A conceptual illustration of the Offshore Patrol Cutter
Bollinger Shipyards of Lockport, Louisiana is one of three shipbuilders selected by the U.S. Coast Guard for the design phase of the $12 billion Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) program.
The two other shipyards selected are General Dynamics Bath Iron Works in Maine and Eastern Shipbuilding of Panama City, Fl. The three beat out other shipbuilders competing for the contract, including Huntington Ingalls Industries and Vigor with their radical (at least by U.S. standards) Ulstein X-Bow design.
The first phase (Phase I) of the program consists of the preliminary and contract design (P&CD). The second phase (Phase II) will only be awarded to a single shipbuilder and consists of the detailed design and construction (DD&C) contract, consisting of the lead OPC with potential options to build up to 10 additional cutters. In total, the Coast Guard has stated a need for up to 25 total OPCs.
Bollinger says their Offshore Patrol Cutter will bridge the capability gap between the Fast Response Cutter (FRC) that are presently being built by Bollinger, and the National Security Cutter (NSC), adding that the next-generation cutter will complement the Coast Guard’s current and future fleet to extend the service’s operational capabilities.
The Offshore Patrol Cutters are to feature increased range and endurance, a larger flight deck, and improved interoperability, and will accommodate rotary wing aircraft and small boat operations in all weather. The OPC will be designed to carry out the congressionally mandated missions of the Medium Endurance Cutters (WMEC).
For Phase I, Bollinger will partner with Gibbs & Cox Maritime Solutions, L3 Communications, and Damen Shipyards Group and will include Naval Architecture, Design, Engineering, Production Planning, and Facility Improvement Planning.
Bollinger says that the Phase I contract will employ over 250 naval architects, engineers, designers and planners in support of developing Bollinger’s preliminary and contract design along with Bollinger’s Phase II proposal for detailed design and construction. Bollinger says if they are awarded the Phase II, it will bring thousands of jobs to South Louisiana and the Gulf Coast. The Phase II contract award is expected for 2016.
The three Phase I design contracts range in value from $21 million and $22 million.
Updated: October 16, 2023 (Originally published February 12, 2014)
Sign up for gCaptain’s newsletter and never miss an update
Essential maritime and offshore news, insights, and updates delivered daily straight to your inbox
The U.S. Coast Guard’s sole heavy icebreaker, the Polar Star, has returned to its homeport of Seattle after completing a months-long Antarctic deployment supporting critical resupply operations for U.S. research stations.
The U.S. Coast Guard has issued a request for information (RFI) as it moves forward with plans to acquire up to seven new light icebreakers to replace an aging fleet and ensure year-round navigation in ice-prone waterways across the Northeast and Great Lakes.
The US Coast Guard has confirmed plans to spend $323 million expanding and modernizing its Seattle icebreaker base, underscoring the service’s push to strengthen its Arctic presence as new heavy icebreakers enter the fleet later this decade.
Subscribe to gCaptain Daily and stay informed with the latest global maritime and offshore news
Essential news coupled with the finest maritime content sourced from across the globe.
Sign Up
Join The Club
