Sentinel-class Fast Response Cutter Named for 9/11 Hero and Coast Guard Reservist Officially Enters Service at New York’s Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
NEW YORK — (May 22, 2026) – Bollinger Shipyards LLC (“Bollinger”) today joined senior U.S. Coast Guard officials, distinguished guests, and the family of Vincent Danz at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York City for the commissioning ceremony of USCGC VINCENT DANZ (WPC-1162), a U.S. Coast Guard Sentinel-class Fast Response Cutter (“FRC”). The commissioning of this vessel marks a proud milestone for Bollinger and a deeply meaningful tribute to a fallen American hero.
“On September 11, 2001, our nation witnessed acts of extraordinary courage and selflessness in the face of unimaginable tragedy. Among those who answered the call was Vincent Danz, a Coast Guard reservist, a New York City Police Department officer, and an American hero,” said Ben Bordelon, President and CEO of Bollinger Shipyards. “It is an incredible honor to have built this vessel in his name. The USCGC VINCENT DANZ (WPC-1162) will carry on his legacy, sailing our waters, protecting lives, securing our homeland, and serving as a lasting reminder of his courage and sacrifice. The entire Bollinger team is deeply proud to see this cutter enter service today.”
Vincent Danz served as a Port Security Specialist 2nd Class in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve and as an officer in the NYPD’s Emergency Services Unit in the Bronx. On September 11, 2001, Danz was providing aid to victims at the World Trade Center when he perished during the collapse. His service to this nation as a Coast Guard reservist and to New York City as a law enforcement officer exemplifies a lifetime of dedication and selflessness.
In March 2025, Bollinger hosted a 9/11 Steel Transfer Ceremony at its Lockport, Louisiana facility, receiving two pieces of steel from the debris of the World Trade Center. Steel sourced from Ground Zero was treated and transported in the same manner as human remains, with four retired Coast Guard Port Security Chiefs escorting the steel from New York to Louisiana. Upon arrival, the Spirit of Louisiana fire truck transported the steel to the shipyard, underscoring the deep bond between first responders and this vessel’s legacy. Bollinger incorporated the steel into memorial plaques affixed to two Bollinger-built Sentinel-class FRCs: the USCGC VINCENT DANZ (WPC-1162) and the USCGC Jeffrey Palazzo (WPC-1163).
The 154-foot Sentinel-class Fast Response Cutter is among the most capable patrol vessels in the U.S. Coast Guard fleet. Featuring a flank speed of 28 knots, a state-of-the-art C4ISR suite (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance), and a stern-launch-and-recovery ramp for a 26-foot over-the-horizon interceptor cutter boat, the FRC is an operational gamechanger.
The commissioning of USCGC VINCENT DANZ (WPC-1162) represents another milestone in Bollinger’s long-standing partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard. Over more than three decades, Bollinger has delivered over 185 vessels to the Coast Guard, and the FRC program stands as a model of successful government acquisition. The USCGC JEFFREY PALAZZO (WPC-1163) is also under construction at Bollinger’s Lockport facility, honoring fellow Coast Guard Reservist and FDNY firefighter Jeffrey Palazzo, and is scheduled for delivery later this year.
ABOUT THE FAST RESPONSE CUTTER PLATFORM
The FRC is an operational “game changer,” according to senior Coast Guard officials. FRCs are deployed in support of the full range of U.S. Coast Guard and joint military missions due to their exceptional performance, expanded operational reach, and ability to adapt to the mission. FRCs have conducted operations as far as the Marshall Islands, a 4,400 nautical mile trip from homeport. Measuring 154 feet in length, FRCs have a flank speed of 28 knots, a state-of-the-art C4ISR suite (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance), and a stern launch and recovery ramp for a 26-foot over-the-horizon interceptor cutter boat.
ABOUT BOLLINGER SHIPYARDS
Bollinger Shipyards LLC (www.bollingershipyards.com) is a leading designer and builder of high-performance military patrol boats and salvage vessels, research vessels, ocean-going double hull barges, offshore oil field support vessels, tugboats, rigs, lift boats, inland waterways push boats, barges, and other steel and aluminum products. With 11 shipyards strategically located throughout Louisiana with direct access to the Gulf of Mexico, the Mississippi River, and the Intracoastal Waterway, Bollinger is a cornerstone of the U.S. defense industrial base.