Update – SEEN OFF WEST SEATTLE: US Coast Guard tall ship Eagle

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news

12:10 PM: That’s a U.S. Coast Guard file photo of the Eagle, a tall ship the USCG uses for training. It’s on the way to visit the USCG station on the downtown waterfront, so you’ll see it in Elliott Bay later today (we just checked Vessel Finder, and it’s in the North Sound, about to turn southward along Whidbey Island, traveling at 11 knots right now so likely a few hours out).

P.S. Checking the WSB archives, we covered a visit by the Eagle in 2008.

3:18 PM: And that was the last time it visited here, according to this USCG news release which includes info about public tours the next two days. Meantime, VesselFinder shows that the Eagle is just passing West Point right now, so it should be in Elliott Bay soon.

4:42 PM: Thanks to Steven Rice for the photo as Eagle sailed into the bay:

Jake July 8, 2025 (12:20 pm)

FYI, this is a Nazi ship. It should not be glorified, despite its repurposing.

WSB July 8, 2025 (1:00 pm)

It has been an American ship for almost 80 years, according to this long and fascinating story about it (by British journalists!):
https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-33543706
JB July 8, 2025 (2:37 pm)

Hi Jake, former EAGLE sailor here – you’re right. The USA took this ship as a war prize; story goes that this ship was the only war prize the USCG wanted and sent personnel over to secure both the negotiations for it and the vessel itself. The vessel was originally named for a Nazi. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horst_Wessel

Aside from a name plate here and there, all of the original ship has been replaced with US steel and metal. Every USCG officer has received training onboard this ship since it entered our service. It would be a real shame to dismiss this inanimate object because of its’ roots and thereby dismiss the entirety of the history surrounding it.
- William Butsch II July 8, 2025 (10:00 pm)
  
  How long will it be in Seattle?
  - Steven July 10, 2025 (2:43 pm)
    
    July 9-11. Tours July 9-10. Leaves on the 11th.
- Stonehorse July 10, 2025 (8:48 pm)
  
  My father used to tell a story about the Eagle. He was 17, doing his first Coast Guard sea service on a lightship off Cape Cod, and the guy on watch woke him up and told him there’s a ghost outside. They both went up and saw a white sailing ship going by in the fog, and went down to wake up the Chief and tell him there’s a ghost outside. Chief went up, said shit, that’s just the Eagle, and went back to bed.
Dan July 8, 2025 (10:09 pm)

Yeah, it’s true. Adolf Hitler himself was present for it’s original launching in 1936. It’s a nice boat, fortunate that it survived the war in Europe and was able to be repurposed by the US.
Rhonda July 9, 2025 (10:49 pm)

So are all the Volkswagens and Porsches in West Seattle, Jake.

Lucy July 8, 2025 (1:45 pm)

What a beautiful ship! I hope I can take the tour!

Natty RAD! July 8, 2025 (11:17 pm)

Per USCG website:U.S. Coast Guard Barque Eagle (WIX 327) will visit Seattle for the first time since 2008 and be open to visitors on July 9 and 10.Eagle will be moored at Pier 66 and will offer free public tours the following dates and times:

Wednesday, July 9 (1 – 4 p.m.)
Thursday, July 10 (10:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.)

Link for more info: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/4235900/us-coast-guard-barque-eagle-to-visit-seattle/

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