Page 29: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (March 2014)

expensive.

The Coast Guard plans to build 25 of them to replace the 14 ships of the 210- foot Reliance-class medium endurance cutters and 13 270-foot “Famous class.”

The 1,400 ton 210s entered service 1964 and 1969, while the 1,800-ton 270s are newer, commissioned between 1983 and 1990.

There is also the USCGC Alex Haley (WMEC 39), a converted U.S. Navy ocean going salvage ship. At 283 ft. and 3,400 tons, Alex Haley she is based in

Alaska where she conducts fi sheries pa- trols and search as rescue duties, but she is more than 30 years old.

The new OPCs will have greater range and longer endurance than the ships they will replace; will be more powerfully armed; and will accommodate the latest

Coast Guard aircraft and small boats for all-weather operations. What’s more, the OPC’s systems will be fully interop- erable with the National Security Cutters and other military ships and aircraft and bases ashore.

The Sentinel-class Fast Response Cut- ter (FRC) is the newest Coast Guard patrol boat, capable of conducting inde- pendent port, waterways and coastal se- curity; fi shery patrols; search and rescue; and national defense missions. The FRC is based upon the Stan Patrol 4708 patrol boat design from Damen Shipbuilding in the Netherlands, and similar to vessels being acquired by the Canadian coast guard. The service plans to acquire 58

FRCs to replace the 41 boats that com- prise the service’s 110-ft. Island-class of patrol boat, and will compliment 73 ves- sels of the 87-ft. Marine Protector class.

The initial seven FRCs are operating in the Caribbean and off Florida. Papp said the have “become the workhorse of our interdiction operations in the approaches to Florida and Puerto Rico.”

Papp said the Coast Guard is halfway to its planned purchase of 58 patrol boats, and that the FRCs are being de- livered on time and on budget. “We have 10 more in production, have awarded the contract for an additional six, and now have funding for six more beyond that – for a total of 30.”

While the Coast Guard has four “red hull” icebreaking ships, one is designed

USCG Cutters &Craft • 420’ Icebreaker (WAGB) • 418’ National Security Cutter (WMSL) • 399’ Polar Class Icebreaker (WAGB) • 378’ High Endurance Cutter (WHEC) • 295’ Training Barque Eagle (WIX) • 282’ Medium Endurance Cutter (WMEC) • 270’ Medium Endurance Cutter (WMEC) • 240’ Seagoing Buoy Tender/ Icebreaker (WLBB) • 225’ Seagoing Buoy Tender (WLB) • 210’ Medium Endurance Cutter (WMEC) • 175’ Coastal Buoy Tender (WLM) • 160’ Inland Construction Tender (WLIC) • 154’ Fast Response Cutter (WPC) • 140’ Icebreaking Tug (WTGB) • 110’ Patrol Boat (WPB) • 100’ Inland Buoy Tender (WLI) • 100’ Inland Construction Tender (WLIC) • 87’ Coastal Patrol Boat (WPB) • 75’ River Buoy Tender (WLR) • 75’ Inland Construction Tender (WLIC) • 65’ River Buoy Tender (WLR) • 65’ Inland Buoy Tender (WLI) • 65’ Small Harbor Tug (WYTL) • 47’ Motor Life Boat (MLB) • 41’ Utility Boat (UTB) • 45’ Response Boat Medium (RB-M) (still in development) • 33’ Law Enforcement Special Purpose Craft (SPC-LE) • 36’ Long Range Interceptor (LRI) (still in development) • 26’-64’ Aids to Navigation Boats • 25’ Transportable Port Security Boat (TPSB) • 25’ Defender Class Boats (RB-HS/RB-S) • 18’-24’ Special Purpose Craft Airboats www.marinelink.com 29

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