U.S. Coast Guard accepts delivery of 63rd Fast Response Cutter named for 9/11 hero

KEY WEST — The U.S. Coast Guard accepted delivery of the 63rd Fast Response Cutter, Jeffrey Palazzo (WPC 1163), on Thursday in Key West. Jeffrey Palazzo is the fifth FRC to be homeported in Guam, joining the recently commissioned Vincent Danz (WPC 1162). The Sentinel-class FRCs replaced the 1980s Island-class 110-foot patrol boats and possess 21st-century command, control, communications, computers, cyber, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance equipment, with improved habitability and seakeeping. The U.S. Coast Guard ordered a total of 77 FRCs to date to perform a range of missions, including countering illicit maritime activities, search and rescue, bilateral and multilateral international operations, and the national defense of ports, waterways, and coastal areas.