Bollinger Delivers Fast Response Cutter Number Ten

FRC 10, the RAYMOND EVANS. Photo courtesy Bollinger Shipyards

Louisiana-based Bollinger Shipyards has delivered the tenth Fast Response Cutter (FRC) to the United States Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard took delivery of the new cutter, named RAYMOND EVANS, on June 25, 2014 in Key West, Florida. The vessel is scheduled to be commissioned in Key West, Florida in September 2014.

President of Bollinger Shipyards, Chris Bollinger, commented, “We are extremely proud to announce the delivery of the RAYMOND EVANS, the latest FRC built by Bollinger, to the 7th Coast Guard District in Key West, FL. The RAYMOND EVANS, as well as the previous nine FRC deliveries were proudly delivered on time and on budget. We look forward to the vessel’s commissioning, honoring and celebrating the heroic acts of Commander Raymond Evans.”

The 154 foot patrol craft RAYMOND EVANS is the tenth vessel in the Coast Guard’s Sentinel-class FRC program. The FRC is based on the proven, in-service parent craft design of the Damen Stan Patrol Boat 4708. The cutter 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.

Each FRC is named for an enlisted Coast Guard hero who distinguished him or herself in the line of duty. This vessel is named after Coast Guard commander, Commander Raymond Evans, who began his career as an apprentice seaman and was part of a dramatic rescue of a group of Marines pinned down by machine gun fire during the battle of Guadalcanal in September, 1942, earning him the Navy Cross.

The Coast Guard has ordered 24 Fast Response Cutters from Bollinger to date, with plans to acquire up to 58 FRCs in total at a projected cost of $3.93 billion.

The Sentinel-class will eventually replace the Coast Guard’s Island-class 110-foot patrol boat.

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