Bollinger Delivers USCGC John Patterson to the US Coast Guard
Bollinger Shipyards has delivered the USCGC John Patterson to the U.S. Coast Guard in Key West, Fla. This is the 179th vessel Bollinger has delivered to the U.S. Coast Guard over a 35-year period and the 53rd Fast Response Cutter (FRC) delivered under the current program.
The USCGC John Patterson will be the fourth of six FRCs to be homeported in Sector Boston.
Each FRC is named for an enlisted Coast Guard hero who distinguished themselves in the line of duty. The cutter’s namesake, John C. Patterson, was born in New Jersey in 1834. In 1870, after serving in the U.S. Civil War, Patterson signed on as a surfman with the U.S. Life-Saving Service station in Sandy Hook, N.J. He transferred to Life-Saving Station Shark River, N.J., in 1883. In July 1885, the yacht Foam was anchored off the coast near Station Shark River, attempting to ride out severe weather, when it began taking on water. Receiving word of the situation, Patterson quickly assembled a surfboat crew and launched into the treacherous waters. After several attempts fighting the heavy winds and waves, the surfboat crew reached the stricken yacht, brought its crew safely aboard and successfully returned to shore. Thousands of spectators are reported to have gathered on the beach to watch the rescue unfold, and some of the witnesses petitioned the government to award the surfboat crew medals for bravery. Patterson and the surfboat crew were subsequently awarded the Gold Lifesaving Medal for their actions during the rescue. Patterson retired from the service in 1886 and passed away in 1918.
“We’re incredibly proud to deliver another Fast Response Cutter to be homeported in Boston, the birthplace of the U.S. Coast Guard,” said Bollinger President & C.E.O. Ben Bordelon. “We’re confident that pound for pound, the quality and capabilities of the FRC platform is unmatched, and that this vessel will outperform its mission requirements and expectations in the challenging conditions where it will operate in the North Atlantic. Our unique experience building for the Coast Guard is unparalleled and has shown time and time again that we can successfully deliver the highest quality vessels on a reliable, aggressive production schedule. We look forward to continuing our historic partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard.”
The FRC is an operational “game changer,” according to senior Coast Guard officials. FRCs are consistently being deployed in support of the full range of missions within the United States Coast Guard and other branches of our armed services. This is due to its exceptional performance, expanded operational reach and capabilities, and ability to transform and adapt to the mission. FRCs have conducted operations as far as the Marshall Islands—a 4,400 nautical mile trip from their homeport. Measuring in at 154-feet, FRCs have a flank speed of 28 knots, state of the art C4ISR suite (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance), and stern launch and recovery ramp for a 26-foot, over-the-horizon interceptor cutter boat.
