Coast Guard shows off environmentally-friendly ship

PORT EVERGLADES, Fla. (WSVN) -- The Coast Guard's newest ship is protecting the planet in more ways than one.

The Bernard C. Webber traveled from Miami to Port Everglades to show off during Fleet Week.

As one of the newest ships for the U.S. Coast Guard, the Webber has a lot to boast about. Her style will soon replace older U.S Coast Guard cutters. "It's 154 feet instead of 110 feet, so it's meant to be a more capable ship," said U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Anthony Ciurlino. "Longer endurance, just more mission-capable."

More mission capable and environment friendly. The Webber is EPA Tier II certified for fuel conservation and emissions are reduced by about two-thirds.

The Webber is a "green" ship, is capable of 28+ knots, armed with five guns and can hold a 24 person crew. The technology overall is a major upgrade. "They've given us more space, tried to eliminate dealing with equipment inside your berthing area," said Ciurlino. "It's a very open ship, so it's nice."

The Webber, commissioned April 14 with a touching ceremony remembering it's namesake. On February 18, 1952, off the coast of Chatham, Massachusetts, a tanker split in half and Bernard C. Webber made a heroic rescue. "And he took his boat out in adverse conditions, it was like 60 foot waves, 70 foot knot winds, he took a 70 foot boat out to save these people," said Ciurlino. "He saved 32 off this tanker."

A heroic background for this cutter- the first of its kind.

The Webber will head back to Miami on Monday morning.

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