US Coast Guard to commission 1st California-based fast response cutter in San Pedro

The US Coast Guard is scheduled to commission today the first California-based 154-foot fast response cutter at Catalina Express Terminal in San Pedro.

The Forrest Rednour (WPC-1129) is the first of four Sentinel-Class fast response cutters (FRC) to be homeported at Base Los Angeles-Long Beach.

In June this year, Bollinger Shipyards delivered the newbuilding to the coast guard.

Three additional FRCs are scheduled to be commissioned by summer 2019. While these ships will be based in San Pedro, they will operate throughout the 11th Coast Guard District, which includes all of California and international waters off of Mexico and Central America.

FRC’s are 154-foot multi-mission ships designed to conduct drug and migrant interdictions, ports, waterways and coastal security operations, fisheries and environmental protection patrols, national defense missions and search and rescue.

To date, the USCG has accepted delivery of 31 FRCs. Each ship is designed for a crew of 24, has a range of 2,500 miles and is equipped for patrols up to five days. The FRCs are part of the USCG’s overall fleet modernization initiative.

FRCs feature advanced command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance equipment as well as over-the-horizon response boat deployment capability and improved habitability for the crew.

The ships can reach speeds of 28 knots and are equipped to coordinate operations with partner agencies and long-range USCG assets such as the national security cutters.