CLEVELAND — The crew of Coast Guard Station St. Joseph, Michigan, officially accepted delivery, Thursday, of the station’s first 45-foot response boat and is inviting the public to a free open house on the station’s grounds for an opportunity to meet the crew and see the new boat, May 17, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The response boat will increase the ability of Station St. Joseph’s crew to respond to search-and-rescue cases by augmenting its current complement of one 47-foot response boat, and one 25-foot response boat.

The new asset can respond faster than previous vessels of similar size, has a top speed in excess of 40 knots and has advanced search capabilities with installed forward-looking infrared search technology.

Additionally, with twin jet propulsion, the vessel is able to navigate shallower water than previous similarly-sized boats. The boat has a deep-V, double-chine hull, which provides a balance of performance and stability. The vessel is also self-righting. If it capsizes in rough seas, the boat is designed to right itself.

It can handle heavy seas and waves up to 12 feet and carry up to 24 people.

The response boat was built by Marinette Marine in Marinette, Wis.