WASHINGTON — U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Office of Air and Marine (OAM), received its tenth operational Riverine Shallow Draft Vessel (RSDV), June 10, 2015.
The 21-foot RSDV is designed to allow Border Patrol Agents to operate in shallow rivers and lake areas of the United States. With a minimum crew of two, the vessel can operate in four inches of water and safely transit in areas containing rocks, gravel, trees, logs, sandbars, and vegetation. The RSDV provides improved capabilities to the agency as it retires aging vessels within the fleet.
“This vessel will provide years of reliable service to CBP,” said Douglas Wagner, director, National Marine Center. “It provides our agents with a safe and dependable working platform to perform their duties and missions.”
The RSDV is manufactured by ReconCraft and powered by a Yanmar Turbo Diesel engine coupled to a Hamilton Jet Pump. The vessel will be based out of Laredo, Texas.
A total of 33 RSDVs will be delivered to CBP over the next two years, with delivery of subsequent vessels anticipated at one per month.