Former USCG cutter Naushon decommissioned in Homer

A decommissioning ceremony was held on Friday, March 22, for the former U.S. Coast Guard cutter Naushon.

Friends and family members of the crew, along with curious community members gathered at the very end of Freight Dock Road on the Homer Spit for a sunny ceremony interspersed with birdsong and a warm spring breeze.

The vessel served 39 years in Alaska and has been stationed in Homer since 2016. The crew, led by Lt. Ross Markham, was commended on Friday for their dedication and achievements, including more than 8,000 hours of patrol time, 900 law enforcement boardings, and the completion of 50 search and rescue missions.

In a speech on Friday during the ceremony, Homer Mayor Rachel Lord said she was delighted to learn that the Naushon began its service in Key West, Florida, which happened to be where her own father, a “proud retiree of the Coast Guard” began his service as well. She said that as a Coast Guard-designated city, Homer is proud of its deep and enduring relationship with the USCG.

“This designation is not just the title,” said Lord. “It is a reflection of the mutual respect, the partnership and the gratitude that we share with the men and women who have served here. The Coast Guard has been and continues to be a vital part of the fabric of our community and the Naushon has played an essential role in that story.

“Since her arrival, Naushon and her crew have stood watch over our waters, our Mariners and our fisheries. The Naushon has been a symbol of not only steadfast service and vigilance but also partnership and community. Today, as we gather to honor the years of service, we also honor the people who have brought her to life, the officers and enlisted personnel who have served on her decks, maintained her readiness and carried out permissions with professionalism, courage and care. It is your dedication and sacrifice that we also recognize today.”

Rear Adm. Megan Dean, commander of the 17th Coast Guard District, was in attendance at the ceremony as well, honoring Lt. Markham with a commendation medal for “outstanding achievement, unwavering dedication and exceptional leadership” while serving as commanding officer of the Naushon from June 2024 to March 2025. Lt. Markham was noted for resolving more than 150 overdue maintenance discrepancies, enabling two successful 1,200-nautical-mile transits across the Gulf of Alaska, and leading a 20-hour search for four boaters lost in Kachemak Bay.

During his speech, Lt. Markham spoke on endurance and highlighted the fact that originally the Naushon was only expected to serve 10 years. Nearly 40 years later, it stands as an example of its crew’s dedication. Lt. Markham said that while the Naushon is no longer commissioned, the value of endurance will continue to remain a staple on the ship during the next few months, with its upcoming voyage of more than 7,000 nautical miles to South America.

“I give you a challenge today,” said Lt. Markham, on Friday. “That as you proudly honor this vessel’s tried and true history, you also aim to face future periods of uncertainty head on with an unrelenting devotion to duty.”

The cutter will not be directly replaced. Instead, its former service area will be covered by a fleet of three, 154-foot cutters based out of Kodiak.