The Coast Guard on Sept. 7 awarded Eastern Shipbuilding a $41.7 million contract for long-lead materials for the first Offshore Patrol Cutter, which is scheduled to be delivered in 2021.
The contract to begin making purchases for the 360-foot USCGC Argus covers the first order for certain systems and components, including propeller and steering components, marine diesel engines, the ship integrated control system, switchboards and generators.
The Coast Guard plans to acquire 25 OPCs. Eastern Shipbuilding in Sept. 2016 won a $110.3 million contract to proceed to the detail design and construction phase. The contract is potentially worth $2.4 billion, including options, for the first nine OPCs.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is seeking $500 million in FY ’18 for the production funds for the first OPC. The House Appropriations Committee has agreed to the request. Senate appropriators haven’t marked up their version of the DHS bill yet.
In July Eastern Shipbuilding completed the initial critical design review for the OPC, on time and within budget.
Earlier this year Eastern Shipbuilding awarded Leonardo DRS a $10.7 million contract to provide the hybrid electric drive systems for the medium-endurance OPCs. Leonard DRS is a U.S.-based division of Italy’s Leonardo.
The OPC is the Coast Guard’s top acquisition priority. The ships will replace a fleet of aging 210-foot and 270-foot medium-endurance cutters and will bridge the capabilities between the 154-foot Fast Response Cutters and 418-foot National Security Cutters.