All American Marine Delivers NOAA Patrol Vessel

All American Marine Inc., launched a 56 x 21 ft. catamaran built under contract for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The high speed patrol vessel has been assigned to operate in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) and its Tortugas Ecological Reserve off the Southern coast of Florida. The vessel will serve as a long-range law enforcement patrol boat in the lower Keys. The patrol vessel is owned and maintained by NOAA’s National Marine Sanctuary Program in the Florida Keys. Daily vessel operations will be administered by FKNMS law enforcement officers. Law enforcement in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is a cooperative partnership between NOAA and the State of Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The cross-deputized state and federal law enforcement officers have a primary responsibility to enforce Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary regulations. The officers also enforce Florida State boating laws, State and Federal Fishing Regulations, and they respond to vessel groundings. Sanctuary officers also conduct and assist in search and rescue operations and often interact with Monroe County Deputies, the Key West Police Department, the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs, the U.S. Border Patrol, and other FWC Officers. The boat offers accommodations for four officers and can comfortably endure long patrols. The long distance traveled between home port and the patrol area requires that the vessel operates with extreme fuel efficiency. As a law enforcement vessel, the boat regularly runs at a high cruise speed and has the ability to sprint at very high speeds during pursuit. "The speed, fuel efficiency and stability of this state-of-the-art law enforcement vessel will assist our officers as they patrol the remote, open seas of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary's Tortugas Ecological Reserve," said Billy Causey, acting superintendent for the National Marine Sanctuary Program's Southeast Region. "This vessel's capabilities will help fulfill our commitment to protect the reserve's coral reefs and abundant marine life for future generations." The patrol craft is powered by twin MTU 8V2000 M92 engines, each delivering 1085 hp at 2450 rpm. The propulsion package includes Hamilton Jet 403 water jets. The vessel has a 42 knot cruise speed in mission condition and can perform at speeds in excess of 44 knots. The Teknicraft designed hull and hydrofoil technology offers peak performance, while maintaining excellent seakeeping ability and high fuel efficiency. “All American Marine built the vessel to exactly what was specified and met all of the requirements. We got everything we asked for and more,” states FKNMS law enforcement officer, Lieutenant Scarpa.