USCG commissions 17th cutter
The US Coast Guard (USCG) has commissioned USCG cutter Donald Horsley, the 17th Fast Response Cutter (FRC) or Sentinel-class cutter, it announced on 20 May.
This is the fifth FRC to be stationed in the San Juan sector of the USCG. Another 12 FRCs are currently in service in Florida, with six in Key West and six in Miami.
The FRC is designed for near-offshore patrolling for missions such as search and rescue, law enforcement, defence readiness and coastal, port and waterway security.
It replaces the 110ft Island-class patrol boats. It has a length of 154ft, beam of 25ft, top speed of over 28 knots and endurance of five days. The vessels can launch and recover over-the-horizon cutter boats from side davits or astern.
Of the 58 FRCs planned by the USCG, 38 have been ordered so far. The next FRC will also be commissioned for stationing in San Juan. It is scheduled for delivery in June 2016.
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