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THE EDUCATOR - Fall 2000

Prototype Coast Guard Fast Boat Cruises to First Drug Bust in San Juan Islands - New Coast Guard vessel easily nabbed speeding Bayliner with marujuana

by Special Agent Rick Shelton, Coast Guard Investigative Service, and BMC Norm Smith, Officer-in-Charge, Coast Guard Station, Bellingham

On 30 August 2000, when two men in a Bayliner fast boat shot south in the dark past Lummi and Sinclair Islands carrying over 120 pounds of marijuana, little did they know their number was about to be up. Chances are these smugglers had made similar trips in the past; journeys southwhichhad become routine. This trip was no different; so they thought. Also lurking in the waters off of Lummi Island that evening was Coast Guard UTM No. 275586. The numbers 275586 are emblazoned on the Coast Guard’s new prototype 27-foot utility boat, which surprised the Bayliner’s crew by coming out of nowhere and quickly overtaking them near Bellingham. While heading north on the East Side of St. Claire Island, UTM 275586’s crew spotted the 21-foot Bayliner Trophy named IKEA speeding south at almost 40 knots. There was no Intel about the boat, however, due to its Idaho State registry numbers the Coast Guard decided to investigate. UTM 275586 turned and revved its engines and gave chase. They were able to come easily alongside the Bayliner and do a Coast Guard boarding. After boarding the Bayliner and discovering two duffel bags full of “BC bud,” the two men were arrested and brought in, with the prototype towing in their boat. The Coast Guard’s agile new boat was built by Safeboats International of Bremerton, WA and delivered to Coast Guard Station Bellingham on August 22.

Coast Guard Station Bellingham was chosen to test the prototype because of its emphasison combating maritime drugsmuggling between Canada and the United States. The 23-foot boats Bellingham used in the past only reached speeds of approximately 30mph, which made it difficult, and sometimes impossible to catch pleasure craft capable of cruising at speeds of 45 to 50 mph. The 27-foot, 8000-pound vessel is equipped with high-tech electronics and can go from 0 mph to 50 mph in three seconds. But chasing down drug smugglers isn’t the only reason the Coast Guard purchased the fast boat. The prototype, which has not been named, has also been used several times to aid distressed boaters throughout the waters around the San Juan Islands. “If you have someone in trouble out at Deception Pass, you want to get there quick,” said Chief Boatswain’s Mate Norm Smith, the Officer-in-Charge of Station Bellingham.

While Station Bellingham tests out the prototype, the next model, which is already being built, will incorporate the changes Bellingham crews suggests, including adding more fuel storage capacity. It will also be sleeker, to cut through waves more easily, but the design will basically remain the same. Smith expects a second 27-footer will eventually replace one of Bellingham’s two 41-foot cutters. The smaller boats not only outperform the 41-foot boats in speed and maneuverability, but also in cost.

A new cutter costs $1.5 million to $2 million dollars. The 27-foot fast boat costs about $150,000.00. The 8000-pound boat was designed for easy care, with twin 250 Mercury outboards that require less maintenance than the inboard diesel engines used in the large cutters.

In the past, the smugglers could outrun the Coast Guard. . . those days are gone!