New Cutter’s Logo Created by Tattoo Artist from County

NORTH CAPE MAY – The U.S. Coast Guard’s newest patrol boat in Cape May will boast a logo designed by a local tattoo artist. He called the opportunity to design it the “highlight” of his 30-plus-year career.
Tommy Peters, who has a business in North Cape May, said he has done “a lot” of work on Coast Guard members over the years. “One of my clients asked me if I’d be interested in working on the logo after seeing my work, and I said yes. What an amazing opportunity for me,” he said.
Boatswain’s Mate First Class (E-6) Tyler White has been a customer of Peters since coming to the area about a year ago. “We shopped it (the design) out to a couple of local artists and really liked Tommy’s ideas. The fact that he’s a local artist and a veteran makes it special,” White said. He’s been in the Coast Guard 11 years. 
Peters, who served in the Navy, said White had an idea of what the crew was looking for, but wanted his interpretation and style. “The name of the patrol boat is the Crocodile,” Peters noted, “and it was based in Florida until it was revamped and updated. It will be in Cape May now.”
White said the 87-foot boat was built in 2008. “Every four years, the Coast Guard rotates the home port, so we wanted something that reflected its new mission,” he explained. “In St. Petersburg (Fla.), the logo reflected its mission there.”
Each of the 87-foot cutters is named for a sea animal; the others ported in Cape May are named Mako and Ibis.
“With a name like Crocodile, I wanted the logo to convey something powerful, something solid,” Peters said. “The focal point of the logo is the crocodile eye, which is based on a real eye. Designing something was a little tricky because the logo will be enlarged and needs to look crisp. At the same time, the eye can be used as a decal.”
Peters said he’s always had a passion for art and has done all sorts of tattoos over the years.
“The hardest ones are those that are a memorial portrait,” Peters said. “If I’m asked to do a portrait of someone famous, like Marilyn Monroe, everyone likes it when it’s done. But when you are doing a portrait of a loved one, there is a lot of pressure to get it right because the family will see it, and may not like it.”
Peters is also designing a new logo and patch for the Cape Mayhem Police Bike Tour to Washington, D.C.
“I’ve had an amazing career and chance to do some amazing tattoos, but I’m also looking forward to retiring when I can focus on some of my other interests,” he added.
To contact Karen Knight, email kknight@cmcherald.com.