Sri Lanka, Feb. 21 -- In a significant boost to regional maritime security, the former U.S. Coast Guard Cutter DECISIVE (Ex-USCGC DECISIVE) officially departed Baltimore on Friday, beginning a historic journey to join the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) fleet.

This marks the longest-ever voyage undertaken by the Sri Lanka Navy to bring a vessel home, as well as its first-ever transit of the Panama Canal.

Once commissioned into service, DECISIVE will enhance the Sri Lanka Navy's capabilities to counter drug trafficking and smuggling, conduct search and rescue operations, and safeguard vital sea lanes in the Indian Ocean that support global trade, the U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

"This transfer reinforces shar...