USCG commissions Oliver Berry in Hawaii
The US Coast Guard (USCG) has commissioned Hawaii’s first Sentinel-class cutter, Oliver Berry, into service at its base in Honolulu, US Pacific Command announced on 2 November.
Oliver Berry is the first of three Honolulu-based fast response cutters (FRC) that will primarily serve the main Hawaiian Islands.
The USCG is acquiring 58 FRCs to replace its 110ft Island-class patrol boats. The 154ft FRCs are designed for missions including search and rescue, ports, waterways and coastal security, drug and migrant interdiction and fisheries patrols.
The ships feature advanced C4ISR equipment, and have the ability to launch and recover standardised small boats from the stern.
The USCG took delivery of Oliver Berry on 27 June in Key West. Three FRCs are expected to be stationed at Base Honolulu by the spring of 2019.
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