(LOCKPORT, La.) — Bollinger Shipyards recently delivered USCGC David Duren to the U.S. Coast Guard in Key West, Fla. This is the 182nd vessel Bollinger has delivered to the Coast Guard over a 35-year period and the 56th fast response cutter (FRC) delivered under the current program.
“We’re incredibly proud to deliver the USCGC David Duren, the first of three fast response cutters to be home-ported in Astoria, Ore.,” said Bollinger President and CEO Ben Bordelon. “We’re confident that pound for pound, the quality and capabilities of the FRC platform are unmatched and that this vessel will outperform its mission requirements and expectations in the challenging conditions where it will operate in the Pacific Northwest.”
USCGC David Duren will be the first of three FRCs to be home-ported in Sector Columbia River. The sector is responsible for coastal safety, security and environmental protection, as well as protecting and securing vital infrastructure, rescuing mariners in peril at sea, enforcing federal law, maintaining navigable waterways, and responding to all hazards impacting the maritime transportation system along the Oregon coast.
Each FRC is named for an enlisted Coast Guard hero who distinguished themselves in the line of duty. Boatswain’s mate master chief David N. Duren was one of the most iconic figures in the history of Coast Guard surfmen. Considered perhaps the finest boat driver in the history of the modern Coast Guard, he is remembered by his shipmates and mentees not only for his expertise in seamanship, but also for his leadership and character.
Between 1979 and 1983, Duren deployed on search and rescue cases more frequently than any other officer in charge and, in one year, executed over 250 cases. During this tour, Duren received two Coast Guard medals for exceptional heroism, and the Douglas A. Munro Inspirational Leadership Award. Perhaps more remarkable was the fact that the personnel under his watch at Depoe Bay earned a total of 24 medals and awards.
– Bollinger Shipyards
