(CNS) Crews aboard two American Coast Guard cutters will be able to enjoy a little Cayman festive hospitality this Christmas and New Year when their ships visit Grand Cayman. Government said today that the USCGC Steadfast will arrive on Wednesday, 23 December, and depart on Boxing Day, Saturday 26 December. On Tuesday, 29 December, the USCGC Anacapa will arrive, departing on Monday, 4 January 2010. There will 12 officers and 63 enlisted men, under Commander J.L. Jimenez on the 210 foot-long Steadfast while the Anacapa, at 110 feet-long, carries 16 enlisted men and two officers under the command of Lieutenant M.H. Wholley
The Steadfast is currently usually deployed along the western seaboard of North and Central America and the vessel has served the Coast Guard for some 30 years. Steadfast was the first, and is one of only two cutters awarded the gold marijuana leaf, symbolizing one million pounds of marijuana seized. Legend holds Steadfast was named "El Tiburon Blanco" (Spanish for "The White Shark") by Colombian drug smugglers in the 1970’s for being such a nemesis to their illegal drug operations.
