TSAMTO, March 16. The U.S. Coast Guard Command announced the launch ceremony of the Sentinel-class fast patrol boat (WPC 1142) Robert Goldman, which took place on March 12 at the Key West base.
She is the second Sentinel-class cutter assigned to the Southwest Asia Patrol Force (PATFORSWA).
(WPC 1142)" Robert Goldman " was transferred by Bollinger Shipyards to the U.S. Coast Guard on December 21, 2020. In total, six new Sentinel-class boats will be sent to the Southwest Asia Patrol Force (a U.S. Coast Guard formation stationed in Manama, Bahrain). They will replace the Island-class patrol boats built 30 years ago and provide support for the actions of the US Navy Central Command.
As reported by TSAMTO, the initial contract worth $ 88 million for the design and construction of the lead ship of the FRC series (Fast Response Cutter) was concluded as a result of a tender with Bollinger Shipyards in September 2008. "Sentinel" is intended to replace the outdated boats of the "Island" class. The agreement contained options to supply the Coast Guard with additional boats of the series. To date, the Coast Guard has ordered a total of 64 boats. 41 boats are already in operation: 12 in Florida, seven in Puerto Rico, four in California, three each in Hawaii, Texas and New Jersey, and two each in Alaska, North Carolina and Mississippi. Two boats arrived at the home port of Apra Harbor (Guam) in 2020 and another will be delivered later.
The Sentinel class boat was developed on the basis of the Damen Stan Patrol4708 project of the Dutch shipbuilding company Damen Shipyards. The boat is 46.9 m long, has a displacement of about 200 tons, a speed of 28 knots, a cruising range of up to 2,500 nautical miles, and an autonomous capacity of 5 days. The boats are designed to counter illegal migration and smuggling, control fishing, conduct search and rescue operations, and ensure the security of ports and waterways.
