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NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. — The crew of Coast Guard Station Ponce de Leon Inlet in New Smyrna Beach received a brand new high-tech boat with increased capabilities, enabling faster response times Thursday.
The 45-foot Response Boat – Medium is the first of its type at the station and will replace the 47-foot Motor Life Boat.
With a maximum speed of nearly 49 mph, the new boat is capable of traveling roughly 20 mph faster than the MLB and can go into more shallow areas since its draft is 1 foot less than the older boat.
"The new boat is a great platform for conducting our missions, and with the increase of speed, it will help in our response times and allow us to better serve the Daytona community," said Master Chief Petty Officer Michael Jensen, officer in charge of Station Ponce de Leon Inlet.
The crew will continue to use the MLB while getting acquainted with the new boat, a process that is expected to take about two months. After the crew is fully qualified, the MLB will be transferred to a Coast Guard station in the northeast.
The new RB-M is one of the Coast Guard's newest boats and is equipped with state-of-the-art marine technology that makes it a high performer. Its outfit includes an advanced electrical system, water jet propulsion, and integrated electronics that allow greater control from the pilothouse. With a maximum speed of nearly 49 mph, its increased capability will enable the Coast Guard to respond to offshore missions more effectively.
A fact sheet detailing features and characteristics of the RB-M is available HERE.
EDITOR'S NOTE: There will be an opportunity once the crew of Station Ponce de Leon Inlet is fully qualified for media to get underway on the new boat. Until then, the crew will be focused on obtaining qualifications and cannot take media underway.