State

PLACES YOU CAN VISIT: An Icebreaker For Sunny Wilmington •*!\orlhu ind*' is lh«* laUvsl in a 200- year line. ". . . men sign aboard on icebreaker for the mystery of the undiscovered in the Arctic and Antorctic . . The ship's crew numbers 135 enlisted men ond 14 officers. By !\©LA S. !>’AHEAU The big red ship on the waterfront in downtown Wilmington is carrying on a tradition more than 200 years old. It’s the U.S. Coast Guard cutter North - wind. occupying the same spot on the Cape Fear River as the Dilligence in 1792. The 269 ft. icebreaker slipped into her new berth at Wilmington last De¬ cember after many months duty in the Arctic Ocean. Relocated in 1978 from Baltimore, the crew and townspeople have developed a camaraderie that pleases the ship's commander. Cap¬ tain Roycc Garrett, himself a Tarheel from Greensboro. During the Azalea Festival in April 3.000 visitors toured the ship. Ensign Jim Brewster of Albany. N.Y. greets visitors and conducts tours on the main deck, helicopter flight deck and pilot house. Brewster says the questions range from "how thick is the hull?" to "where is the helicopter? "Visitors are welcome on weekend afternoons be¬ tween I and 4. An Old Tradition Ensign Brewster, after researching Wilmington's Coast Guard tradition, says Dilligence was the first vessel as¬ signed to the port, and was followed by Dilligence II in 1798. "New Bern originally had the cutters but Secretary of the Treasury. Alexander Hamilton, realized the customs collector was lax in his duties and decided to move it to Wilmington." he explains. "There's still a spirit of adventure in today’s young people." declares Captain Garrett. "It sounds corny, but men sign on an icebreaker for the m.ngton Hot been Some port to толу ships during the post 207 yeo«s •niton there (one to four o'clock on weekend oftemoons) until the deports The shopo of "NorthwindV hull, not entirely opporent in thi» photo, resembles о footboll cut in holf length-wise The «lope of the conical bow allows the «hip to nde portiolly on fop of the ice, ond by sheer Coptom Royce Gorreft acknowledges the crowd's welcome, upon orrivol of USCG leebreoker "North- wind" m Wilmington He iso Tor Heel from Greens¬ boro ("Stor-Ne-s" photos by Wayne Upchurch) mystery of the undiscovered in the Arctic and Antarctic." With 23 years in Coast Guard service, this is his fourth ship and his Hi st icebreaker ex¬ perience. The crew voices the excitement of seeing polar bears walking on ice. pen¬ guins in their native habitat, close-up view s of the northern lights, seals and walrus that provide entertainment as crewmen lean over the rails, and the sight of a submerged submarine sur¬ facing through a crust of ice. Captain Garrett has a slide presentation of pictures taken by him and the crew during their voyages. leaving In August The cutter will leave port in August to resume duties at sea. In the mean¬ time the engines arc undergoing repair and shipboard life goes on for the crew of 150 men. About forty crew members live ashore w ith their families; the re¬ mainder stay on ship. During the sum¬ mer duty, hours are adjusted so they rotate around afternoons and evenings off for the crew to pursue surfing, fishing, camping, canoeing and other activities in town and at the beach. It is noted that the crew changes every 18 months or two years and when the ship leaves Wilmington in August it will get underway with a large percentage of new personnel. Ensign Brewster says Northwind w ill probably go to Guantanamo Bay. Cuba, for three weeks refresher train¬ ing in August before reporting for further duty. The 6.000 ton ship is painted red to 25 THE STATE, MAY 1979