Over the next 27 years Venturous changed her homeport several times, finally settling in Astoria, Oregon before being decommissioned at the United States Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore, Maryland on February 11, 1994, to undergo an 18-month Major Maintenance Availability.

[1] Initially designed for search and rescue (SAR) efforts, Venturous participated in and led many SAR missions including the recovery of the abandoned sailboat Jazz Limited off the coast of Mexico, towing the disabled fishing vessel Crusader to San Diego, California, and towing the Moon Spinner to Pelican, Alaska.

[1] From June 1988 to May 1992, Venturous earned three Coast Guard Unit Commendations, excelling in Alaskan patrols, aiding in the Exxon Valdez oil spill cleanup and enforcing fisheries laws.

In January 1999 Venturous' boarding team discovered 9,500 pounds (4,300 kg) of cocaine aboard the MV Cannes, at the time the tenth largest seizures in U.S. history.

[1] Subsequently Venturous has been involved in a cross-section of the Coast Guard missions, including the interdiction of 8,400 lb (3,800 kg) of cocaine and 3,200 lb (1,500 kg) of marijuana, the apprehension and repatriation of 950 illegal migrants attempting to entire south Florida and Puerto Rico and the apprehension of many smugglers responsible for these illegal ventures, the dramatic rescue of a woman adrift at sea for more than two days in the Mona Pass following the capsizing of the migrant vessel she was attempting to illegally enter the US aboard, and the delivery of 34,000 lb (15,000 kg) of humanitarian supplies to Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic (DR) to assist victims of flooding in that country and eastern Haiti.