|
|
|
|
|
|
Coast Guard Launches New, Faster Search-and-Rescue Boat
|
The U.S. Coast Guard is launching a series of new, 45-foot, high-tech, search-and-rescue boats.
By Peter A. Janssen
The U.S. Coast Guard is launching a series of new, 45-foot, high-tech, search-and-rescue boats that, it says, are self-righting, even in 12-foot seas. The new craft, called "response boat medium" in Coast Guard nomenclature, have twin 860 hp diesel engines — more than twice the power of the fleet of 41-foot boats they will replace — paired to jet drives. They also have a top speed of 49 mph and are controlled by two joysticks, one for throttle and one for steering. The high-tech boats come with a suite of sophisticated electronics, including infrared detection. The Coast Guard ordered the new 45-footers to improve its search-and-rescue and homeland security capabilities and to update its fleet. The old 41-footers they replace have been workhorses for Coast Guard stations around the United States. Kvichak Marine Industries of Seattle will build 180 of the new boats. http://uscg.mil
|
|
|
|
|
|
