America’s Tallest Military Ship Returns to San Francisco for First Time Since 2008

America’s tallest military ship, the U.S. Coast Guard Barque Eagle, returned to San Francisco this week for the first time since 2008. The majestic vessel docked at Pier 17 and is open to the public for free tours on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The Eagle is the only active-duty sailing vessel in the U.S. military. At 295 feet long, it serves as the Coast Guard Academy’s premier training ship. This summer, it is home to around 150 cadets who are undergoing hands-on seamanship and navigation training during a six-week course at sea.

CNN's Luz Pena was invited aboard for a rare glimpse into cadet life. To get there, she had to transfer mid-sea from a moving boat—a tense but successful maneuver.

Rear Admiral Joseph Buzzella, who was aboard the Eagle during its last San Francisco visit, welcomed the crew back under the Golden Gate Bridge, calling it an honor. "We love the Coast Guard Cutter Eagle," Buzzella said. "It’s a war class from WWII and has been a cadet training vessel for decades."

Captain Jessica Rozzi-Ochs, the first woman to command the Eagle, once trained on this very ship as a cadet in 1996. Now, she’s inspiring the next generation. “They learn the basics of seamanship and navigation,” Rozzi-Ochs said. “They learn to overcome their fears.”

First Class Cadet Maddox Holmes-Selby led a brief tour, pointing out plaques commemorating every voyage the Eagle has made since 1946.

The Eagle next sails to Seattle after its San Francisco stop, continuing its mission as a symbol of goodwill and hands-on learning for the Coast Guard’s future leaders.

Credit: CNN Newsource

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