Vice Adm. Paul Thomas, Coast Guard deputy commandant for mission help, and Ambassador Andrés Durán Hareau, Uruguay ambassador to the USA, commemorated the upcoming switch of three 87-foot Protector-class patrol boats to Uruguay in a ceremony at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Uruguay was chosen to obtain former Coast Guard Cutters Albacore, Cochito, and Gannet by the Navy Worldwide Packages Workplace and signed a $5 million Letter of Supply and Acceptance Dec. 15, 2021. The switch is facilitated via the Extra Protection Articles (EDA) Program of the Coast Guard’s Workplace of Worldwide Acquisition.
Thomas referred to as the switch a win-win scenario, serving to Uruguay to swiftly improve its maritime safety whereas attaining the objectives of each nations. He stated the patrol boats are nonetheless a vital asset within the Coast Guard fleet, with 64 nonetheless in operation. The previous cutters will bear upkeep, upgrades, and outfitting at Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore. Members of the Uruguay Navy can even be skilled within the operation and upkeep of the vessels. As soon as work on the vessels and coaching is full, the Uruguay Navy crewmembers will sail the patrol boats to Uruguay, with arrival anticipated in July 2022.
Commercial
The Marine Protector class is a category of coastal patrol boats of the USA Coast Guard. The 87-foot-long vessels are primarily based on the Stan 2600 design by Damen Group, and have been constructed by Bollinger Shipyards of Lockport, Louisiana. Every boat is called after sea creatures which fly or swim. The Coast Guard positioned its unique order in 1999 for 50 boats, which have been delivered by mid-2002. A number of extra orders introduced the category to a complete of 74 ships, with the final, USCGC Sea Fox, being accomplished in October 2009. 4 extra vessels have been constructed for International Navy Gross sales, with two every going to Malta and Yemen.
Hareau expressed his deep gratitude to the USCG for the switch to the Uruguay Navy, which is within the technique of upgrading its fleet. He stated the patrol boats would exchange two 95-foot Cape-class patrol boats transferred to Uruguay in 1990 below the predecessor to the EDA program. These boats are actually greater than 60 years previous. EDA transfers are a useful software in a bigger safety cooperation program that permits the USCG to make important contributions to constructing and sustaining international maritime partnerships in help of our nationwide maritime technique. These patrol boats will assist Uruguay increase its functionality in a number of essential areas, together with search and rescue, maritime legislation enforcement, and fisheries enforcement.
