The Maine Marine Patrol is seeking bids from boat manufacturers for a new high-speed patrol boat.
The Bangor Daily News reported the 31-foot vessel would be used primarily for fisheries regulations enforcement, but would also support the U.S. Coast Guard in safety and security operations along the Maine coast.
Jeff Nichols, spokesperson for the Maine Department of Marine Resources, told the BDN that the patrol’s current fleet, designed for fisheries enforcement, are not suited for safety and security missions.
“The vessel must be highly maneuverable, capable of reaching speeds in excess of [52 mph] and be capable of deploying a 12-man tactical force,” according to the DMR’s solicitation.
The state’s goal is to have the new boat by mid-July 2018.