News Releases

Mobile Police Purchase New Boat with Grant Funding

Feb 24th, 2011

On February 15, 2011, the Mobile Police Department took delivery of a 26-foot custom-designed ridged hull aluminum boat. The Department's new vessel is over nine feet wide, drafts one and a half feet of water and is equipped with police lights, siren, radar, chart plotter and depth sounder. Powered by two 200-horsepower outboard engines, the boat has a top speed of 55 miles per hour.

The boat, which was built by locally owned Silver Ships, Inc., was purchased though the 2007 Port Security Grant program offered by FEMA. The grant also allowed the Department to install a boat lift, allowing for quicker response time and lowering operating costs. Other equipment purchased with the grant funding will give Mobile Police Department the ability to place a total of three patrol boats in service.

This vessel will be used for ship escorts (such as the Carnival cruise ship Elation, shown in the picture), dive operations, maritime law enforcement, search and rescue operations as well as any other port security operations.

With new business coming to the Port of Mobile, port security operations are expected to increase. The addition of this vessel to the Mobile Police Department's fleet will enhance the Department's capability in securing our waterfront. Currently, Mobile Police Department has more port security recourses than any agency in Alabama.

For more information about the new boat, the Marine Unit or the Mobile Police Department, please call (251) 208-1918 or visit the Field Operations Division page of the Mobile Police Department's web site, www.MobilePD.org. Media tours will be available on request.

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Ashley H. Rains
Public Information Office
Office: 208-1918
Fax: 208-1758