The Coast Guard last Friday said that it has completed structural enhancements on its second National Security Cutter (NSC), the last of the Legend-class cutters that needed the extra work during the post-production phase to ensure they meet their 30-year design fatigue life.
The work on the Coast Guard Cutter Waesche was completed on Aug. 23 at Vigor Marine, LLC’s shipyard in Seattle. Vigor Marine is part of Vigor Industrial.
Structural enhancements on Waesche began in September 2017, the same time that similar enhancements were completed on the first NSC, the Bertholf. Work on the Waesche cost about $14 million.
The first two NSCs are the only vessels that required the post-production enhancements. During the early stages of construction on the ships, it was found that the enhancements would be needed. Enhancements were built into the third NSC, the Stratton, and the follow-on vessels during construction.
The Coast Guard has funding for 10 NSCs and Congress is considering providing additional funds for two more. The seventh NSC, the Kimball, is scheduled for delivery this fall and the eighth, the Midgett, is expected to be delivered in 2019.
Huntington Ingalls Industries [HII] is the prime contractor for the NSC.