Coast Guard Receives New Vessel

The Coast Guard received a new 85-ft. patrol vessel at pier 36 in Seattle, Wash. The 85-ft. Fast Patrol Craft, designed by Jack W. Sarin Naval Architects, Inc. of Bainbridge Island, Wash and built by Guardian Marine International, LLC of Edmonds, Wash has 5,470 combined horsepower with twin Detroit Diesel engines. The ship is designed to be a high speed, all-weather vessel that is capable of speeds up to 40 knots, and a range of 1,700 nautical miles (at best economical speed). The craft comes equipped with towing capability, a small boat, and two .50 cal machine gun mounts. A test and evaluation of the Fast Patrol Craft is scheduled this fall in and around Seattle to help determine if the vessel is suitable for Coast Guard service. The Coast Guard test and evaluation is being conducted with the assistance of crew from Coast Guard Group Seattle and technicians from NAVSEA Combatant Craft Department of Suffolk, VA. "The Coast Guard appreciates the opportunity to evaluate this vessel and looks forward to putting it though its paces during the test period,” said Lt. Cmdr. Bill Brewer, from Coast Guard Headquarters, Office of Cutter Forces, in Washington, D.C., on hand to coordinate the test and evaluation. “This evaluation period is critical to see if this craft will help meet our mission requirements such as homeland security, maritime law enforcement, and search and rescue.”