Security Levels
HISTORY
The Coast Guard Cutter JARVIS is a 378-foot High Endurance Cutter homeported in Honolulu, Hawai'i. JARVIS had her keel laid on September 9, 1970 and was launched at Avondale Shipyard in New Orleans on April 24, 1971. She was originally commissioned in Honolulu on August 4, 1972, the Coast Guard's 182nd anniversary. Jarvis holds the honor of being the first Coast Guard vessel to be commissioned in the Hawaiian Islands.
In July of 1990, JARVIS was decommissioned and began the Fleet Renovation and Modernization program (FRAM) at Todd Shipyard in Seattle, Washington. The $55 million stem to stern overhaul included engineering, combat systems, electronics, and habitability upgrades which have greatly enhanced JARVIS' mission performance capabilities. Since recommissioning in December of 1992, JARVIS had participated in Alaskan Fisheries Patrols, a Western Pacific Nation Building tour, and several exercises with U.S. foreign navies.
The Cutter is named after Captain David H. Jarvis of the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service. Captain Jarvis served aboard cutters HAMILTON, RUSH, and BEAR. He devoted the majority of his career to pioneering and developing maritime activities in the Bering Sra off if Alaska's northwest coast. While assigned to the BEAR, he led the famous three man expedition to save 300 whalers stranded off Barrow Point, Alaska. Trapped by ice, the harsh environment, and a dwindling food supply, the whalers had little chance of surviving. Through the relentless artic winter, Captain Jarvis' expedition drove a herd of reindeer across 1,500 miles of Artic ice and snow to rescue the starving whalers. For his heroism, he was awarded a special Congressional Gold Medal.
JARVIS' mission areas today include Law Enforcement, Search and Rescue, Military Readiness and Marine Environmental Protection. JARVIS is outfitted with two types of propulsion systems. The first system consists of two diesel engines which areused for normal cruising. These 3600 shaft horsepower Fairbanks-Morse diesels combined with JARVIS' fuel capacity enable the ship to cruise nearly 16,000 nautical miles at a speed of 12 knots. The second system uses two Pratt and Whitney gas turbine engines similar to those found on jet aircraft. Together they produce 36,000 horsepower and can propel the ship at speeds in excess of 28 knots. Her crew includes 21 officers and 157 enlisted men and women who are committed to the ship's motto: Dedicated to Excellence.
Adobe Acrobat Reader (PDF)