Page 30: of Marine News Magazine (January 2012)

30MNJanuary 2012 Hi-Tech, innovative patrol boats are being churned out by domes- tic boatbuilders.by Joe Keefe ON PATROL In the midst of ongoing fears about overcapacity on cer- tain blue water roots and what that means for global ship- building, the market for smaller profile craft for govern- ment and military sectors seems to be ticking along with enough steam to keep smaller and second tier yards busy for some time to come. Beyond this, significantly large contracts are still being realized. Innovative and interesting craft are being built for all sectors, but the demand for smaller military and patrol/response boat models is certainly seeing strength. The new emphasis on smaller, more versatile craft for military and law enforcement applications coincides directly with the realization that global piracy, terrorism and crime missions cannot be fought effectively any longer using the large footprint of the traditional warship. This month, we take a look at some perfect examples of this metric; with some entries from familiar names and new players, alike. Taking a Bite out of Crime Residents along the Ohio River will soon see a new Boston Whaler 25-foot Guardian on patrol. More than $3.4 billion in goods is transported annually via the river, but recent risk assessments revealed that law enforcement was not equipped to adequately cover the waterway. A new local task force, created to provide seamless law enforcement and emergency coverage along the river, received a grant of $140,000 from FEMA and Ohio?s State Department of Economic and Community Development to purchase a Boston Whaler 25-foot Guardian patrol boat from Brunswick Commercial and Government Products . The 25-foot Guardian is equipped for law enforcement, fire, and rescue operations. The boat is powered by dual 150 horsepower Mercury Marine Verado outboard engines, which are protected by an aluminum crash rail. A dive door on the port side of the craft facilitates rescue efforts, and heavy-duty rubbing strakes protect the hull from damage while coming alongside docks or other boats. A leaning post with a locking gun cabinet ensures firearms are secured safely. In the event of a fire, a small fire pump is mounted in the cockpit, with a monitor located at the bow. Brunswick Commercial & Government Products (BCGP) has long supplied govern- ment agencies boats for homeland security, law enforce- ment, special operations and combat, and fire and rescue missions. Elsewhere, Moose Boats delivered a M1-44 catamaran to New Jersey State Police?s marine unit in November 2011. Intended for similar purposes, the NJ State Police utilized a FY-2007 Port Security Grant Program award for the purchase. The all aluminum catamaran is powered by twin 600hp Cummins diesel engines coupled to twin Hamilton 322 water-jets with Hamilton Blue Arrow Controls and a hydraulically driven fire fighting system with a remote control bow monitor. A second Moose project (12/2/11 contract award) for a M2-37 catamaran patrol boat for San Francisco Police Boston Whaler 25-foot Guardian M1-44 CatamaranMN#1 (18-31):MN 2011 Layouts 1/5/2012 3:16 PM Page 30