USCGC Confidence ( WMEC - 619 ) The USCGC Confidence ( WMEC - 619 ) is a United States Coast Guard medium endurance cutter of the Reliance Class currently on active duty . History . Construction of the U . S . Coast Guard Cutter " Confidence " began at the United States Coast Guard Yard in Curtis Bay , Maryland , in 1965 and was completed in 1966 . Fifth of 16 vessels in the class , " Confidence " was designed for search and rescue , law enforcement , and alien migrant interdiction operations ( AMIO ) . Originally assigned to the Seventeenth Coast Guard District to support operations in Kodiak , Alaska , in the spring of 1983 , following 17 years in Alaskan waters , " Confidence " was reassigned to the Thirteenth Coast Guard District and was homeported in Port Angeles , Washington . During her time in the Pacific Northwest , " Confidence " ’ s crew seized 17 foreign and U . S . vessels for violations of U . S . law . In January 1986 , " Confidence " and her crew seized the Panamanian freighter “ Eagle 1 ” and its cargo of 506 pounds of cocaine . This was the largest maritime seizure of cocaine on the west coast at the time . " Confidence " was decommissioned and sent to the United States Coast Guard Yard in February 1987 for a major overhaul , referred to as a Midlife Maintenance Availability . Modifications included the installation of a new electronics package to increase the ship ’ s effectiveness , new engines and smokestacks to increase efficiency , and habitability was improved . In October 1988 , " Confidence " was commissioned back into service and sent to her new homeport in Port Canaveral , Florida . Now the ship is normally assigned to patrol the waters off the southern coast of the United States , the Gulf of Mexico , and the Caribbean . Her primary missions are Counter Drug operations , Alien Migrant Interdiction Operations ( AMIO ) , Homeland Security Operations , fisheries law enforcement , and Search and Rescue ( SAR ) . Since the fall of 1991 , " Confidence " has been heavily involved in AMIO , including the interdiction of Haitian , Cuban , and Dominican Republic migrants attempting to illegally enter the U . S . One highlight of these operations was " Confidence " ’ s participation in Operation Able Vigil in 1993 , and rescued 1 , 123 Cuban migrants in less than 4 weeks . The busiest day resulted in the interdiction of 346 migrants from 46 separate rafts and boats in just 16 hours . In the spring of 1992 , " Confidence " participated in Operation Able Manner , interdicting 428 Haitian migrants . Later that year , the ship was the primary platform for Operation Restore Dignity off the coast of Haiti , recovering 78 Haitians who perished when their ferry sank In 2001 , " Confidence " was outfitted with an Over the Horizon ( OTH ) Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat , designed to transport law enforcement teams at high speeds for long distances independent of the cutter . From January 2003 until June 2005 , " Confidence " interdicted over 1 , 100 Cuban , Haitian , and Dominican migrants with several noteworthy cases . In November 2004 , " Confidence " rescued 82 migrants from a 28 - foot ( 8 . 5 m ) Haitian sailing vessel taking on water off the coast of the Bahamas . In January 2005 , " Confidence " crewmembers rescued 127 migrants in 8 - foot ( 2 . 4 m ) seas from a 40 - foot ( 12 m ) , grossly overloaded Dominican yola . In June , 2005 during a ten day period , " Confidence " safely intercepted 162 Haitians from a 40 - foot ( 12 m ) vessel on the Great Bahama Bank , seven Cubans from a makeshift vessel sinking in the Old Bahama Channel and 111 Haitians in a 30 - foot ( 9 . 1 m ) vessel in 9 - foot ( 2 . 7 m ) seas north of Great Inagua , Bahamas . The year 2006 was the 40th anniversary of " Confidence " ’ s initial commissioning . The original life expectancy of this cutter class was 30 years , but it is expected she will remain in service an additional 10 - 15 years . During her years of faithful service , " Confidence " has been awarded the United States Secretary of Transportation ’ s Gold Medal for Outstanding Achievement , 6 Coast Guard Unit Commendations , 5 Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendations , 3 National Defense Service Medals , 4 Humanitarian Service Medals , and 4 Special Operations Ribbons . Following the ship ’ s 2007 Tailored Annual Cutter Training , " Confidence " earned her 10th consecutive Coast Guard Battle " E " Ribbon for Operational Excellence .