Page 30: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (June 2021)

USCG CUTTERS with offers to be submitted by June 11, 2021. The keel for the lead ship, USCGC Argus (WMSM 915), was “authenticated” in April of 2020.The second OPC, USCGC Chase (WMSM 916),is currently in production. The Coast Guard recently mod- i? ed the contract to begin construction of the third OPC and to acquire long lead-time material (LLTM) for the fourth OPC.

The 154-foot Sentinel-class fast response cutter (FRC) is re- placing the 110-foot Island-class patrol boats (WPBs), which are at, or approaching, 30 years of service. 64 are planned, with 40 already in service. The FRC can deploy independently to conduct maritime security; ? shery patrols; search and res- cue; and national defense missions. The FRC is being built at

Bollinger Shipyards in Lockport, La., and is based on the Da- men Stan Patrol 4708 “parent-craft” design. FRCs have been assigned at homeports from the continental U.S. to Alaska and

Hawaii, with the latest cutters going to Guam and Bahrain.

Compared to the WPBs, the FRCs have improved C4ISR capa- bility and interoperability; stern launch and recovery (up through sea state 4) for a 40-knot Over-the-Horizon, 7-meter cutter boat

Coast Guard Cutter Stratton ? res its MK 110 during a gunnery exercise in the Bering Sea April 28, 2021. Routine training and live-? re exercises provide opportunities to evaluate and improve procedures, test capabilities and maintain pro? ciency.

U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy Ensign Molly Dolan 30 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • June 2021

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