SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Coast Guard Boat Station San Juan received four new 29-foot Response Boat Small (RB-S II) platforms April 9 and April 11, 2013 as part of the service’s plan to standardize and revitalize its shore-based fleet including the Sector San Juan area or responsibility.
Production contractors from Metal Shark Aluminum Boats delivered two RB-S II’s to Coast Guard Station San Juan Boat Forces in St. Thomas April 11, 2013 and delivered two others to Coast Guard Boat Forces in St. Croix April 9, 2013.
The RBS-II will replace the 25-foot Defender-class RB-S platforms that are currently in service as they reach the end of their service life.
“This new platform will allow our units to be better prepared to respond to Search and Rescue calls and potential threats around the U.S. Virgin Islands, and continue to extend the Coast Guard’s footprint and visibility throughout the Sector San Juan area of responsibility, said Senior Chief Petty Officer Robert Gonzales, Boat Station San Juan Officer in Charge.”
The 29-foot RB-S II boats have an improved design, new ergonomics, and enhanced safety features, making boat crews more effective in performing their multiple missions.
The 29-foot RB-S II is a high-speed, easily deployable asset designed to operate year-round in shallow waters along coastal borders. The boat is four feet longer than its predecessor and was designed with an increased emphasis on function and crew comfort.
To view information on the 29-foot RB-S II, visit http://www.uscg.mil/acquisition/rbs/
A Coast Guard Boat Forces Saint Croix crew tests a new 29-foot Response Boat Small (RB-S II) April 9,2013, during the acceptance process to receive four units in the Sector San Juan area of responsibility.
A Coast Guard Boat Forces St. Thomas crew tests a new 29-foot Response Boast Small (RB-S II) April 11,2013, during the acceptance process to receive four units in the Sector San Juan area of responsibility. \
