The following is the text of a news release from the U.S. Coast Guard:
(WASHINGTON) — The Coast Guard has awarded a contract to Bollinger Shipyards LLC of Lockport, La., for the procurement of up to 26 Sentinel-class fast response cutters (FRCs). The initial value of the award is $318.6 million, which covers the production of six cutters.
The contract has a potential value of $1.42 billion if options to procure all 26 cutters are exercised. At that point, the Coast Guard will have ordered all 58 FRCs in the program of record.
The Coast Guard is acquiring FRCs to upgrade its near-offshore patrol capabilities necessary for missions such as drug and migrant interdiction; ports, waterways and coastal security; fishery patrols; search and rescue; and national defense. The FRCs are 154 feet long, can travel at speeds of at least 28 knots, and have a range of 2,950 nautical miles. Each ship features improved seakeeping and habitability; new command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance equipment; and stern cutter boat launch to more easily reach vessels of interest.
To date, 16 FRCs are in service: six in Miami; six in Key West, Fla.; and four in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The 17th FRC was delivered to the Coast Guard in March and is scheduled for commissioning later this month.
The following is the text of a news release from Bollinger Shipyards:
(LOCKPORT, La.) — Bollinger Shipyards has been awarded a new contract to build Phase II of the Sentinel-class fast response cutters (FRCs) for the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG). The FRC, the newest generation of USCG patrol cutters, is a replacement for the Coast Guard Island-class cutters that Bollinger built over three decades ago.
Bollinger’s CEO and President Ben Bordelon said, "We are pleased with this award to build 26 FRC Coast Guard cutters. Our relationship with the Coast Guard began over 30 years ago and we are proud to continue building on that legacy. This is a testament to the skilled Louisiana-based team of Bollinger employees.”
Bollinger Shipyards is a leading designer and builder of fast military patrol cutters, oceangoing double-hull barges, offshore oil field support vessels, tugboats, rigs, lift boats, inland waterways push boats and other steel and aluminum products from its new construction shipyards. Bollinger has 10 shipyards and all are strategically located throughout Louisiana with direct access to the Gulf of Mexico, Mississippi River and the Intracoastal Waterway. For more information, visit www.bollingershipyards.com.
