medium endurance cutter. The cutter's 
primary function changed to enforcing laws and treaties of the 
domestic and foreign fisheries in the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska. 
In 1986 the Storis power plant was replaced and berthing quarters 
were expanded to include female quarters and a new lounge for the crew.

The Storis is now the oldest commissioned cutter in the Coast Guard 
fleet. Careers have begun and ended, and lives have undoubtedly been 
changed in the pursuit of her patrols and historic missions. Storis 
will remain in the hearts and minds of the proud personnel that have 
served upon her.

Link: http://www.piersystem.com/go/site/780/