US Coast Guard to commission 20th FRC

The U.S. Coast Guard announced it would hold a commissioning ceremony for its 20th Fast Response Cutter Lawrence Lawson on Saturday, March 18.

Prior to its formal commissioning in Cape May, the Lawrence Lawson and crew visited the Washington, D.C. area on March 6 rendering honors while passing Washington’s Tomb on Mount Vernon.

Lawrence Lawson is the second 154-foot cutter to be homeported in Cape May, New Jersey.

The Sentinel class patrol boat will perform missions such as law enforcement, search and rescue, port security, fishery patrols, drug and illegal migrant enforcement in the Mid-Atlantic.

Lawrence Lawson is named after U.S. Lifesaving Service Station Keeper Lawrence O. Lawson. Lawson and crew gained notoriety for rescuing the 18-person crew of a foundering steamship named the Calumet, on Lake Michigan, Nov. 28, 1889. The crew traveled 15 miles by train, horseback and foot attempting to fire a lifeline to the crew, but conditions proved too severe. Ultimately, Lawson and his crew rowed their surfboat to the Calumet, completing three trips in icy, gale winds to save the crew. Lawson was awarded the Gold Lifesaving Medal on Oct. 17, 1890.