NEW ORLEANS — Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Bob Papp participated in a dedication ceremony for the Coast Guard’s fast response cutter fleet in Lockport, La., today.

The new 154-foot cutters being built by Bollinger Shipyards are a key aspect of the Coast Guard’s recapitalization program and provide the service with critical mission capabilities to protect America now and well into the future.

“The Sentinel-Class Fast Response Cutter is an exceptional platform for Coast Guard operations,” said Papp. “These cutters are a game changer for our service.”

Important features of FRCs make them more capable of performing Coast Guard missions than the aging 110-foot Island Class patrol boats they will replace. These cutters provide larger and more stable platforms from which to conduct operations, safer small boat launch and recovery in heavy seas via stern ramp, the ability to detect threats at longer range, remotely operated weapons to protect the crew, and the capacity to remain on station at sea for longer periods of time.

The Coast Guard plans to build 58 FRCs, and each will be named for Coast Guard enlisted heroes. Initially, the cutters will be homeported in Miami and Key West, Fla., two busy operational areas for the Coast Guard.

The first FRC, Bernard C. Webber, will be commissioned in Miami on April 14.

The FRCs will be utilized for a variety of Coast Guard missions – primarily search and rescue, counter drug and migrant operations, enforcing fisheries regulations and homeland security – where they provide exceptional value, flexibility, and effective mission execution.

They are needed to perform these duties along the nation’s approximately 95,000 miles of coastline, 50,000 miles of navigable waters and 3.5 million square miles of maritime Exclusive Economic Zones. Their size and design is ideal for operating across these expansive areas.

“FRCs are an essential capability for our service,” said Papp. “I anticipate they will become key workhorses for our service, a role held today by the cutters they will replace.”

There are several significant dates in the birth of a ship, which typically include the keel laying, christening (normally associated with the launch into the water), and commissioning. Today’s dedication ceremony for the fast response cutter fleet replaces individual christening ceremonies as it’s more practical than an individual ceremony for each vessel given the number of cutters in this class.

The names for the 14 cutters have been determined at this time. Many family members of these cutter’s namesakes were on hand to view the event as a commissioning pennant and box was dedicated for each ship. Later, upon commissioning, cutters will receive their individual pennant and box.

“I am honored to be part of this unique ceremony,” said Papp. “In a service of dedicated professionals who perform heroic deeds on a daily basis, it was a privilege for me to officially dedicate cutters for the most exceptional Coast Guard men and women.”

The FRC is the new generation in a long history of Coast Guard patrol boats. It assures the Coast Guard will retain the ability to protect those on the sea, protect America from threats delivered by sea, and protect the sea itself.

Information reposted from Coast Guard Compass

NEW ORLEANS — Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Bob Papp participated in a dedication ceremony for the Coast Guard’s fast response cutter fleet in Lockport, La., today.

The new 154-foot cutters being built by Bollinger Shipyards are a key aspect of the Coast Guard’s recapitalization program and provide the service with critical mission capabilities to protect America now and well into the future.

“The Sentinel-Class Fast Response Cutter is an exceptional platform for Coast Guard operations,” said Papp. “These cutters are a game changer for our service.”

Important features of FRCs make them more capable of performing Coast Guard missions than the aging 110-foot Island Class patrol boats they will replace. These cutters provide larger and more stable platforms from which to conduct operations, safer small boat launch and recovery in heavy seas via stern ramp, the ability to detect threats at longer range, remotely operated weapons to protect the crew, and the capacity to remain on station at sea for longer periods of time.

The Coast Guard plans to build 58 FRCs, and each will be named for Coast Guard enlisted heroes. Initially, the cutters will be homeported in Miami and Key West, Fla., two busy operational areas for the Coast Guard.

The first FRC, Bernard C. Webber, will be commissioned in Miami on April 14.

The FRCs will be utilized for a variety of Coast Guard missions – primarily search and rescue, counter drug and migrant operations, enforcing fisheries regulations and homeland security – where they provide exceptional value, flexibility, and effective mission execution.

They are needed to perform these duties along the nation’s approximately 95,000 miles of coastline, 50,000 miles of navigable waters and 3.5 million square miles of maritime Exclusive Economic Zones. Their size and design is ideal for operating across these expansive areas.

“FRCs are an essential capability for our service,” said Papp. “I anticipate they will become key workhorses for our service, a role held today by the cutters they will replace.”

There are several significant dates in the birth of a ship, which typically include the keel laying, christening (normally associated with the launch into the water), and commissioning. Today’s dedication ceremony for the fast response cutter fleet replaces individual christening ceremonies as it’s more practical than an individual ceremony for each vessel given the number of cutters in this class.

The names for the 14 cutters have been determined at this time. Many family members of these cutter’s namesakes were on hand to view the event as a commissioning pennant and box was dedicated for each ship. Later, upon commissioning, cutters will receive their individual pennant and box.

“I am honored to be part of this unique ceremony,” said Papp. “In a service of dedicated professionals who perform heroic deeds on a daily basis, it was a privilege for me to officially dedicate cutters for the most exceptional Coast Guard men and women.”

The FRC is the new generation in a long history of Coast Guard patrol boats. It assures the Coast Guard will retain the ability to protect those on the sea, protect America from threats delivered by sea, and protect the sea itself.

Information reposted from Coast Guard Compass

NEW ORLEANS — Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Bob Papp participated in a dedication ceremony for the Coast Guard’s fast response cutter fleet in Lockport, La., today.

The new 154-foot cutters being built by Bollinger Shipyards are a key aspect of the Coast Guard’s recapitalization program and provide the service with critical mission capabilities to protect America now and well into the future.

“The Sentinel-Class Fast Response Cutter is an exceptional platform for Coast Guard operations,” said Papp. “These cutters are a game changer for our service.”

Important features of FRCs make them more capable of performing Coast Guard missions than the aging 110-foot Island Class patrol boats they will replace. These cutters provide larger and more stable platforms from which to conduct operations, safer small boat launch and recovery in heavy seas via stern ramp, the ability to detect threats at longer range, remotely operated weapons to protect the crew, and the capacity to remain on station at sea for longer periods of time.

The Coast Guard plans to build 58 FRCs, and each will be named for Coast Guard enlisted heroes. Initially, the cutters will be homeported in Miami and Key West, Fla., two busy operational areas for the Coast Guard.

The first FRC, Bernard C. Webber, will be commissioned in Miami on April 14.

The FRCs will be utilized for a variety of Coast Guard missions – primarily search and rescue, counter drug and migrant operations, enforcing fisheries regulations and homeland security – where they provide exceptional value, flexibility, and effective mission execution.

They are needed to perform these duties along the nation’s approximately 95,000 miles of coastline, 50,000 miles of navigable waters and 3.5 million square miles of maritime Exclusive Economic Zones. Their size and design is ideal for operating across these expansive areas.

“FRCs are an essential capability for our service,” said Papp. “I anticipate they will become key workhorses for our service, a role held today by the cutters they will replace.”

There are several significant dates in the birth of a ship, which typically include the keel laying, christening (normally associated with the launch into the water), and commissioning. Today’s dedication ceremony for the fast response cutter fleet replaces individual christening ceremonies as it’s more practical than an individual ceremony for each vessel given the number of cutters in this class.

The names for the 14 cutters have been determined at this time. Many family members of these cutter’s namesakes were on hand to view the event as a commissioning pennant and box was dedicated for each ship. Later, upon commissioning, cutters will receive their individual pennant and box.

“I am honored to be part of this unique ceremony,” said Papp. “In a service of dedicated professionals who perform heroic deeds on a daily basis, it was a privilege for me to officially dedicate cutters for the most exceptional Coast Guard men and women.”

The FRC is the new generation in a long history of Coast Guard patrol boats. It assures the Coast Guard will retain the ability to protect those on the sea, protect America from threats delivered by sea, and protect the sea itself.

Information reposted from Coast Guard Compass

WASHINGTON — The Coast Guard announced Wednesday the launch of its third Sentinel-class, Fast Response Cutter, the William Flores, at Bollinger Shipyards, Lockport, La. 

The launch of the William Flores into the waters of Bayou Lafourche marks a production milestone as the Fast Response Cutter readies for sea trials, delivery, crew training and eventual commissioning. 

“The Coast Guard’s new Fast Response Cutters are national assets, unique to the United States and uniquely equipped to respond to all threats and all events in times of crisis,” said Cmdr. Chris O’Neil, chief of media relations for the U.S. Coast Guard.  “The Sentinel-class Fast Response Cutters will be capable of speeds in excess of 28 knots and operating in seas up to 18-feet.  Armed with a 25-mm chain gun and four, .50 caliber machine guns,  the speed, stability and firepower of the Fast Response Cutter deliver tremendous lifesaving, law enforcement and homeland security capabilities in the same package.  Like the Island-class patrol boats the Fast Response Cutters replace, the fleet of 58 Sentinel-class cutters will serve as the workhorses of America’s littoral, maritime fleet.”

Seaman Apprentice William Flores, namesake of the cutter, posthumously received the Coast Guard Medal, the service’s highest award for heroism not involving combat, for his unselfish acts and sacrifice Jan. 28, 1980, following the collision between the Coast Guard Cutter Blackthorn and the tanker Capricorn.  Flores and another crewmember threw life jackets to their shipmates who had jumped into the water.  Later, when his companion abandoned ship as the Blackthorn began to submerge, Flores, who was less than a year out of boot camp, remained behind and used his belt to strap open the life jacket locker door, allowing additional life jackets to float to the surface.  Even after most crewmembers abandoned ship, the 19-year-old Flores remained aboard Blackthorn to assist trapped shipmates and to comfort those who were injured and disoriented. Seaman Apprentice William Ray “Billy” Flores and 22 other Coast Guardsmen perished as the Blackthorn capsized and sank near the entrance of Tampa Bay, Fla.  Twenty seven of his shipmates survived. 

After commissioning, the William Flores will be homeported in Miami, with a crew of 24 to conduct alien migrant interdiction operations, port, waterways and coastal security patrols, search and rescue and national defense missions.

Named for enlisted Coast Guard heroes, Fast Response Cutters have an overall length of 154 feet, a beam of 26 feet and are capable of speeds in excess of 28 knots.  The Fast Response Cutter also features a stern launch ramp for rapid and safe deployment of its 7.9-meter small boat.  The William Flores is scheduled to be delivered and commissioned in 2012.

For more information about the Fast Response Cutter visit http://www.uscg.mil/acquisition/sentinel/default.asp or to learn more about the recapitalization of Coast Guard assets visit http://www.uscg.mil/acquisition/programs/pdf/CG9recap.pdf.

WASHINGTON — The Coast Guard announced Wednesday the launch of its third Sentinel-class, Fast Response Cutter, the William Flores, at Bollinger Shipyards, Lockport, La. 

The launch of the William Flores into the waters of Bayou Lafourche marks a production milestone as the Fast Response Cutter readies for sea trials, delivery, crew training and eventual commissioning. 

“The Coast Guard’s new Fast Response Cutters are national assets, unique to the United States and uniquely equipped to respond to all threats and all events in times of crisis,” said Cmdr. Chris O’Neil, chief of media relations for the U.S. Coast Guard.  “The Sentinel-class Fast Response Cutters will be capable of speeds in excess of 28 knots and operating in seas up to 18-feet.  Armed with a 25-mm chain gun and four, .50 caliber machine guns,  the speed, stability and firepower of the Fast Response Cutter deliver tremendous lifesaving, law enforcement and homeland security capabilities in the same package.  Like the Island-class patrol boats the Fast Response Cutters replace, the fleet of 58 Sentinel-class cutters will serve as the workhorses of America’s littoral, maritime fleet.”

Seaman Apprentice William Flores, namesake of the cutter, posthumously received the Coast Guard Medal, the service’s highest award for heroism not involving combat, for his unselfish acts and sacrifice Jan. 28, 1980, following the collision between the Coast Guard Cutter Blackthorn and the tanker Capricorn.  Flores and another crewmember threw life jackets to their shipmates who had jumped into the water.  Later, when his companion abandoned ship as the Blackthorn began to submerge, Flores, who was less than a year out of boot camp, remained behind and used his belt to strap open the life jacket locker door, allowing additional life jackets to float to the surface.  Even after most crewmembers abandoned ship, the 19-year-old Flores remained aboard Blackthorn to assist trapped shipmates and to comfort those who were injured and disoriented. Seaman Apprentice William Ray “Billy” Flores and 22 other Coast Guardsmen perished as the Blackthorn capsized and sank near the entrance of Tampa Bay, Fla.  Twenty seven of his shipmates survived. 

After commissioning, the William Flores will be homeported in Miami, with a crew of 24 to conduct alien migrant interdiction operations, port, waterways and coastal security patrols, search and rescue and national defense missions.

Named for enlisted Coast Guard heroes, Fast Response Cutters have an overall length of 154 feet, a beam of 26 feet and are capable of speeds in excess of 28 knots.  The Fast Response Cutter also features a stern launch ramp for rapid and safe deployment of its 7.9-meter small boat.  The William Flores is scheduled to be delivered and commissioned in 2012.

For more information about the Fast Response Cutter visit http://www.uscg.mil/acquisition/sentinel/default.asp or to learn more about the recapitalization of Coast Guard assets visit http://www.uscg.mil/acquisition/programs/pdf/CG9recap.pdf.

LOCKPORT, La. – The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Richard Etheridge (rear) is launched at Bollinger Shipyards here, Aug. 18, 2011.  The Richard Etheridge is the second 154-foot Sentinel Class Fast Response Cutter to join the Coast Guard fleet following the Coast Guard Cutter Bernard C. Webber (foreground).  U.S. Coast Guard photo.

LOCKPORT, La. – The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Richard Etheridge is the second 154-foot Sentinel Class Fast Response Cutter to join the Coast Guard cutter fleet when it was launched here, Aug. 18, 2011.  The Richard Etheridge is named after the first African-American to command a life saving station when the Coast Guard appointed him as the keeper of the Pea Island Life-Saving Station in North Carolina in 1880.  U.S. Coast Guard photo.

LOCKPORT, La. — The U.S. Coast Guard’s second, 154-foot Fast Response Cutter, the Richard Etheridge, was launched at Bollinger Shipyards in Lockport, La., Thursday, marking a significant milestone in the Coast Guard’s acquisition of the Sentinel- class patrol boats.

While in the water, the cutter will undergo a series of tests and evaluations prior to its planned delivery early next year. The launch is one of many steps in the construction process, leading to sea trials and crew training later this year and, eventually, the commissioning of the vessel and commencement of its Coast Guard operations.  The Sentinel-class patrol boats are the replacement for the service’s legacy Island-class, 110-foot patrol boats.

The Richard Etheridge will be capable of reaching speeds in excess of 28 knots and is designed to independently conduct multiple missions including port, waterways and coastal security; fishery patrols; search and rescue; and national defense. The Sentinel-class patrol boat is equipped with a stern launch ramp that allows the vessel to deploy its cutter boat in a wide range of sea conditions.

The Richard Etheridge’s 24-person crew will conduct additional testing and evaluation prior to the cutter’s commissioning in 2012. The cutter will be homeported in Miami and will primarily perform missions to save lives, enforce U.S. and international maritime law, and ensure security in the Coast Guard’s 7th District area of responsibility that includes the nation’s Southeastern maritime border and the Caribbean Sea.

The third Fast Response Cutter, the William Flores, is tentatively scheduled to be launched Nov. 10.

All Sentinel-class Fast Response Cutters will be named after enlisted Coast Guard heroes. Richard Etheridge became the first African-American to command a life-saving station when in 1880 the service appointed him as the keeper of the Pea Island Life-Saving Station in North Carolina. 

Etheridge’s rigorous training drills proved to be invaluable on Oct. 11, 1896, when the three-masted schooner, the E.S. Newman, was caught in a terrifying storm.  En route to Norfolk, Va., the vessel was blown 100 miles off course and came ashore on the beach two miles south of the Pea Island station. The storm was so severe that Etheridge had suspended normal beach patrols that day. But the alert eyes of surfman Theodore Meekins saw the first distress flare and he immediately notified Etheridge.  Etheridge gathered his crew and launched the surfboat. Battling the strong tide and sweeping currents, the dedicated lifesavers struggled to make their way to a point opposite the schooner, only to find there was no dry land.  The daring, quick-witted Etheridge tied two of his strongest surfmen together and connected them to shore by a long line. They fought their way through the roaring breakers and finally reached the schooner. The seemingly inexhaustible Pea Island crewmembers journeyed through the perilous waters 10 times and finally rescued the entire crew of the E.S. Newman.  For this rescue, the crew, including Etheridge, was awarded the Coast Guard’s Gold Lifesaving Medal.