Long Island USCG Stations Receive MLBs

USCG Stations Jones Beach and Fire Island, in NY, have become the newest USCG Group Moriches units to receive the new 47-ft. Motor Lifeboat (MLB). The state-of-the-art 47-ft. MLB will be replacing the 44-ft. MLB as part of the USCG's Office of Shore Activities' Motor Lifeboat Replacement Project. The 47-ft. MLB is expected to perform the USCG missions of Search and Rescue, Law Enforcement, and Marine Environmental Protection for the next 25 years. The 47-ft. MLB is designed to be more comfortable, easier to operate, environmentally safer and more capable than the 44-ft. MLB. Built by Textron Marine & Land System (New Orleans) to USCG specifications, the 47-ft. MLB is capable of operating in 20-ft. breaking surf, 30-ft. open seas, and 50-knot sustained wind speed. Similar to the 44-ft. MLB, the 47-ft. MLB will re-right itself within eight seconds in the event of a capsizing. This will increase Group Moriches compliment of 47-ft. MLBs to three. Station Montauk is scheduled to receive the fourth 47-ft. MLB, and final for the group, in Spring 2000. Station Shinnecock received the first 47-ft. MLB earlier last spring.