(WATERTOWN, N.Y. and KINGSTON, Ontario) — MetalCraft Marine (MCM) has been awarded a $31 million contract from the U.S. Coast Guard as part of the Long-Range Interceptor (LRI) III program. This is the second contract MCM has received for the design and build of its 11-meter (36-foot) high-speed Interceptor patrol boat.
“Our previous Interceptor for the Coast Guard, the 11M LRI II, proved to be a very successful platform,” said MCM Contracts Manager Bob Clark. “The LRI II was the first design to successfully navigate the recovery bay at the transom of the Coast Guard’s flagship 418-foot national security cutter (NSC) at up to 12 knots. The LRI can operate over the horizon from the mothership and can travel 236 nautical miles on any given mission on plane, giving it a very wide swath to patrol after the mothership’s electronics have detected something suspicious.”
All equipment for the LRI must be dependable and durable to meet extreme environments as the boats routinely operate in sea state 5 (13 to 17 feet) at planing speeds. The boat has a closed or open cabin arrangement that allows for open operation in good weather conditions or fully closed in bad weather. Each port and starboard gunner has a 180-degree arc of fire.
Features include twin Cummins 6.7L diesels that power two Kongsberg A29 waterjets to a 40-knot speed, a Raymarine and FLIR advanced navigation system, and Shockwave and Shox suspension seating. A David Clark Co. wired crew communications system allows mariners to maintain communication with the LRI or Military Sealift Command mothership for instructions via wireless to VHF (very high frequency) connectivity.
The LRI also has a portable ballistic panel package by Safariland that is designed to be mounted to the boat’s forward/side sections in eight minutes for specific high-threat missions, and it can protect a five-person crew from a 200-degree field of fire. The open cabin arrangement allows for crew to provide return fire over a 180-degree arc of fire on both port and starboard sides with good crew protection.
The LRI is produced in sizes from 7 to 20 meters (23 feet to 65 feet) and has had great success with other military and police forces across North America. It is used for several operations including drug interception, search and rescue, and crew transfer.
MCM is currently involved with another contract for the Coast Guard for shipboard 7-meter Interceptors in addition to the LRI.
– MetalCraft Marine
