USCGC James

History

Huntington Ingalls Industries, Ingalls Shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi was awarded the $482.8 million construction contract September 9, 2011. Construction officially began May 14, 2012 with the ceremony marking the cutting of the first 100 tons of steel. The keel was laid on May 17, 2013. The cutter's sponsor is James' great great niece, Charlene Benoit. She is the great grand daughter of Joshua James' brother, Samuel James.

James was launched on May 3, 2014. She was christened August 16, 2014 and was commissioned in Boston on August 8, 2015.

James served as a command and control platform in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Sept. 25, 2017. The cutter's crew deployed to aid in Hurricane Maria response operations and the ship's communications capabilities were used to help first responders coordinate efforts on the island.

On August 8, 2022, James was damaged when the cutter ran aground while underway. After an investigation Captain Marc Brandt was permanently relieved of duties as the commanding officer of James.

In April 2024, James will deploy to Argentina for training exercise against illegal fishing with the Prefectura Naval Argentina but all of this lacks the authorization of Argentine Congress, required by law 25,880 on the entry of foreign military personnel. The ship that arrived in Buenos Aires on April 29, 2024 does not have authorization from Argentine Congress, as required by law, although there are controversies about this interpretation of the law .