Coast Guard’s Eagle ship docks in Savannah for weekend visit

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - Savannah’s waterfront has a new visitor this weekend that looks like it sailed straight out of a pirate movie.

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Eagle has docked in the Hostess City. The ship will be open to visitors through Sunday.

After becoming a World War II prize, the Eagle has served as a training vessel for Coast Guard Academy cadets since May 1946. The ship’s mission is to develop future officers, with each cadet spending at least six weeks on board learning seamanship, navigation and leadership skills.

Savannah is the first city the Eagle is docking in during a 106-day trip along the Eastern Seaboard and Gulf of Mexico.

The Eagle is 295 feet long with three masts and more than 22,300 square feet of sail. Its home port is the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut. The vessel is the only active square-rigger in U.S. government service.

The last time the USCG Eagle visited Savannah was in 2019.