 In 1832, Secretary of the Treasury Louis McLane ordered in writing for revenue cutters to conduct winter cruises to assist mariners in need, and Congress made the practice an official part of regulations in 1837.This was the beginning of the lifesaving mission that the later U.S. Coast Guard would be best known for worldwide.The side-wheel paddle steamer SS "Great Western" was the first purpose-built steamship to initiate regularly scheduled trans-Atlantic crossings, starting in 1838.