LOCKPORT, La., Bollinger Shipyards has delivered the USCGC LAWRENCE LAWSON, the 20th Fast Response Cutter (FRC) to the United States Coast Guard.
Ben Bordelon, Bollinger President & C.E.O. said, “We are very pleased to announcethe delivery of the USCGC LAWRENCE LAWSON to the U.S. Coast Guard, the latest FRC built by Bollinger Shipyards and the second FRC to be stationed in the 5thCoast Guard District at Cape May, NJ. FRCs already in commission have seized multiple tons of narcotics, interdicted thousands of illegal aliens and saved many lives. We are also very proud of the fact that our FRC program has surpassed all historical quality benchmarks resulting in truly exceptional vessels that will serve our Nation for many years to come.”
The 154 foot patrol craft USCGC LAWRENCE LAWSON is the 20th vessel in the Coast Guard’s Sentinel-class FRC program, and the second FRC to be stationed at Cape May, NJ. The decision to homeport these vessels at Cape May, NJ is significant because it expands the footprint of FRC operations beyond the Bahamas and the Caribbean. Previous cutters have been stationed in the 7th Coast Guard District in Florida or San Juan, PR. To build the FRC, Bollinger used a proven, in-service parent craft design based on the Damen Stan Patrol Boat 4708. It has a flank speed of 28 knots, state of the art command, control, communications and computer technology, and a stern launch system for the vessel’s 26 foot cutter boat. The FRC has been described as an operational “game changer,” by senior Coast Guard officials.
The Coast Guard took delivery on the 20th of October, 2016 in Key West, Florida and is scheduled to commission the vessel in Cape May, NJ during early 2017.
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 Hero Lawrence Lawson, who was awarded the Gold Lifesaving Medal on Oct. 17, 1890 for his leadership skills and heroic efforts in the successful rescue of the 18 member crew of the steam vessel Calumet.
Bollinger Shipyards LLC (www.bollingershipyards.com) is a leading 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 throughout Louisiana 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 25 dry-docks.