NavyRecognition is reporting the award of a contract for a fourth Damen 2606 patrol boat to be built in Ecuador for the Ecuadorian Coast Guard. Apparently this boat is the latest version of the USCG’s 87 foot patrol boats.

NavyRecognition illustrated their story with a photo of a member of the class in Saudi Arabian service (completed 2002/3). Reportedly the Ecuadorian boats will have a speed of 30 knots. Specs for the Saudi boat from my Combat fleets of the World also indicate a speed of 30 knots as opposed to 27 knots for the 87 ft WPBs and that they use two MTU 12V396 TE94 diesels for 4,430HP as against two MTU 8V396 TE94 diesels for 2,950HP for the WPBs, so same series engines but a 50% larger version. There appears to be some differences in the hull too as the discontinuity in the main deck is further forward in the Saudi boats (which were built in the Netherlands).

With boats built under Coast Guard Contracts for the US Navy, Yemen, and Malta, and additional boats built or building for Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, and Ecuador these boats are becoming relatively common.

When, perhaps I should say if, the Coast Guard starts to replace their river tenders (previous plans to develop a common hull with the Army Corp of Engineers seem to have been shelved) perhaps they should look at this propulsion concept involving four Schottel Twin Propellers STP 200 as reported by MarineLog.

Stars and Stripes is providing some details of the 2014 RIMPAC exercise (“23 nations heading to Hawaii for RIMPAC as exercise details emerge”) to be conducted June 25 to August 4, and it appears the Coast Guard will have a significant role to play, including significant interaction with the People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLAN).

Referring to PLAN participation “…an oiler, frigate and destroyer will participate in a “maritime interdiction operations” task force under a U.S. Coast Guard cutter commanding officer, Lt. Lenaya Rot­klein, a spokes­woman for the Navy’s 3rd Fleet in San Diego, said Monday.

“The maritime interdiction operation involving the Chinese destroyer, frigate and oiler was referenced in December by the Navy as being under the Coast Guard cutter Waesche and including two Royal Brunei Navy ships, a French frigate, a U.S. frigate and the Pearl Harbor-based cruiser USS Port Royal.”

FierceHomelandSecurity is reporting that authorities in California are calling for a formalized, standing Federal/State Task Force to deal with smuggling by “Pangas” high powered and seaworthy open boats being used to smuggle drugs and people into California.

“While smugglers have also used cross-border tunnels and ultra-light aircraft to sidestep land border security, pangas have proven cheap and effective. Marijuana seizures from panga boats jumped from 3,800 to 120,000 pounds from 2008 to 2012, the report says.”

The Coast Guard has of course been attempting to intercept this traffic all along. We have even lost a man in this enforcement effort.

Perhaps most important is a proposal to increase Maritime Domain Awareness,

“The report also recommends that California work with federal agencies to install advanced radar and sonar technologies along the state’s coast to detect more of the vessels that currently evade authorities.”

Navy recognition has an interesting note here about a device the CG might want in its kit, assuming it works:

I’ve seem several reports of the Israeli seizure of a Panamanian flag vessel, the KLOS-C, reportedly transporting long range rockets and perhaps other weapons being shipped by Iran to terrorists in Gaza. But NavyRecognition’s is the first report I’ve seen that actually showed the seizure. They also the show the reported route of the weapons.

The intercept point looks to be a bit over 700 miles from the nearest Israeli port. Apparently the crew of the Panamanian ship is claiming they had no idea what they were carrying.

It is interesting to see the forces the Israeli Navy used to make this seizure. They did not scrimp. They apparently made the boarding using three RHIBs and they had at least two surface combatants on scene, a Sa’ar 5 corvette (1,275 tons full load, larger than a 210, but smaller than a 270) and a missile boat, which appears to be a Sa’ar 4.5 (488 tons full load, about a third larger than an FRC). From the video it is obvious they had an aircraft on scene, possibly a helicopter from the Sa’ar 5. It may have been overkill in this case but both of the two Israeli vessels carried anti-ship missiles and a CIWS. The Sa’ar 5 corvette is also equipped with short range AAW missiles, and the missile boat has a 76 mm.

Photo: Israeli Sa’ar 5  corvettes. Israeli Defense Forces photo

Photo: Sa’ar 4.5 missile boat, Israeli Defense Force photo

I’m afraid I’m a bit late with this, but if you have not seen or heard Admiral Papp’s State of the Coast Guard Speech you can read it here.

Actually it is a good speech, and it cites several indicators that the Acquisitions Directorate has gotten its act together. Lots of other issues addressed as well.

The Maritime Professional is carrying an announcement from the

“The Coast Guard Foundation, a nonprofit organization committed to the education and welfare of Coast Guard members and their families, announced today it has established the Douglas Munro Scholarship Fund. Named for the only Coast Guard member to be awarded the Medal of Honor, the new scholarship will help children of Coast Guard members achieve their goals of a college education.”

Check out the Maritime Professional post for details including a limited edition challenge coin offer.