TSAMTO, April 27. The company Bollinger Shipyards on April 22 announced the transfer of the 44th fast patrol boat FRC (Fast Response Cutter) of the Sentinel class-(WPC 1144) "Glen Harris" (Glen Harris) to the command of the US Coast Guard, which took place in Key West (Florida).
In total, this is the 167th boat that the Bollinger company has handed over to the US Coast Guard in the last 35 years. The Glen Harris will be the third of six Sentinel-class boats to be stationed in Manama, Bahrain, to replace the Island-class patrol boats. The boats will be used as part of the Southwest Asia Patrol Force (a U.S. Coast Guard formation stationed in Manama, Bahrain).
Earlier in April, Bollinger announced the acquisition of the Terrebonne Parish shipyard by Gulf Island Fabrication, Inc., which expanded its construction and repair capabilities. Gulf Island built tugs and rescue-towing vessels (T-ATS) for the U.S. Navy. These projects are transferred together with the sale of the company's shares.
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. The Sentinel boats are intended to replace the obsolete Island class boats. 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.
The Sentinel-class boat was developed on the basis of the Damen Stan Patrol4708 project of the Dutch shipbuilding company Damen Shipyards. Its length is 46.9 m, displacement-about 200 tons, speed-28 knots, range-up to 2500 nautical miles, autonomy-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.