C.B.P. prototypes 'next generation' vessel
May 13, 2009 - 4:58am
WFED's Max Cacas

A 1200-horsepower floating law-enforcement tool!

U.S. Customs and Border Protection, a branch of the Department of Homeland Security, used a warm and sunny spring day along the Potomac River to show off what could be the future of its marine patrol vessels.

At a cost of a little over $500,000, CBP recently took delivery on the 43-foot, NORTEC 'interceptor'-class "Advanced Concept Technology Demonstrator" (ACTD) vessel.

It's designed to test a wide variety of next generation marine electronics, surveillance and patrol boat design capabilities that could make their way into the patrol boats that CBP buys in the next decade.

"Our agents had a big role in the design of this boat," explains Martin Wade, Jr., Deputy Director of CBP's Marine Operations.

"It's our primary vessel we use for alien interdictions, drug interdictions, and homeland security/border security patrols," mainly along the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts, and in the Gulf of Mexico.

"It's powered by four 350-horsepower Mercury Vorado four-stroke outboard [engines], the vessel is capable of speeds of up to 65-knots, which translates into roughly 75 m.p.h."

Wade says the extra length of the boat allows the faster speeds.

The vessel is equipped with a state-of-the art video system that allows CBP officers to view boats and planes from as far as 500 feet away, both in daylight and at night.

The high resolution video system allows officers to record the exact position of an incident along with video, which Wade says is helpful in court when prosecuting crimes.

The video system is controlled from a joystick adapted from helicopters and planes.

Wade says that new feature is, "especially popular with our Gen-X MIAs (marine interdiction agents), who grew up with video games."

Inside the open cockpit, which is designed to provide maximum visibility to the pilot, the boat is equipped with special shock-absorbing seats designed to help CBP officers cope with the movement of rough seas during long patrols.

The seats, Wade explains, are designed to combat the fatigue and strain on the body that patrol officers deal with during long patrols in open ocean.

Wade says the prototype ACTD patrol vessel is being taken to CBP facilities around the country where officers will take turns using it for their daily duties and will provide evaluations of how it performs.

A final report is expected sometime this fall, which will determine which features are included in the next procurement of patrol boats for CBP.

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