The Honolulu-based Coast Guard Cutter Walnut will deploy to the Gulf of Mexico today to assist in oil spill response efforts.

"The crew of the Walnut is ready and willing to utilize our oil spill equipment and training to assist the residences of the Gulf Coast in this multiagency response," said Lt. Andrea Holt, executive officer of the Walnut. "Even though we will be deploying more than 5,000 miles from our homeport in Honolulu, the crew is ready to meet this challenge."

The Walnut will be deployed for four months.

In addition to its oil skimming equipment, the cutter is equipped with satellite, radio and communications equipment that will allow it to direct recovery vessels working with them.

Coast Guard Cutter Walnut is one of 16 cutters designed with oil skimming capability and one of several responding to the oil spill.