Spend the day at sea

Spend a day at sea with the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton, a Legend-class National Security Cutter named after Alexander Hamilton. National Security Cutters are the centerpiece of the Coast Guard’s fleet, capable of executing the most challenging operations, including supporting maritime homeland security and defense missions.

Key Terms

• Bridge – Area on a vessel where the boat driver sits  
• Maneuvering – Turning  
• Navigational picture- Everything that is around you while on a vessel. You are looking around to see what could potentially happen to you or your crew.  
• Tactical maneuvering – Turning or moving at a high rate of speed 
• Galley – Kitchen on a vessel  
• Helicopter evolutions  - Helicopter training exercises
• LSO – wears yellow – Landing Safety Officer  
• Law enforcement officer – A Coast Guard member who enforces the law on land and on the water  
• Boat driver – Coxswain 
• Launch – starting a vessel  
• Stern – Back of vessel  
• DCA- Damage control assistant   
• Propulsion – moving forward through air or water  
• Deck Department - The department of a Coast Guard shop that is responsible for maintaining and ensuring Coast Guard vessels do their jobs.  This team of people makes sure everything on a vessel that is on the outside of a ship works.    
• Drone – an aircraft without a human pilot on board. 
• Alexander Hamilton – the first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, who requested the formation of the U.S. Coast Guard  

More from the CGC Hamilton

• We’ve been told we’re too nice: The Hamilton celebrates Women’s History Month

Coloring Book

• Download the Official U.S. Coast Guard Coloring Book!

Learn more about Coast Guard missions

• Ports & Waterways Security
• Drug Interdiction
• Aids to Navigation
• Search and Rescue
• Defense Readiness
• Living Marine Resources
• Migrant Interdiction
• Marine Environmental Protection
• Ice Operations
• Other Law Enforcement