On September 22, Birdon accomplished work on the twelfth Motor Lifeboat (MLB) and delivered it to the U.S. Coast Guard. That is the third and last boat to be delivered to Station Umpqua River, situated alongside the Central Oregon Coast.
“We’re proud to play a job in equipping the U.S. Coast Guard with state-of-the-art tools it must carry out lifesaving rescue missions,” mentioned Patrick Kinser, West Coast MLB Program Supervisor.
The twelfth vessel was refurbished in Birdon’s Bellingham, Wash. facility earlier than being delivered to Station Umpqua River, one in all solely 19 stations within the Coast Guard to be designated as a Surf Station – a specification reserved for areas the place wave circumstances are particularly rigorous. The 47’ MLBs, designed for operation in excessive surf and heavy climate circumstances, are what permit these important surf stations to keep up operations.
Along with performing tough water rescues, the station’s duties embody enforcement of legal guidelines and treaties, marine environmental safety, maritime regulation enforcement, boating security and implementation of business fishing vessel security laws.
In 2019, Birdon was awarded a 10-year contract carry out a 20-year service life extension for as much as 117 47’ U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Motor Lifeboats (MLB). This Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) will prolong the helpful lifetime of the MLB fleet via 2047.
The 47’ MLB is the Coast Guard’s major search and rescue platform and is able to working in intense surf and heavy climate circumstances. It has self-righting capabilities and the power to function in winds as much as 50 knots, seas as much as 30 ft and surf as much as 20 ft. These options improve the operational wants for the 47’ MLB in search and rescue, maritime regulation enforcement and contingency response.
