Photo courtesy of Bollinger Shipyards, Inc.

The first Fast Response Cutter, Bernard C. Webber, gets underway off the coast of Grand Isle, La. Download this image.

by Acquisition Directorate

USCG photo by PA2 Etta Smith

Miriam Webber, the wife of Bernard Webber for 59 years, puts her hand over her heart as Taps is played in honor of her deceased husband during a graveside ceremony in Wellfleet, Mass., Saturday, May 9, 2009. Webber began his 20 year career in the Coast Guard in 1946 and was the coxswain of a 36-foot motorized, wooden lifeboat during the historic rescue of the crew of the Pendleton, a 520-foot tanker, off the coast of Chatham, Mass., Feb. 18, 1952, where 32 lives were saved in the midst of 60-foot seas and winds exceeding 50 miles per hour. Download this image.

The Sentinel-class Fast Response Cutter project achieved an important milestone this week for the Coast Guard’s patrol boat recapitalization efforts.

The Bernard C. Webber, the lead ship in the Sentinel class, got underway Sunday for the first time in preparation for builder’s trials, which are scheduled to begin Wednesday. Builder’s trials include both pier-side and underway machinery and equipment tests conducted by the shipbuilder to demonstrate the seaworthiness and functionality of Webber’s systems, including main propulsion, command and control, navigation and others. Following the successful completion of builder’s trials, the Coast Guard will conduct acceptance trials before delivery, which is scheduled for January 2012.

To learn more about the Fast Response Cutter Project, please visit the acquisition website.

U.S. Coast Guard photo

The first Fast Response Cutter, Bernard C. Webber, gets underway off the coast of Grand Isle, La. Download this image.