PORT ANGELES — Clallam County commissioners Tuesday approved a $215,463 contract with a Port Angeles boat manufacturer to build a 26-foot law enforcement patrol vessel.
The specialized boat, trailer and training are funded through a port security grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Commissioners Mike Doherty and Mike Chapman voted to approve the contract with Lee Shore Boats.
Commissioner Steve Tharinger, who also is a 24th District state representative, was absent from the meeting because the state House of Representatives was in session, Doherty said.
Clallam County’s marine patrol unit will use the rigid hull inflatable boat in the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Replaces Zodiak
“That will replace the Zodiak, which was a confiscated drug-running boat,” said Clallam County Sheriff Bill Benedict, referring to a 19-foot inflatable vessel that was outfitted for law enforcement functions.
“It’s going to do our primary summer seasonal patrols.”
The new patrol boat is scheduled to go online in late July.
Since the county has invested some $14,000 to convert the Zodiak, it will likely be sold to another law enforcement agency, Benedict said.
The new vessel will have a welded aluminum hull, covered cabin, two 175-horsepower outboard engines and a 100-gallon fuel tank.
It will be equipped with navigational equipment, a radar array and night-vision goggles for a crew of up to six.
Part of the justification for the federal grant was for the county to assist the Coast Guard in Homeland Security operations, Doherty said.
“We’re a partner in defending the border,” Benedict said when the county approved the $388,104 grant in January.
The remainder of the grant will be used for staff training.
Benedict said there is no county match for the port security grant.
Lee Shore Boats submitted the lowest of three bids that the commissioners opened April 12.
Tharinger, who recently announced that he will not seek a fourth term as commissioner, has participated in nearly all of the twice-weekly county meetings by speaker phone since the Legislature convened in early January.
He did not participate by speaker phone Tuesday.
