Coast Guard Cape Disappointment

"Coast Guard Station Cape Disappointment", situated at the mouth of the Columbia River, is the largest Coast Guard search and rescue station on the Northwest Coast, with 50 crewmembers assigned. Cape Disappointment is also the site of the oldest search and rescue station within the Thirteenth Coast Guard District.

47 foot Motor LifeboatThe station has 5 search and rescue boats, including: the 52 foot- motor lifeboat "Triumph" (52'-HW SPC), two 47 foot motor lifeboats
(47'-MLB), and three 25 foot Defender class response boats (25'-RBHS/RBS). The 52'-HW SPC and the 47'-MLB have all been designed for operations in heavy surf conditions and are capable of being rolled over by breaking swells and re-right themselves with minimal damage.

Also co-located with the station is the oldest lighthouse on the Northwest Coast of the United States, Cape Disappointment Light, marking the north side of the Columbia River Bar. Less than two miles to the northwest is North Head lighthouse, which provides a beacon for the northern approaches to the Columbia River Bar.

The station's primary missions include (1) providing search and rescue to commercial and recreational mariners within 50 nautical miles of the Columbia River entrance and (2) providing a maritime law enforcement presence near the approaches to the Columbia River including execution of Homeland Security missions. (Source: The Weather Channel)