USCG accepts 20th FRC
The US Coast Guard (USCG) has accepted delivery of its 20th Sentinel-class fast response cutter (FRC), USCGC Lawrence Lawson, it announced on 21 October.
This will be the second FRC to be stationed at Cape May, New Jersey, following its commissioning in early 2017.
The USCG is acquiring 58 Sentinel-class FRCs that will patrol coastal regions of the US and replace the 110ft Island-class patrol boats. The FRCs are 154ft in length and have an endurance of five days. They have command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance equipment and can launch and recover standardised cutter boats from side davits or from astern.
A total of 38 FRCs have been ordered so far from Bollinger Shipyards, with 18 already in service: six each in Key West, San Juan and Miami. The 19th FRC will be commissioned in November 2016 and station at Cape May.
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