The Coast Guard yesterday said that builder’s trials of its first 154-foot Sentinel-class Fast Response Cutter (FRC), the Bernard C. Webber, have begun to demonstrate the seaworthiness and functionality of its main systems.
The trials, which are being conducted both pier side and underway by shipbuilder Bollinger Shipyards, will be followed by Coast Guard acceptance trials prior to delivery of the vessel in Jan. 2012.
The Coast Guard also said that the third FRC, the William Flores, has been launched at Bollinger Shipyards with delivery slated for next summer. The Flores is more than 81 percent complete.
Bollinger is under a potential $1.5 billion contract to deliver up to 34 FRCs. So far, 12 of the vessels are under contract with the company for $597 million.