U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Stratton Concludes Port Call in Puerto Princesa with Maritime Cooperation Activities

PUERTO PRINCESA, Philippines — The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Stratton (WMSL 752) departed Puerto Princesa on Monday following a series of in-port engagements with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), U.S. Ambassador MaryKay Carlson, embassy staff, and local PCG leadership. The visit marked the cutter's first international stop during its Indo-Pacific deployment.

Stratton’s crew later conducted a bilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the PCG within the country’s exclusive economic zone. The exercise featured maritime domain awareness, division tactics, maneuvering, and visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) operations.

Capt. Brian Krautler, Stratton’s commanding officer, emphasized the strong U.S.-Philippine maritime alliance, calling it “a close, collaborative partnership” during the second such deployment under his command. The MCA and pre-sail meetings included planning for future bilateral search and rescue exercises (SAREX), strengthening coordination and operational readiness.

Stratton is assigned to Destroyer Squadron 15 under the U.S. 7th Fleet, with missions focused on maritime security, safety, and cooperation throughout the Indo-Pacific. This port call marks the cutter’s third visit to the Philippines, following stops in 2019 and 2023.

Commissioned in 2012, Stratton is a 418-foot Legend-class national security cutter named after Capt. Dorothy Stratton, the first female commissioned officer in the Coast Guard. The ship is homeported in Alameda, California.