Attendees will have the opportunity to ride and speak with crews of the Special Purpose Craft - Shallow Water from Station Chincoteague, Va., and the Response Boat - Medium from Station Little Creek, Virginia Beach.

The 24-foot SPC-SW, which will replace and standardize response boats between 18 and 25 feet long, is the Coast Guard's new response boat for shallow water locations. Station Chincoteague conducted operations with a prototype of the craft for more than a year before the delivery of this boat Nov. 5.

The a 45-foot RB-M, which will replace the 41-foot response boat, has operated at Station Little Creek since April, 2008, and has been involved in numerous search and rescue cases and operations during its testing period there.

These boats are both examples of the Coast Guard's drive for modernization in the boat fleet, enhancing response and law enforcement capabilities for the stations where they are stationed.

Any media interested in attending should contact Petty Officer 3^rd Class Mark Jones, Fifth Coast Guard District Public Affairs, at 757-398-6274.

A boat crew from Coast Guard Station Chincoteague, Va., drive the new Special Purpose Craft - Shallow Water Oct. 21, 2008. The SPC-SW is the Coast Guard's new response boat which can operate in shallower water than other response boats, providing access to areas previously unreachable. (U.S. Coast Guard photo/Petty Officer 3rd Class Mark Jones)

A new 45-foot response boat medium (RB-M) passes by the Washington Monument on the Potomac River during a capabilities demonstration, Sept. 24, 2008. This boat was the first model put into testing and is currently assigned to Station Little Creek, Va. The RB-M will re-capitalize capabilities of the existing multi-mission 41-foot utility boats (UTB) and multiple nonstandard boats to meet the needs of the Coast Guard. (U.S. Coast Guard photo/Petty Officer 1st Class Adam Eggers)

###

Saving Lives and Guarding the Coast Since 1790.
The United States Coast Guard -- Proud History. Powerful Future.