Date: June 25, 2009

Contact: Lt. Cmdr. Tony Russell
(202) 841-1462

Coast Guard Commandant visits Charleston cutters

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C.- Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Thad Allen visited two Coast Guard cutters Thursday that are dry docked at the Detyens Navy Ship Yard in North Charleston, S.C., for maintenance.

Coast Guard Cutters Dallas and Gallatin, both 378-foot cutters homeported in Charleston, have been dry docked for about three months and are scheduled to remain at the shipyard for several more months until significant structural and mechanical repairs are complete.

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C.- Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Thad Allen meets with engineers aboard Coast Guard Cutter Dallas during a visit to the ship at the Detyens Navy Ship Yard in North Charleston, S.C., Thursday, June 25, 2009. The Dallas, a 378-foot ship homeported in Charleston, S.C., has been in a dry dock for about three months while the ship undergoes significant structural and mechanical repairs. (U.S. Coast Guard Photo/ Petty Officer 2nd Class Etta Smith)

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C.- Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Thad Allen (CENTER) walks underneath the hull of a 378-foot cutter in dry dock at the Detyens Navy Ship Yard in North Charleston, S.C., Thursday, June 25, 2009. Allen visited the cutters Dallas and Gallatin which are scheduled to be dry docked for several more months while significant structural and mechanical repairs are conducted onboard. (U.S. Coast Guard Photo/ Petty Officer 2nd Class Etta Smith)

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C.- Chief Warrant Officer Ray Bryant (LEFT) talks with Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Thad Allen about some of the projects taking place onboard Coast Guard Cutter Dallas during the ships dry-dock period at the Detyens Navy Ship Yard in North Charleston, S.C., Thursday, June 25, 2009. The Dallas, a 378-foot ship homeported in Charleston, S.C., has been in a dry dock for about three months while the ship undergoes significant structural and mechanical repairs. (U.S. Coast Guard Photo/ Petty Officer 2nd Class Etta Smith)

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C.- Capt. Robert Wagner (LEFT), the commanding officer of Coast Guard Cutter Dallas, shows Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Thad Allen work that has been done to the hull of the 378-foot ship, at the Detyens Navy Ship Yard in North Charleston, S.C., Thursday, June 25, 2009. CutterÕs Dallas and Gallatin, both homeported in Charleston, are scheduled to be dry docked for several more months while significant structural and mechanical repairs are conducted onboard. (U.S. Coast Guard Photo/ Petty Officer 2nd Class Etta Smith)

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C.- Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Thad Allen addresses the crews of cutters Dallas and Gallatin during a dry dock period at the Detyens Navy Ship Yard in North Charleston, S.C., Thursday, June 25, 2009. Both ships, homeported in Charleston, are scheduled to be dry docked for several more months while significant structural and mechanical repairs are conducted onboard. (U.S. Coast Guard Photo/ Petty Officer 2nd Class Etta Smith)