Jan. 23, 2025

Coast Guard takes delivery of 17th mission-ready HC-130J surveillance aircraft

The Coast Guard accepted delivery of its 17th fully missionized HC-130J long range surveillance aircraft, CGNR 2017, on Dec. 18, 2024.

Jan. 7, 2025

Coast Guard releases cutter boat-aids to navigation-small request for proposal

The Coast Guard released a request for proposal (RFP) on Dec. 18, 2024, for the design and construction of the cutter boat-aids to navigation-small (CB-ATON-S).

Dec. 30, 2024

Coast Guard accepts ownership of commercially available polar icebreaker

The Coast Guard on Dec. 20 completed acceptance of the motor vessel Aiviq from an Edison Chouest Offshore subsidiary. Upon commissioning, the ship will be renamed Coast Guard Cutter Storis and will enhance U.S. operational presence in the Arctic and support Coast Guard missions while awaiting delivery of the polar security cutter (PSC) class.

Dec. 23, 2024

Coast Guard is building nation’s first polar security cutter

The U.S. Coast Guard/U.S. Navy Integrated Program Office received approval Dec. 19 to begin to build the first polar security cutter (PSC). The PSC is the first heavy polar icebreaker constructed in the United States in more than five decades. The work is being performed by Bollinger Mississippi Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi, the prime contractor for design and construction of the future PSC fleet. This decision continues work that has been underway since the summer of 2023 as part of an innovative approach to shorten the delivery timeline of these critical national assets. 

Dec. 18, 2024

Coast Guard celebrates 40 years of service with H-65 helicopter

In November 2024, the Coast Guard marked the 40th anniversary of the initial H-65 operation, but the tenure of this critical asset in supporting Coast Guard missions is slowly coming to an end. The service has completed the transition from the MH-65D to the MH-65E, the final upgrade of this airframe. Obsolescence challenges with the MH-65 will lead to the sundowning of aircraft as they reach the end of their service lives.

Dec. 11, 2024

Coast Guard issues request for proposal for special purpose craft – heavy weather II

The Coast Guard released a request for proposal (RFP) on Dec. 10 for the design and production of up to six special purpose craft – heavy weather generation II (SPC-HWX II) boats to replace the service’s previous fleet of 52-foot special purpose craft – heavy weather (SPC-HWX) boats, which have been removed from service.

Dec. 3, 2024

Coast Guard Elizabeth City community rises to challenge in Hurricane Milton response

Coast Guard assets, personnel and supplies are key components in disaster response. As members of the Coast Guard raced to prepare for and respond to emergencies related to the landfall of Hurricane Milton, the Coast Guard Aviation Projects Acquisition Center (APAC), Aviation Logistics Center (ALC) and Coast Guard Air Station in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, stepped in to provide critical mission support to protect a stranded Coast Guard asset that could not be used for the disaster.

Nov. 25, 2024

Coast Guard awards contract for commercially available polar icebreaker

The Coast Guard awarded a contract on Nov. 20 to Offshore Service Vessels, LLC, of Cut Off, Louisiana, to acquire a commercially available polar icebreaker to supplement mission readiness and capability in the polar regions.

Nov. 8, 2024

Coast Guard accepts delivery of 58th fast response cutter, first to be homeported in Kodiak, Alaska

The Coast Guard accepted delivery of the 58th fast response cutter (FRC), Coast Guard Cutter John Witherspoon, on Nov. 7 in Key West, Florida. John Witherspoon is the first of three FRCs to be homeported in Kodiak, Alaska.

Nov. 7, 2024

Waterways Commerce Cutter Program Plans to Conduct Industry Engagement at WorkBoat

The Coast Guard Waterways Commerce Cutter program will hold an industry engagement at the International WorkBoat Show in New Orleans Nov. 12-14, 2024, on the Cutter Boat – Aids to Navigation – Small (CB-ATON-S) procurement, as part of the boat acquisition presentation on Nov. 14, 2024, at 10:15 CST.