The fourth U.S.-donated Coast Guard cutter to the Sri Lanka Navy has set sail from the United States, marking the beginning of what is set to become the longest single sea voyage ever undertaken by a Sri Lankan naval vessel.
P628, formerly the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter “Decisive,” departed from the U.S. Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore on Friday and is en route to Sri Lanka. The vessel will travel approximately 14,775 nautical miles over a planned 77-day passage before arriving in Trincomalee, tentatively on May 8, 2026.
The ship is commanded by Captain Gayan Wickramasooriya and carries a crew of 86 Sri Lanka Navy personnel, including 14 officers and 72 sailors. The voyage will include several scheduled port calls aimed at ensuring operational readiness and strengthening diplomatic ties along the route.
The journey will also mark a historic first for the Sri Lanka Navy, as P628 becomes the first Sri Lankan naval vessel to transit the Panama Canal.
The acquisition of the cutter under the United States’ Excess Defense Articles programme further enhances Sri Lanka’s maritime capabilities. Once commissioned into active service, the vessel is expected to bolster maritime surveillance across Sri Lanka’s Exclusive Economic Zone, strengthen counter-narcotics and anti-smuggling operations, support search and rescue missions, and contribute to safeguarding vital Indian Ocean sea lanes.
With this transfer, Sri Lanka now operates four former U.S. Coast Guard cutters, reflecting deepening maritime cooperation and interoperability between the United States and Sri Lanka.
The United States said it remains committed to supporting Sri Lanka’s maritime security efforts and fostering continued collaboration at sea. (Newswire)
