The USCGC Sherman is a 115m long ship equipped with state of art weapons and machinery. Once the ship is joined the SLN fleet, she will take the place as the largest platform to be held by the SLN. She will be utilized to patrol and surveillance missions in the deep seas around Sri Lanka providing the maritime security and assistance to search and rescue operations. She holds the record of confiscating the largest amount of Cocaine (17 tons) while she was serving in the USCG.

The ship was ceremonially decommissioned by Rear Admiral Haycock, Assistant Commandant Acquisition and Chief Acquisition Officer of USCG and she was took over by the Commander of the SL Navy, who handed over the command to Captain ArunaThennakoon, the designated Commanding Officer of the ship.

The ceremony was attended by Sri Lankan Consul in Hawaii Mr. Bede Cooray, RAdm Haycock-the Assistant Commandant Acquisition and Chief Acquisition Officer of USCG, RAdm Marc. H. Dalton-Director Maritime Operations for US Pacific fleet, Captain A.Williams- the former Commanding Officer of USCGC Sherman, Captain T. Rasmussen-Commanding Officer Base Honolulu, Mr.TodReinert- Deputy Chief Officer of International Acquisitions and Sri Lankan Expatriates in Hawaii.

In parallel to the ceremony, the Commander of the Navy held cordial discussions with the Captain T. Rasmussen, Base Commander US Coast Guard Honolulu and praised him for the enormous support given by the USCG base to the SLN ship’s crew.The designated Sri Lankan Navy crew of the ship is scheduled to undergo training on the ship an estimated 40 days of sailing across the Pacific and Indian Ocean before they take her home by early April 2019.