Legare to return from deployment Thurs.

PORTSMOUTH, Va. - The Coast Guard announced Tuesday that the Cutter Legare will return to the Coast Guard Integrated Support Command in Portsmouth Thursday following a three-month deployment.

The cutter has been operating along the West African coast, serving as the Africa Partnership Station (APS) platform for the Navy's 6th Fleet. While there, the crew performed joint law enforcement operations with naval services and maritime enforcement agencies from Morocco, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Cape Verde.

The cutter’s work in Sierra Leone produced that nation’s largest ever maritime law enforcement case when a joint boarding team consisting of Legare crew and members of Sierra Leone’s Maritime Wing boarded and seized the fishing vessel Yu Feng for illegally fishing in Sierra Leone’s waters. Yu Feng’s crew faces fines of $1 million and forfeiture of its catch and vessel.

Legare’s crew also completed two community relations projects while deployed, painting classrooms at the Ndiaye School in Dakar, Senegal and the Children’s Emergency Center in Praia, Cape Verde.

APS is an initiative aimed at improving maritime safety and security for the continent of Africa through joint maritime operations and other collaborative activities with African partner countries.

Vice Adm. Robert J. Papp, Jr., Commander, Coast Guard Atlantic Area will present the Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation to the ship and its crew for exceptionally meritorious service as the primary APS platform while they transit through Hampton Roads to their homeport in Portsmouth.