Eagle Departs For Transatlantic Tour On Saturday

A prominent New London icon will vanish from the city for most of the summer on Saturday, as the Coast Guard cutter Eagle departs on a 75th anniversary tour.

A sendoff ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. at the near the ship's docking point at . Rep. Joe Courtney and Mayor Martin Olsen will speak at the event, which was organized by the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut.

“We want as many people as possible to join with us at Fort Trumbull to show our support for the Eagle, her captain and crew who train the Coast Guard’s future leaders,” said Tony Sheridan, the chamber’s president and CEO.  “It will be fun to watch as this magnificent vessel leaves the pier and heads out to sea.  The Coast Guard is an important part of our community. Its life-saving mission and work in homeland security responsibilities are important for our nation.”

The Eagle was originally known as the Horst Wessel and was built in 1936 at the Blohm and Voss shipyard in Germany. It was seized by the United States after World War II and has called New London its home ever since. The ship, which will sail with over 140 cadets from the on board, is scheduled to arrive in Hamburg on June 3.

"While we're excited to embark on this voyage celebrating Eagle's 75 years as a sail-training ship, we'll be missing our home port and looking forward to our return to friends and family in August the moment the lines come in," said Jones.

The ship will first stop in Waterford, Ireland, on May 27. A group of Connecticut residents organized by the Chamber will meet the familiar tall ship there. The Eagle will then sail to Hamburg; London, England on June 10; Reykjavik, Iceland on June 24; Halifax, Nova Scotia on July 15; Boston, Mass. on July 22; New Bedford, Mass. on July 29; and New York City on Aug. 5.

Each year, the ship travels about 13,000 miles, makes an average of six to eight visits to other ports, and trains over 600 cadets and officer candidates.