New US Coastal Inteceptor Vessel Launched

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New US Coastal Interceptor Vessel Launched

06.12.2016

New US Coastal Interceptor Vessel Launched

US Customs & Border Protection Coastal Interceptor Vessel

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO) and SAFE Boat International presented their newest Coastal Interceptor Vessel (CIV) at the International WorkBoat Show in New Orleans.

With four Mercury outboard engines, generating a total of 1400 horsepower, the 41 foot (12.5m) interceptor is designed to outrun and outmanoeuvre vessels carrying illegal cargo.

AMO marine interdiction agents will operate the CIV in offshore and coastal waters to combat maritime smuggling and protect U.S. ports from acts of terrorism. The vessel will provide agents with requisite speed, improved safety and comfort. The new CIV will incorporate technological advances in hull design, safety equipment and electronics packages to enhance operational effectiveness.

In honour of AMO’s historical legacy, this first CIV is named the ‘Alexandria’, after one of the first maritime law enforcement ’Collectorships’ used by the Department of Treasury in 1789. The history of AMO’s marine program dates back to when the United States established the U.S. Customs Service and deployed a fleet of vessels to patrol coastal waters to prevent the smuggling of contraband.

AMO currently operates a fleet of interceptor vessels which are approaching the end of their service life. The CIV is capable of high speed interceptions in close proximity to other vessels as well as open ocean speeds of over 54 knots. Deputy Assistant Commissioner for AMO, Edward E. Young, said, ‘We are committed to equipping our agents with what they need, enhancing their ability to perform this important homeland security mission.’

Agents say this speed, plus new technology including the latest radar and navigation tools, will help them stay ahead of drug cartels and human smuggling operations who have invested in bigger and better boats over the years. Also, shock mitigating seats will give agents longer careers by protecting them from injury when they cruise over choppy waters.

CBP marine interdiction agent Ryan Haines said, ‘We have a longer range and a faster boat. It's more maneuverable and more comfortable to operate.’ The new vessels will first roll out to high traffic coastal areas where agents find the most illegal cargo including Southern California, South Florida, the Gulf Coast and the Caribbean.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of United States borders at and between the official ports of entry. Today, AMO has approximately 1,660 federal employees, including 1,200 federal agents, 240 aircraft, and 300 marine vessels operating throughout the United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

SAFE Boats International

SAFE Boats International, a Washington based manufacturer of aluminum boats, completed the first Coastal Interceptor Vessel on contract from U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations. Following the acceptance of this first vessel, AMO intends to acquire up to 52 of the new CIVs to meet emerging Department of Homeland Security mission requirements. The contract, should all options be executed, is valued at over $48 million.

The CIV can be configured for a number of mission operations including pursuing suspect vessels for the purpose of boarding, searching, and when necessary, arresting violators and seizing the suspect vessel and contraband. SAFE Boat’s CIV is specifically configured to provide AMO Marine Interdiction Agents a safe working platform with outstanding performance, sea keeping and mission capabilities.

The AMO CIV is a variant of the SAFE 41 Interceptor, a design currently in service with the Royal Bahamian Police, Royal Gibraltar Defense Forces and Colombian Navy.

Dennis Morris, President and CEO said, ‘SAFE Boats is honored to be delivering our milestone 2000th hull as the first Coastal Interceptor Vessel to U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations whose vital mission is to defend our great country.'

Air and Marine Operations Mission

The mission of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Air and Marine Operations (AMO) is to serve and protect the American people. AMO apply advanced aeronautical and maritime capabilities and employ unique skill sets to preserve America’s security interests. AMO interdicts unlawful people and cargo approaching U.S. borders, investigates criminal networks and provides domain awareness in the air and maritime environments, and responds to contingencies and national taskings.

AMO’s missions fall into four broad categories that reflect core competencies: interdiction, investigation, domain awareness, contingency operations and national tasking missions.

Interdiction encompasses efforts to intercept, apprehend, or disrupt threats in the land, sea and air domains as they move toward or across the United States borders.

AMO leverages the expertise of agents in the air and maritime domains to conduct investigations to defeat criminal networks.

Domain awareness is the observation of the operating environment (air, land and water) and the information gathered through the network of sensors deployed on aircraft, vessels, and land-based persistent wide-area surveillance.

AMO performs a range of aviation and maritime contingency operations and national tasking missions, including disaster relief, Continuity of Operations, humanitarian operations, enforcement relocation, search and rescue, and National Special Security Events.