
The Coast Guard on Friday said it had exercised more than $400 million in contract options toward its ongoing surface fleet modernization, including the construction contract with Eastern Shipbuilding for its first of 25 planned medium-endurance Offshore Patrol Cutters (OPC).The Coast Guard awarded Florida-based Eastern Shipbuilding a total of $317.5 million to build the lead OPC, Argus, and long-lead materials for the second ship, Chase. The 360-foot Argus is slated for delivery in 2021. The OPC’s will replace aging 210-foot…