USCG receives eighth FRC from Bollinger

The US Coast Guard (USCG) has received the eighth Sentinel-class patrol boat or fast response cutter (FRC), Charles Sexton from Bollinger Shipyards in Key West, Florida, US.

Scheduled to be commissioned in Key West, Florida during March 2014, the eighth FRC has been named to honour Petty Officer Charles W Sexton who was posthumously awarded the Coast Guard Medal for exhibiting courage and devotion to save others in the face of grave danger.

Bollinger president Chris Bollinger said the company has delivered the cutter on-time and on-budget to the US Coast Guard.

Designed to bridge the capability to meet the potential mission requirements, the boats can support missions including maritime homeland security, search and rescue (SAR), fishery patrol and national-defence missions.

"The Charles Sexton was delivered to the 7th Coast Guard District in Key West, Fla., and will be stationed at USCG Sector Key West," Bollinger added.

The Sentinel-class FRCs are designed based on the Damen Stan 4708 patrol boat and are being developed as part of the Deepwater programme for the USCG to replace the ageing fleet of the 110ft Island-class cutters.

Capable of accommodating a crew of 22, the 154ft-long patrol craft can deploy rigid-hull inflatable boats (RHIB) for conducting rescue and interception missions.

The boats can cruise at speed of 28kt using two 20-cylinder MTU TIER II diesel engines driving shaft and propeller through the reduction gear.