Date: January 23, 2025
Location: Rye City Marina
The Details:
- What Happened: The City of Rye Police Department has introduced a new 31’ Full Cabin SAFEBoats patrol vessel, enhancing their marine patrol capabilities.
- Why It Matters: This vessel replaces the older 2001 27’ Glacier Bay Catamaran, which, despite serving for over two decades, was limited in its year-round operational capabilities and required significant refurbishment.
- Background:
- The old vessel was initially a fishing/pleasure craft converted for law enforcement. Over time, its limitations, especially in winter operations, became evident, leading to a decision for replacement rather than repair.
- The cost for refurbishing the old boat was estimated at $150,000, yet it still wouldn’t meet current operational needs.
- The New Patrol Boat:
- Name: Patrol Boat 1 (PB1)
- Construction: Made from 5/16” 5086 aluminum, known for its durability in harsh marine environments.
- Engines: Equipped with two 400 horsepower Mercury outboard engines, offering speeds over 50 mph.
- Features:
- Fully enclosed, climate-controlled cabin.
- Shock mitigating seats for crew safety.
- Advanced marine electronics including chart plotting, radar, sonar, and thermal imaging for enhanced search and rescue.
- Statements:
- Michael A. Kopy, Commissioner of Public Safety: “With this vessel, the City of Rye has made a fundamental investment in our emergency services.”
- Rye City Mayor Josh Cohn: “We are a coastal community. I am glad that our very professional police department now has a purpose-built craft to fully enable it on the water.”
- Specifications of the 31’ SAFE Full Cabin:
- Length: 33’6” overall
- Beam: 10’0”
- Draft: 24”
- Fuel Capacity: 300 gallons
- Engines: 2 x Mercury 400 HP V10 Verado Outboards
- Generator: Westerbeke 5.0 MCGA AC
- Lighting: Whelen Emergency Lighting System
What’s Next:
- The new vessel was officially unveiled on Thursday at the Rye City Marina, marking a significant upgrade in Rye’s marine law enforcement capabilities, ensuring year-round service for the community.
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