- Capsized USCG 25-foot boat
- USCGboatCapsize02_25_2016.jpg (20.13 KiB) Viewed 21034 times
The capsized boat appears to be a Response Boat-Small class boat. These boats were first acquired by the USCG in 2002 and were expected to have a ten-year lifespan. The acquisition process was somewhat rushed by the exigencies of creating a standardized small boat for the USCG for port security and other functions following the terrorist attacks of 9-11-2001.
In 2010 the USCG held competitive bids for a replacement Response Boat-Small design, resulting in a different design and different manufacturer getting the new contract award. Metal Shark Boats of Jeanerette, Louisiana and their DEFIANT 28 boat were awarded the contract for the new RB-S-II procurement, which may reach 500 boats.
During the acquisition of the new Response Boat-Small class, the request for proposal HSCG23-10-R-MOT005 contained the following requirements:
Emergency Egress, section 070-3.4.12:
Emergency Egress: During the life of RB-S fleet, there is a high likelihood that one or more boats will capsize due to unexpected environmental conditions, interaction with other vessels, hostile intent of others, or human error. The RB-S shall have egress means for all crew in the crew space to quickly and safely exit the crew space. In addition, air pockets that are available in the inverted position are highly desired to allow the crew extra time in performing egress.
Crew egress from a capsized boat was apparently an important consideration for the new RB-S-II boats. The closed cabin of the older RB-S boats was probably deemed to create a risk for the crew in the event of a capsize.
It is somwhat difficult to tell from the image of the capsized boat which model RB-S boat was involved. The (below) image appears to me to show a boat that is more like the older c.2002 Defender class RB-S boats, not the newer RB-S-II class boats.
- Capsized USCG 25-foot boat stern view
- uscgCapsizeSternView.jpg (17.14 KiB) Viewed 21009 times
