The U.S. Coast Guard transferred a High Endurance Cutter to the Vietnam Coast Guard during a ceremony in Honolulu on May 25 morning. 

The ship, which will be renamed CSB 8020, is expected to improve the Vietnam Coast Guard’s maritime domain awareness, increase its capacity to perform maritime law enforcement operations, and conduct search and rescue and other humanitarian response operations.

“This cutter provides a concrete and significant symbol of the U.S-Vietnam Comprehensive Partnership,” said U.S. Coast Guard Rear Adm. Michael J. Haycock, assistant commandant for acquisition and chief acquisition officer. 

Capt. Ted St. Pierre, commanding officer of former Coast Guard Cutter Morgenthau, salutes during a transfer of command ceremony at Coast Guard Base Honolulu, May 25, 2017.

“The Coast Guard is honored to see this vessel continue to preserve global peace and prosperity as a part of the Vietnam Coast Guard.”

The CSB 8020 was transferred to the Vietnam Coast Guard from the U.S. Government through the Excess Defense Articles (EDA) program. 

Lt. Gen. Nguyen Quang Dam, commandant, Vietnam coast guard, and Rear Adm. Michael J. Haycock, assistant commandant for acquisition and chief acquisition officer, U.S. Coast Guard, shake hands during a transfer ceremony at Coast Guard Base Honolulu, May 25, 2017. The cutter, now CSB-8020, will continue to serve the maritime community on the opposite side of the Pacific.

The EDA offers excess military equipment to U.S. partner and allied countries in support of their military and security modernization efforts.

PV