Coast Guard’s Newest Boat, built by Manitowoc Marine, Debuts in Virginia
April 16, 08 by TheFleetIf you're new here, you may want to subscribe to our RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
Source: Coast Guard News
The Coast Guard’s newest multi-mission asset, the 45-foot Response Boat-Medium (RB-M), made its debut at Coast Guard Station Little Creek Va., today.
The RB-M was delivered by Marinette Marine Corporation (MMC) and represents the first of a planned 180 RB-Ms scheduled for delivery over the next six years.
The RB-M is a multi-mission boat that will operate in coastal zones which include inshore and inland waterways and open ocean out to 50-nautical-miles. The RB-M is a self-righting, 45-foot all-aluminum boat with twin diesel engines and water jet propulsion. It is capable of speeds in excess of 46 miles per hour and provides significantly improved maneuverability.
Primary missions for the RB-M include Search and Rescue; Ports, Waterways, and Coastal Security; Defense Readiness; and Marine Environmental Protection.
The RB-M will replace the aging 41? Utility Boats, which have been the workhorse of Coast Guard small boat stations for more than a quarter of a century. On June 21, 2006, the Coast Guard awarded a contract for up to a maximum of 250 RB-Ms to Marinette Marine Corporation (MMC) of Marinette, Wisc.
Further specs, production schedule and more at Coast Guard News >>
Photo: The Response Boat-Medium (RB-M) is an all-aluminum, 45-foot boat with twin diesel engines with water jet propulsion launched at in Commencement Bay in Tacoma, Wash. This small boat, which recently completed a successful Builder’s Trials on March 3, is expected to be the primary non-heavy weather, multi-mission capable boat for the U.S. Coast Guard.
