With a traditional mariner’s christening ceremony, the Santa Barbara Waterfront Department this morning, March 10, welcomed the Santa Barbara Harbor Patrol’s next-generation patrol, fire and rescue vessel, the M2 Catamaran from Moose Boats LLC.

The M2 replaces Patrol Boat #3, which entered the fleet in 1999 and is retiring after more than 25 years of service with the Harbor Patrol.

The M2 cost about $900,000, secured in a contract two years ago through General Services Administration pricing, resulting in significant cost savings compared to materials and labor today, according to the city.

The vessel is a state-of-the-art, fully equipped rescue and marine firefighting vessel that will provide the Santa Barbara Harbor Patrol with an ideal platform geared toward marine law enforcement, emergency medical response, ocean rescue, marine firefighting, search and rescue, and emergency towing operations, the city said.

The Santa Barbara Harbor Patrol is the primary emergency response agency for the city’s harbor, marina, beaches, and Stearns Wharf.

Additionally, Harbor Patrol’s area of responsibility extends to the near coastal waters of the Pacific Ocean from Santa Barbara Point to Loon Point and out to three miles.

Rescue and mutual aid calls extend the operating area to Coal Oil Point, Rincon Island, and 12 miles out in the Santa Barbara Channel.

For Waterfront Administration, activities and services information, visit SantaBarbaraCA.gov/Waterfront.