ST. IGNACE, Mich. — The crew of Coast Guard Station St. Ignace, Mich., took delivery August 13 of the station’s new 45-foot Response Boat-Medium.
The station crew will be running tests on the new boat out of the St. Ignace Harbor within Lake Huron, experiencing its advanced capabilities.
With 825 boiler horsepower, the RB-M can respond faster than previous boats of similar size and has a top speed in excess of 40 knots.
It has advanced search capability with an installed forward-looking infrared search technology. Additionally, with twin jet propulsion, the vessel is extremely maneuverable and is better suited to respond to mariners in distress in shallow water.
The boat has a deep-V, double-chine hull, which provides a balance of performance and stability . It can handle heavy seas and waves up to 12 feet and carry up to 24 people. If it capsizes due to rough weather, the boat is designed to right itself.
"Our crew is eager to start training with the new platform and utilizing its advanced systems to prevent loss of life," said Senior Chief Michael Beatty, officer-in-charge of Station St. Ignace.
The RB-M is being added to Station St. Ignace's current asset complement, consisting of two 25-foot Response Boats-Small, one 26-foot Trailerable Aids-to-Navigation Boat and will be replacing the station's 47-foot Motor Life Boat.
Something noteworthy is the fact that Station St. Ignace's RB-M marks the 100th off the production line, out of a planned 166 RB-Ms built for the service through the Coast Guard's Acquisition Directorate.
