Eastern Shipbuilding
Group (ESG), FL has achieved another major milestone in the US Coast Guard
Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) program. On 28th September 2018, U.S.
Coast Guard exercised contract options with Eastern Shipbuilding Group to begin
construction of the lead Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) and to acquire long
lead-time materials for the second OPC. The actions enable the production phase
of the program, which is the largest in Coast Guard and Department of Homeland
Security history to date, to proceed.
The OPC is based on
the VARD 7 110 design and as production engineering nears completion Vard
Marine and team partners are eager to support ESG through construction and
delivery. Upon construction, the 110
meter long OPC will be the largest vessel in Vard Marine’s extensive portfolio
of OPV designs.
The OPC meets the
Service’s long-term need for cutters capable of deploying independently or as
part of task groups and is essential to stopping smugglers at sea, interdicting
undocumented migrants, rescuing mariners, enforcing fisheries laws, responding to
disasters and protecting our ports. The acquisition of 25 OPCs will complement
the capabilities of the Service’s National Security Cutters, Fast Response
Cutters and Polar Security Cutters as an essential element of the Department of
Homeland Security’s layered security strategy.
Delivery of the lead
OPC, USCGC ARGUS, is currently planned for 2021.
Another contract
option was also exercised for long lead time items (propeller and steering
components, marine diesel engines, the ship integrated control system,
switchboards, and generators), for the second OPC, USCGC CHASE.