USCGC Resolute ( WMEC - 620 ) USCGC " Resolute " ( WMEC - 620 ) is a United States Coast Guard medium endurance cutter . History . The name " Resolute " carries a tradition of pride and professionalism in the service of the public . The Coast Guard ' s first cutter " Resolute " was a top - sail schooner built and commissioned in 1867 . This first " Resolute " was homeported in Key West , Florida , and took on the missions of smuggling interdiction as well as search and rescue . The current cutter " Resolute " is very different in size and construction but the missions remain the same . " Resolute " is well known for her long and productive history . The sixth of sixteen s , " Resolute " was the first of her class to be powered by two Alco - B diesel engines . " Resolute " ' s keel was laid at the United States Coast Guard Yard , Curtis Bay , Maryland , in May 1965 . She was commissioned 8 December 1966 . Since that time she has seen several different homeports including San Francisco , California ; Alameda , California ; Astoria , Oregon ; and her current home port of St . Petersburg , Florida . " Resolute " has been decorated on several occasions . She has done well during Refresher Training ( REFTRA ) , earning eight REFTRA " E ' s " for overall excellence in simulated battle and damage scenarios . " Resolute " has earned two Coast Guard Unit Commendation awards for exceptional work in separate Search and Rescue ( SAR ) cases . In 1981 , " Resolute " extinguished a fire aboard the tug " DeFelice " alongside a San Francisco fuel pier . Two " Resolute " crewmembers entered the burning tug and retrieved her injured occupants . Several of " Resolute " s crew were injured during this operation while they fought desperately to save the vessel and crew . In 1982 , " Resolute " earned a Meritorious Unit Commendation for protecting an from potentially dangerous demonstrators . In 1986 , after successfully completing hundreds of SAR cases and fisheries boardings , " Resolute " saw her first drug bust . The seizure of MV " Pamnico " and the arrest of the vessel ' s crew resulted in the interdiction of over of marijuana headed for the streets of the United States . " Resolute " exercised her multi - mission capabilities during her tour of duty in Astoria , Oregon . On numerous occasions , " Resolute " was called to assist vessels in distress . Environmental protection was " Resolute " s primary calling when she was tasked with patrolling US fishery protection zones . " Resolute " also responded to assist in the cleanup of the Exxon Valdez oil spill disaster in Alaska . " Resolute " was decommissioned at the United States Coast Guard Yard in 1994 for a major refurbishment . Following this yard period , she was recommissioned and continues to meet diverse challenges off the Southeast United States and in the Caribbean Sea . " Resolute " escorted the MV " Yalta " from the Windard Passage to the Port of Tampa , Florida from 27 June – 1 July 2003 . Members of " Resolute " s boarding team and Rescue and Assistance detail were directly responsible for the salvage , safe navigation , operation and security of " Yalta " , her crew , and over 4 tons of cocaine during the transit . From 5 – 25 July 2003 , " Resolute " participated in TACT ( Tailored Annual Cutter Training ) . The training included such activities as man overboard , anchoring , towing , swept channel , general emergency , collision , gun shoot and general quarters drills . For participation and successful completion of all drills " Resolute " won the Battle E Ribbon from United States Coast Guard Atlantic Area ( LANTAREA ) , her second award in two years . Deepwater Horizon Response . " Resolute " was part of the flotilla used to respond to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico . The United States Government billed BP $ 19 , 000 per hour for the ship ' s presence . In Fiction . " Resolute " appears in the second chapter of the Dale Brown novel " Hammerheads " where , armed as she would be in wartime ( 1 × OTO Melara Mk 75 76 mm / 62 caliber naval gun , 6 × . 50 caliber ( 12 . 7 mm ) machine guns ) , the ship becomes involved in a gun - battle with a heavily armed freighter used by a Colombian cartel to smuggle cocaine into the United States .