Sept. 19, 2017 —
Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Tezanos crewmembers offload supplies, equipment and emergency personnel to assist the residents of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands after Hurricane Irma on Sept. 10, 2017. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Petty Officer Crystalynn Kneen.
Four fast response cutters (FRCs) – Donald Horsley, Joseph Tezanos, Joseph Napier and Heriberto Hernandez – have deployed to assist in Hurricane Irma recovery efforts in the Virgin Islands, showcasing their multimission capabilities.
The FRCs’ efforts have included delivering food, water, electrical supplies and emergency response personnel; assisting with port assessments; maintaining a law enforcement presence; and marking hazards to navigation. All four cutters are all based in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The 154-foot FRCs have a maximum speed of more than 28 knots, a range of 2,500 nautical miles and endurance for five-day patrols. They also feature advanced command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance equipment and over-the-horizon cutter boat deployment to reach vessels of interest or investigate debris.
Twenty-three FRCs are in service across the country; the Coast Guard is acquiring 58 total.
For more information: Fast Response Cutter Program page