PORTLAND – The crew of a Portland-based Coast Guard cutter has boarded vessels in the Persian Gulf in search of weapons and Iraqi leaders, and escorted a ship with humanitarian aid up a channel lined with mines.

The 110-foot cutter Wrangell was one of six Coast Guard vessels deployed to the Middle East in February to assist in the war with Iraq. When in Maine, the Wrangell’s typical tasks include checking fishing boats for fishing or safety violations and escorting cruise ships into Portland Harbor.