ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) — The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) decommissioned an offshore patrol vessel after more than 50 years of service Wednesday.

According to a release, the vessel, coined the Gulf Sentry, was built in 1967 by Sewart Seacraft and served across multiple agencies, beginning with the U.S. Air Force as MR-85-1603, where it retrieved missiles from test ranges for 26 years.

In 1994, the Gulf Sentry was acquired by NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service and loaned to the Florida Marine Patrol, where it became vital to local fishermen, remaining in service through the FMP’s transition into FWC in 2000. • Credit: Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission • Credit: Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission • Credit: Florida Fish

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