The Coast Guard christened its newest national security cutter, the Waesche (WMSL 751), during a July 26 ceremony at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Miss. Construction on Waesche concludes sometime later this year, after which the vessel will undergo sea trials. When ready, the 418-foot Waesche will join sister ship Bertholf as the second in a series of vessels aimed at expanding the Coast Guard’s reach under the ambitious Deepwater revitalization plan. Waesche, Bertholf, and six more yet-to-be-built national security cutters will offer greater range, speed, and launch-and-recover capabilities that the Coast Guard considers essential in its expanded homeland-security role.