TSAMTO, July 5. On July 1, the company Bollinger Shipyards announced the transfer of the 45th fast patrol boat FRC (Fast Response Cutter) of the Sentinel class-(WPC 1145) "Emlen Tunnell" (Emlen Tunnell) to the command of the US Coast Guard, which took place in Key West (Florida).
This is the 168th boat that Bollinger has handed over to the US Coast Guard over the past 35 years. The Emlen Tannell will be the fourth of six Sentinel-class boats to be deployed in Manama (Bahrain), where they will replace the Island-class patrol boats. The boats will be used as part of the Patrol Forces of Southwest Asia (a formation of the US Coast Guard stationed in Manama, Bahrain).
According to TSAMTO, the initial contract worth $ 88 million for the design and construction of the FRC series lead boat was concluded following a tender with Bollinger Shipyards in September 2008. "Sentinel" are designed to replace outdated boats of the "Island" class. The agreement contained options for the supply of additional series boats to the Coast Guard. 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 Patrol 4708 project of the Dutch shipbuilding company Damen Shipyards. The length of the boat is 46.9 m, displacement-about 200 tons, speed-28 knots, cruising 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, ensure the security of ports and waterways.
