Marine Protector Class - Coastal Patrol Boat (CPB)

 

 

The U.S. Coast Guard initiated the acquisition of the Marine Protector class of 87-foot coastal patrol boats (CPB) in 1993 to replace the aging 82-ft Point-class patrol boats. Using an acquisition strategy initially developed by the Coast Guard for the 110-foot Island Class patrol boats the CPB design is based upon an existing design for the Damen Stan Patrol 2600, then proven in service with the Hong Kong Police. Bollinger has developed the unique experience in modifying proven "parent craft” designs to meet the exacting needs of the Coast Guard. This strategy continues to offer the Government a low risk, proven-in-service design with a considerably reduced design cycle time and without sacrificing Coast Guard mission performance.

 

The Bollinger 87-foot CPB design offers improved seakeeping, electronics, and communications. Our engineering department collaborated with a widely recognized marine safety and human factors engineering firm to incorporate improved operability and crew habitability features, including a superior pilothouse design featuring 360° unobstructed views. Perhaps the most significant design innovation was the incorporation of a stern notch launch and recovery system providing the CPB with the capability to safely and quickly launch and recover the cutter’s 5.5m RHIB (Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat) while underway and in heavy seas.

 

Bollinger also provided a complete logistics package including preventative maintenance procedures, on board spare parts, deep insurance spares, crew familiarization, factory training and technical manuals for all major equipment, through our Integrated Logistics Support organization; Chand, LLC.

 

Originally, a single cutter was awarded under the contract, with the delivery in April 1998. Once in full production, Bollinger delivered a CPB every twenty-eight days until mid-2002. The contract initially had option provisions for up to 50 additional vessels with their associated spares. To date, Bollinger has delivered 73 CPBs to the U.S. Coast Guard and 4 cutters under two Foreign Military Sales programs with two cutters going to each of the republics of Malta and Yemen.

 

These modern, high speed cutters join their sister Island Class 110-foot cutters, called the "best patrol boat in the world" by both the former Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard and a former Chief of Naval Operations, in performing the traditional Coast Guard missions of search and rescue, port security, maritime law enforcement and other humanitarian missions conducted by of the U.S. Coast Guard. The Marine Protector Class cutters will continue to enable the U. S. Coast Guard to perform its missions that remain vital to our homeland security, our economy, and our national security, for years to come.