A Boat for All Reasons

BACKGROUND

The Long Range Interceptor (LRI) is an 11-meter aluminum rib boat designed to deploy off a stern ramp from the Coast Guard’s National Security Cutter and the Offshore Patrol Cutter. The boat will be fitted with dual diesel engines with water jets, and will have over-the-horizon capabilities and be able to carry up to 14 people. The LRI’s various electronic systems, which are being designed by Lockheed Martin in Moorestown, N.J., will allow it to operate independently from its originating cutter to track, intercept and board suspicious vessels.

SCOPE

Deepwater, the Coast Guard’s 25-year, $24 billion procurement plan, includes up to 42 LRIs, comprising a total contract value estimated at $30 million. Willard Marine Inc. is contracted to design and build the boats by Integrated Coast Guard Systems, a joint venture of Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin that is handling the research, design and construction of the Deepwater fleet.

TIMELINE

The design phase of the LRI is expected to be completed in June. Construction will begin in August, and initial delivery of the first

LRI is scheduled for February 2007.

WHO’S IN CHARGE

Jojo Nery, executive vice president and program manager for the LRI, has been with Willard Marine for 20 years.

“The platform for this boat has been under development since 1992 as a fiberglass version. We have done a lot of boats for the U.S. Navy, and have converted this hull design into aluminum. Over the years, we built two boats out of aluminum. For the LRI, we incorporated all the lessons learned from developing a lightweight rib boat into the LRI hull.

The biggest capability for the LRI is its over-the-horizon capability. It can travel 400 nautical miles on a single deployment. The speed the LRI is designed for is 45 knots. There is not a rib boat available that can do 400 miles at 45 knots. The cabin design will protect its personnel from the extreme elements on the ocean; it is designed with six shock-mitigating seats to make its crew members more comfortable. It can go all the way to sea state six — that’s quite a challenge.

We have designed the console wherein the driver will have everything he needs right in front of him, and so will the navigator and engineer. The boat is also equipped with two laptops for classified and unclassified capabilities.

Whatever we learn from the design phase can be applied to any boats we design in the future. The launch and recovery from the stern ramp was a difficult challenge. We want to make sure the boat can be retrieved properly. It’s a heavier boat, about three times the weight of the previous 7-meter rib boat. We’ve made changes and modifications to our design. We have bigger engines that will allow the LRI to maneuver properly.

The LRI is an efficient, modern boat for the U.S. Coast Guard. The LRI can pretty much do everything.”