IMAGERY AVAILABLE: Coast Guard's first California-based Fast Response Cutter arrives in San Pedro

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 08/11/2018 08:37 PM EDT

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U.S. Coast Guard 11th District PA Detachment LA/LB
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Coast Guard's first California-based Fast Response Cutter arrives in San Pedro

The Coast Guard Cutter Forrest Rednour, a Sentinel-Class Fast Response Cutters (FRC), arrives at its new homeport at Coast Guard Base Los Angeles-Long Beach Aug. 11, 2018. The Forrest Rednour is slated to be the first of four FRCs to be homeported at Base Los Angeles-Long Beach and is scheduled to be officially commissioned in the fall. U.S. Coast Guard video.
The Coast Guard Cutter Forrest Rednour, arrives in the Channel of San Pedro, California, Aug. 11, 2018. The Forrest Rednour is slated to be the first of four Fast-Response Cutters to be home-ported at Base Los Angeles-Long Beach and is scheduled to be officially commissioned in the fall. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class DaVonte' Marrow. The Coast Guard Cutter Forrest Rednour, passes by the Angels Gate Light House in San Pedro, California, Aug. 11, 2018. Three additional Fast-Response Cutters are scheduled to arrive to California and be commissioned by summer of 2019. U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class DaVonte' Marrow. The Coast Guard Cutter Forrest Rednour arrives in San Pedro, California, August 11, 2018. The cutter was named after Forrest Rednour who aided in the rescue of 133 people during the sinking of the U.S.A.T. Dorchester, Feb. 3, 1943. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Mark Barney)

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SAN PEDRO, Calif. — The Coast Guard's first California-based Sentinel-Class Fast Response Cutter arrived in San Pedro, Saturday morning.

The Coast Guard Cutter Forrest Rednour arrived at its new homeport at Coast Guard Base Los Angeles-Long Beach, where the crew will begin training to become certified in law enforcement and rescue operations. 

The Forrest Rednour is the first of four FRCs to be homeported at Base Los Angeles-Long Beach and is scheduled to be officially commissioned in the fall.

"This ship and the three other Fast Response Cutters bound for California will help strengthen our security and emergency response capabilities in the Pacific Southwest," said Rear Adm. Peter Gautier, the 11th Coast Guard District commander. "Working with our partner agencies, we will continue to protect our global supply chain, disrupt the transnational criminal organizations that smuggle drugs and traffic humans into our nation, and keep our waterways safe and secure."

Three additional FRCs are scheduled to arrive and be commissioned by summer of 2019. While these ships will be based in San Pedro, they will operate throughout the 11th Coast Guard District, which includes all of California and international waters off of Mexico and Central America.  

"We are excited and honored to bring the Forrest Rednour to her new homeport in San Pedro," said Lt. Graham Sherman, the Forrest Rednour's commanding officer. "We are absolutely humbled to bring this cutter to life and the Coast Guard could not have selected a better crew to honor Forrest Rednour. This crew will do a phenomenal job of serving the people of California by keeping the coasts, harbors and shipping channels safe and secure."

FRC’s are 154-foot multi-mission ships designed to conduct: drug and migrant interdictions; ports, waterways and coastal security operations; fisheries and environmental protection patrols; national defense missions; and search and rescue.

To date, the Coast Guard has accepted delivery of 29 FRCs. Each ship is designed for a crew of 24, has a range of 2,500 miles and is equipped for patrols up to five days. The FRCs are part of the Coast Guard’s overall fleet modernization initiative.

FRCs feature advanced command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance equipment as well as over-the-horizon response boat deployment capability and improved habitability for the crew. The ships can reach speeds of 28 knots and are equipped to coordinate operations with partner agencies and long-range Coast Guard assets such as the Coast Guard’s National Security Cutters.

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