USCGC Point Swift ( WPB - 82312 ) USCGC " Point Swift " ( WPB - 82312 ) was an Point class cutter constructed at the Coast Guard Yard at Curtis Bay , Maryland in 1961 for use as a law enforcement and search and rescue patrol boat . Since the Coast Guard policy in 1961 was not to name cutters under in length , it was designated as " WPB - 82312 " when commissioned and acquired the name " Point Swift " in January 1964 when the Coast Guard started naming all cutters longer than . Design and construction details . " Point Swift " was built to accommodate an 8 man crew . She was powered by two VT600 Cummins diesel main drive engines and had two five - bladed propellers . The main drive engines were later replaced by VT800 Cummins engines . Water tank capacity was and fuel tank capacity was at 95 % full . After 1990 she was refit with Caterpillar diesel main drive engines . Engine exhaust was ported through the transom rather than through a conventional stack and this permitted a 360 degree view from the bridge ; a feature that was very useful in search and rescue work as well as a combat environment . The design specifications for " Point Swift " included a steel hull for durability and an aluminum superstructure and longitudinally framed construction was used to save weight . Ease of operation with a small crew size was possible because of the non - manned main drive engine spaces . Controls and alarms located on the bridge allowed one man operation of the cutter thus eliminating a live engineer watch in the engine room . Because of design , four men could operate the cutter ; however , the need for resting watchstanders brought the crew size to eight men for normal domestic service . The screws were designed for ease of replacement and could be changed without removing the cutter from the water . A clutch - in idle speed of three knots helped to conserve fuel on lengthy patrols and an eighteen knot maximum speed could get the cutter on scene quickly . Air - conditioned interior spaces were a part of the original design for the Point class cutter . Interior access to the deckhouse was through a watertight door on the starboard side aft of the deckhouse . The deckhouse contained the cabin for the officer - in - charge and the executive petty officer . The deckhouse also included a small arms locker , scuttlebutt , a small desk and head . Access to the lower deck and engine room was down a ladder . At the bottom of the ladder was the galley , mess and recreation deck . A watertight door at the front of the mess bulkhead led to the main crew quarters which was ten feet long and included six bunks that could be stowed , three bunks on each side . Forward of the bunks was the crew ' s head complete with a compact sink , shower and commode . History . After delivery in 1961 , " Point Swift " was assigned a homeport of St . Petersburg , Florida , where she served as a law enforcement and search and rescue patrol boat . On 22 June 1965 she provided firefighting assistance to the burning Irish MV " Irish Poplar " . On 11 September 1965 she assisted in the tow of disabled FV " Carousel " west of Tampa , Florida . " Point Swift " escorted the distressed FV " Mistress " to Clearwater , Florida on 19 November 1967 . On 7 January 1968 she escorted the distressed Liberian MV " Pochteca " to Tampa Bay . On 21 September 1968 , she rescued three from the pleasure craft " Blue Star " 30 miles south of Anclote Key , Florida . On 12 November she rescued two and salvaged equipment from MV " Mystery II " 40 miles west of St . Petersburg . From 1969 to 1991 she was homeported at Clearwater Beach , Florida . On 4 February 1970 , she stood by anchored barges that had been released by a tug due to steering problems . On 31 May 1987 , " Point Swift " towed one of her sister ships , the disabled cutter 80 miles west of St . Petersburg to that port . On 30 March 1995 " Point Swift " was decommissioned and stored at the Coast Guard Yard at Curtis Bay , Maryland . She was ultimately sunk as an artificial reef off Cape May , New Jersey 30 March 2000 .