US Coast Guard Cutter Midgett visits Maldives

The US Coast Guard Cutter Midgett (WMSL 757) and its crew is currently visiting Maldives.

The ship arrived on Friday, marking the first US Coast Guard ship to visit Maldives since U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Boutwell visited in 2009.

As per the US Coast guard, the Midgett’s crew will conduct professional in-port and at-sea exchanges with the Minister of Defence and the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) Coast Guard, to further strengthen the partnership between the two nations.

Speaking about the Midgett’s visit to Maldives, the commanding officer of the ship Captain Willie L. Carmichael expressed that it was an honour to be able to the first to visit Maldives since 2009.

“During our port call, we look to strengthen our ties with the Republic of Maldives, the Minister of Defence, and the Maldives National Defence Force Coast Guard, so we can build upon the partnerships that will encourage a free and open Indo-Pacific.”

Local journalists were granted the opportunity to visit the ship on Monday.

Chargé d’Affaires of US to Maldives Andrea Appell said that this visit has taken the Maldives-US relations to the next stage.

“Such activities provide the opportunity to speak on broad topics like our world, and marine safety.”

Midget was commissioned in 2019 and is one of two US Coast Guard legend-class national security cutters homeported in Honolulu. The national security cutters are 418 feet long, 54 feet wide, and have a 4,600 long-ton displacement.

Moreover, they have a top speed in excess of 28 knots, a range of 12,000 nautical miles, an endurance of up to 90 days and can hold a crew of up to 170.