DAVID G. SELLARS ON THE WATERFRONT: Unmanned-aircraft system installed on Westport prototype cutter
By David G. Sellars
An unusual-looking apparatus was installed Thursday on the foredeck of Solution (GRC 43), which is moored to Westport Shipyard’s dock at Port Angeles Boat Haven.
Solution is a 142-foot composite material craft that Westport built on spec to U.S. Coast Guard guidelines incorporating modifications to make her adaptable to military and defense applications, port security and navies domestically and internationally.
GRC 43 took two years to design and build.
It represents Westport’s introduction into the arena of defense and security vessels that patrol the world’s troubled waters and keep homelands safe and secure.
As I watched the work Thursday, the contractor that installed the mechanism was Insitu, a Boeing-affiliated company that designs, produces and operates unmanned-aircraft systems.
I surmise that Westport’s sales department is assessing the viability of unmanned-aircraft systems technology on the GRC in the company’s continuing process of demonstrating to prospective clients the vessel’s overall durability and versatility.
