The following is the text of a news release from SAFE Boats International:
(BREMERTON, Wash.) — SAFE Boats International, a manufacturer of high performance, aluminum, patrol and response boats, recently manufactured and delivered two new 41-foot center-console offshore interceptors for the Royal Bahamas Police Force, adding to their growing fleet of SAFE Boats.
The vessels' primary mission is counter-narcotics and human trafficking interdiction within the waters of the Bahamas. The vessels were delivered late in December and acquired through a joint effort between the U.S. Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) and the Royal Bahamian Police Force.
The proven SAFE Boats International aluminum 41-foot design is an integrated, offshore, mission-specific vessel which can achieve pursuit speeds well in excess of 50 knots in the most extreme rough water conditions. The combination of SAFE Boats patented hull and collar designs and SHOXS seats, which are known industrywide for their shock mitigation capabilities, superior engineering and functional design, make this vessel a perfect combination of form and function. The SHOXS seats are designed to dramatically reduce the debilitating physical impact of extended, high speed, rough water operations on the crew. The ergonomic helm seat design has throttle controls integrated to the seat allowing the coxswain and the controls to be in full shock mitigation while operating at high speeds.
The boats are outfitted with a Garmin navigation suite, multiple radios and a FLIR M-Series thermal imaging camera which integrates into three multifunction display screens conveniently located for the entire crew to view and operate in low light conditions. The vessels are powered by four Mercury 300-hp Verado engines which have proven to be extremely efficient and reliable, allowing for a range that exceeds 400 nautical miles.
SAFE Boats International was recently awarded a 52-boat contract for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, named CIV (coastal interceptor vessel). The boats are currently in production for the first delivery this year.