The U.S. Government donated four Safe 27 Full Cabin patrol boats and other equipment, valued at $1.8 million, to the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF).
The vessels were acquired through a joint effort between the Royal Bahamas Police Force and the U.S. Bureau of International Narcotics & Law Enforcement Affairs, and will be operated by the Maritime Support Services Unit on counter-narcotics and human smuggling interdiction missions in Bahamian waters.
Safe Full Cabin are outboard propulsion vessels used for patrol, port security, law enforcement, and search and rescue (SAR) in almost any mission environment. In the fully enclosed cab, the climate can be controlled with a generator, air conditioning and diesel heater.
The 27 Full Cabin model measures 8.9 meters in length, can reach a top speed of 48 knots and has a range of 300 nautical miles at 30 knots. It is powered by two outboard motors of 350 hp each and has the capacity to carry up to 10 people seated.
It should be noted that both the Royal Police Force and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force have been users of several models of Safe Boats International boats for years. Since 2016, the Police Force has been operating two 41 Center Console interceptors. For its part, the Defense Force has several type 25, 33 and 44 fast patrol boats, Full Cabin, and, last January, acquired four 41 Center Console interceptor boats.