The US Coast Cutter Eagle arrived in Bermuda today to a warm greeting by Premier Craig Cannonier, Governor George Fergusson and US Counsul General Robert Settje.

Mr Settje praised the vessel, calling the 295ft square rigger one of the finest ships in the US fleet.

“It's wonderful that they have come to Bermuda on a goodwill mission,” he said. “They have been here in the past, and we hope they continue to come to Bermuda, but we really, really happy they are here today.

The Eagle and it's 80-person crew is engaged in the training of more than a hundred cadets from the US Naval Academy and Coast Guard Academy. While on the Island, the ship will be open for free tours, and the cadets will lend their support to several community projects.

Captain Wes Pulver said he and the crew are thrilled to be in Bermuda as part of their training mission, noting the crew have been at sea since May 9 and spent around 70 percent of that time driven by sail and only sail.

He stressed the importance of sail training in the modern Coast Guard, saying: “For one, in the Coast Guard you have to respect the weather. This vessel was built 77 years ago with the idea of bringing crew members together in the weather.

“It takes a lot of hard work, a lot of leadership and for many of these young men and women this is their first chance to sail.

“We put them in the weather. They get cold, they get tired, they get wet but those are the conditions of the Coast Guard. We tend to be cold and wet and tired very often but we execute our missions.”

l The Eagle will be open for tours this afternoon between 2pm and 7pm, tomorrow between 10am and 4pm, and between 10am and 7pm on Monday.