New Bedford To Host U.S. Coast Guard Tall-Ship Eagle

Press Release: Scott W. Lang, Mayor New Bedford
New Bedford, Massachusetts- On the weekend of July 29, 2011 the Port of New Bedford will host the United States Coast Guard Cutter Eagle. The three-masted sailing barque is the only square-rigged sailing ship in United States government service. The Eagle allows the Coast Guard’s future officers to apply the navigation, engineering, and leadership training they receive in classes at the Coast Guard Academy to real-life challenges on the sea.
The New Bedford MayorÕs Office has partnered with Division 6 of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary to welcome the crew over the July 29 to August 1 visit. The weekend will begin at approximately 8:45 a.m. on Friday with a welcoming voyage from anchorage near Clark’s Point in New BedfordÕs south end. Visitors may wish to view the sail-in into the harbor, which will include a fire-boat welcome, cannon salutes from Fort Taber and Fort Phoenix and a parade of Auxiliary boats, from East Rodney French Boulevard, Ft. Taber Park, the New Bedford Hurricane Barrier or Fort Phoenix in Fairhaven.
Public visiting hours at New Bedford State Pier will be Friday from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., Saturday from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m. and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Free parking will be offered by the City of New Bedford at the Elm Street Parking Garage in downtown New Bedford with free transportation from the garage to State Pier. Handicapped accessible parking will be available on State Pier.
The Auxiliary, reserve and active duty sides of the Coast Guard will staff an information booth on the pier with “give-aways” for children and the famous “Coastie” Safety Boat to entertain everyone.
Saturday morning will also feature a 10:00 a.m. dedication of the flag-pole at Coast Guard Park (adjacent to the State Pier) to Commodore-Captain Worth Ross, the first Commandant of the Coast Guard Academy, who subsequently retired to New Bedford. Auxiliary Division 6 will “adopt” the flag pole and will maintain the National Colors, the Coast Guard, and Auxiliary signs displayed there.
The Eagle will depart New Bedford Monday at 12:00 Noon but will not have
visiting hours that day.
For additional information please contact Mike McCormack, Division 6 Public
Affairs Officer, (508) 965-1075 or mkmuscgaux@verizon.net.
July 21, 2011
City of New Bedford
Office of the Mayor
Contact: Elizabeth Treadup
(508) 979-1410
etreadup@newbedford-ma.gov