The Marine Protector-class of 87-foot costal patrol boats (WPB) was initiate in 1993 to substitute the existing fleet of Vietnam-era 82' Point-class patrol boats. The 87' WPBs would offer improvements in crew habitability, electronics, communications, and sea handling. Most notably, the 87' WPBs are capable of deploying and recovering a 5.5m RIB (Rigid hull Inflatable Boat) while underway (with the 82' WPBs, deploying the RIB required the patrol boat break off operations to winch the RIB over the side with a hoist.) The design of the 87' WPB is based upon the Damen Stan Patrol 2600 then in service with the Hong Kong Police. The production contract was award to the Bollinger Shipyards out of Lockport, LA. With the first production model, the USCGC Barracuda (CG 87301), entering service in Eureka, CA. in January 1998. Construction would be split between Bollinger, which was responsible for construction of the hull in addition to final assembly, while the superstructure would be assembled by VT Halmatic.
The Marine Protector-class patrol boats are powered by two MTU 8V396TE94 twin-turbo V8 diesel engines, producing 2,680 horsepower combined. Propulsion is provided by two shafts fitted with fixed pitch 5-bladed screws.
A total of 65 have been produced, with the previous, USCGC Terrapin (CG 87366), commissioned in January 2005 and assigned to Bellingham, WA. Unit cost was $3.5 million per boat.
No comments:
Post a Comment