Bollinger Delivers Seventh Fast Response Cutter, Charles David Jr.

Image: Bollinger

Bollinger Shipyards in Lockport, Louisiana has announced the delivery of the seventh Fast Response Cutter to the U.S. Coast Guard.

Named CHARLES DAVID JR, the vessel is a Damen Stan Patrol Boat 4708-design and has been named after Stewards-Mate First Class Charles W. David, Jr., who was posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for bravery in 1943.

Bollinger notes in their press release:

On the night of February 3, 1943, the U.S. Army transport USS DORCHESTER was torpedoed by a U-Boat off the coast of Greenland in the North Atlantic.    The CGC COMANCHE was on the scene and its crew desperately searched for survivors in the frigid waters.  David fearlessly volunteered to leave the safe haven of the COMANCHE to dive overboard to help rescue the DORCHESTER’s crew.  As other crewmen also volunteered to dive in, 93 survivors were rescued out of the freezing waters.

After the last of the survivors were safely aboard, David began to climb the cargo net to the ship’s deck.  One of David’s shipmates, Richard Swanson, was having trouble climbing the net due to his freezing limbs.  David descended the net with the help of another crewman and pulled Swanson to the deck out of harm’s way.  Tragically, David died a few days later from pneumonia.

The CHARLES DAVID JR was delivered to the 7^th Coast Guard District in Key West on August 16, 2013 and will be stationed at USCG Sector Key West.   The vessel’s commissioning is scheduled for November.

At 154 feet in length, the ship has a flank speed of 28 knots, state of the art command, control, communications and computer technology, and a stern launch system for the vessels 26 foot cutter boat.  The FRC has been described as an operational “game changer,” by senior Coast Guard officials.

About Bollinger Shipyards

Bollinger Shipyards, Inc. is a designer and builder of fast military patrol boats, ocean-going double hull barges, offshore oil field support vessels, tug boats, rigs, liftboats, inland waterways push boats, barges, and other steel and aluminum products from its new construction shipyards. Bollinger has 10 shipyards and all are strategically located between New Orleans and Houston with direct access to the Gulf of Mexico, Mississippi River and the Intracoastal Waterway.

Bollinger is the largest vessel repair company in the Gulf of Mexico region with a total of 28 dry-docks in Louisiana and Texas.

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