At the Port of Philadelphia yesterday, President Bush discussed the Coast Guard’s role in Operation Liberty Shield, Operation Iraqi Freedom and the War on Terrorism. The President also announced that the Coast Guard will purchase up to 700 new Defender Class Response Boats from SAFE Boats International of Port Orchard, Wash., which will be utilized in homeland security missions. The new Defender Class boats will replace nearly 300 non-standard shore based boats and provide a standardized platform for the Coast Guard's new Maritime Safety and Security Teams (MSST's) which were established as a result of the September 11th terrorist attacks. The Coast Guard selected SAFE Boats International to manufacture the boats after a two-phased process.