JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Coast Guard will commission the Cutter Sea Dragon (WPB-87367) in a ceremony Monday at 11 a.m. at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Ga.
Rear Adm. David W. Kunkel, commander of the Coast Guard’s Seventh District, will preside over the commissioning ceremony, which marks the formal establishment of the new cutter.
Sea Dragon is 87 feet in length, has an assigned crew of 15 and will be based in Kings Bay. Sea Dragon is one of the new, innovative Marine Protector classes of coastal patrol boats constructed by Bollinger Ship Yards of Lockport, La. Among many upgrades and uses of advance technology are integrated bridge systems and a stern launched small boat. Sea Dragon is a single-mission unit assigned to Marine Force Protection Unit Kings Bay.
MFPU Kings Bay provides enhanced security for U.S. Navy ballistic missile submarines within the units’ homeport transit areas. These submarines generally operate on the surface with other vessel traffic when entering or departing ship channels leading to their homeport. The Sea Dragon will provide additional security measures for the subs during their transits.
Sea Dragon has specially trained and equipped Coast Guard personnel to escort Navy vessels. Coast Guard personnel have broad law enforcement authority, including the authority to establish, patrol, and enforce exclusionary zones, naval vessel protective zones, restricted navigation areas, and security zones supporting naval operations.
