The former US Coast Guard cutter John Midgett, one of the service’s last three Hamilton-class high endurance cutters, is headed for its new home in Vietnam.
The cutter, now known CSB-8021, got underway from Seattle on June 1 and will join CSB-8020, which was transferred to Vietnam in May 2017.
Ex John Midgett is scheduled to arrive in Vietnam around July 10.
Official transfer of the ex-John Midgett to the Vietnam Coast Guard took place in August 2020 and was followed by an eight-week dry dock repair and maintenance availability.
The work took place at Lake Union Shipyard in Seattle and 88 Vietnam Coast Guard crewmembers were trained in the vessel’s use and maintenance. The normal transfer schedule was extended because of COVID-related international travel delays. The overhaul work, equipment, technical assistance and training is valued at around $17 million.
Earlier reports said the former USCG ships Morgenthau and John Midgett could be joined by a third ship in the class, the former Douglas Munro, which was the last ship in its class to retire earlier this year.
However, the coast guard said the ex-Douglas Munro is slated for transfer to Sri Lanka in the fall of 2021.
The high endurance cutters have proven to be a popular second-hand asset, and many of the retired ships are now on a second lease of life with the navies of Bangladesh, Nigeria, the Philippines and Sri Lanka.
In total, 137 vessels have been delivered to 32 countries through the EDA program since 1998, including motor lifeboats, tenders, patrol boats, and medium and high endurance cutters. In addition to helping build and sustain global maritime partnerships in support of the Coast Guard’s national maritime strategy, EDA transfers also help the service avoid the cost of disposing of these vessels, an avoidance totaling $150.4 million since 1998.
