Landrieu Announces Metal Shark Will Receive Its Largest, Single Coast Guard Order
Coast Guard increased the number of boats purchased from Metal Shark from 16 to 60 after Landrieu intervenes
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JEANERETTE—During a visit to Metal Shark Aluminum Boats in Jeanerette, U.S. Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., chair of the Senate Energy Committee and Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, announced today that the Coast Guard ordered 44 Response Boat-Small IIs (RB-S IIs) worth a total value of $15.2 million from Metal Shark for FY14. This is in addition to the original 16 ordered in July, bringing the number of RB-S IIs under contract to 159. Sen. Landrieu has called the patrol boats the “backbone of the Coast Guard patrol fleet”. In July, the Morgan City Daily Review wrote that Metal Shark employees were in danger of losing their jobs if the Coast Guard did not place its initial order of boats for FY14 quickly. Sen. Landrieu used her position as the chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee to urge the Coast Guard to speed up its order. It did. In August, she pledged to Metal Shark employees that she would fight for the Coast Guard to continue to increase its order for FY14. Today, she announced that she has kept that promise. “Last month, I visited Metal Shark and told employees that I would go back to Washington and fight for it to build 55 boats. Today, I was proud to announce that I have kept the promise I made and can say the Coast Guard has ordered a total of 60 response boats worth $15.2 million! These response boats are the backbone of the Coast Guard to keep our ports secure, save lives during emergencies and stop illegal drugs from entering the US,” Sen. Landrieu said. “What the employees at Metal Shark do every day is not just build boats—they build a stronger future and middle class for Louisiana!” Ordering 60 boats this year will represent a 36 percent increase over the 44 ordered last year. The Coast Guard has already accepted delivery of 99 RB-S IIs and may order up to 470 boats under the current contract. The first boats from this order will be delivered in January 2015. The RB-S II is a high-speed, multi-mission platform designed for year-round use in shallow water. It can be used for search and rescue, law enforcement, port security, environmental response operations, and drug and migrant interdiction. Each boat is 29 feet long and can travel at a top speed of at least 45 knots. The RB-S II features functional and ergonomic improvements, such as longer cabins and shock-mitigating rear seats, and is gradually replacing the Defender-class RB-S, which is nearing the end of its planned 10-year service life.
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