The Coast Guard on Wednesday said it awarded Bollinger Shipyards a $255.1 million contract option for six Fast Response Cutters (FRC), bringing to 30 the number of Sentinel-class patrol boats under contract with the Louisiana-based company.

The latest award also brings the total value of the FRC contract with Bollinger to $1.4 billion.

Bollinger Shipyards delivered the Coast Guard Fast Response Cutter Kathleen Moore  in March. Photo: Coast Guard
Bollinger Shipyards delivered the Coast Guard Fast Response Cutter Kathleen Moore in March. Photo: Coast Guard

Bollinger has delivered 10 FRCs so far. The six, 154-foot cutters contracted this week will be delivered in 2017.

The Coast Guard this year modified its original contract with Bollinger to allow the service to acquire two more FRCs with the shipyard, lifting to 32 the number of vessels that can be purchased if all options are exercised. The service in its FY ’15 budget request asked Congress for funding for the two additional FRCs, although House appropriators recommended monies for four more and Senate appropriators six more.

Whatever number of FRCs Bollinger ultimately builds, the Coast Guard plans to conduct a competition to complete its requirement for 58 vessels. In June, the service released a draft Request for Proposals to purchase up to 26 FRCs (Defense Daily, June 2). The first option of the Phase II FRC contract is expected to be awarded during FY ’16.

The FRCs are replacing the 110-foot Island-class patrol vessels. The Coast Guard said that in May the two FRCs conducted the first two Sentinel-class drug interdictions, seizing more than 2,100 pounds of marijuana and 35 kilograms of cocaine worth a combined $3 million.