June 29, 2023

First 47-foot motor lifeboats delivered following design modification to service life extension program

The Coast Guard’s In-Service Vessel Sustainment (ISVS) Program in partnership with the Boat Acquisition Program completed service life extension program (SLEP) work on a ninth and 10th 47-foot motor lifeboat (MLB) in June. U.S. Coast Guard photo.

June 15, 2023

Coast Guard completes 15-month upgrades on 225-foot seagoing buoy tender

The Coast Guard’s In-Service Vessel Sustainment (ISVS) Program recently completed 15 months of upgrade work as part of a major maintenance availability (MMA) on the 225-foot Juniper-class seagoing buoy tender Aspen. Work was completed at the Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore, with Aspen departing June 8.

June 7, 2023

Coast Guard reinforces importance of innovation through annual awards

“Innovation has never been more important than now.” Adm. Steven Poulin’s words were meant as much for the group gathered at the Coast Guard Senior Leadership Conference as for the winners of the Capt. Niels P. Thomsen Innovation Awards that were being handed out. “We have to keep pace with the changing world,” the vice commandant said. “All of us need to sharpen our competitive edge. The status quo is no longer the best way.”

June 7, 2023

Coast Guard Cutter Mobile Bay completes HVAC upgrade

The Coast Guard’s In-Service Vessel Sustainment (ISVS) Program is nearing completion of a class-wide upgrade to the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems on the service’s 140-foot bay-class icebreaking tugs.

June 5, 2023

Coast Guard commissions third New England-based fast response cutter

The Coast Guard commissioned the 52nd fast response cutter (FRC), Maurice Jester, June 2 in Newport, Rhode Island. Maurice Jester is the third of six FRCs to be stationed in Boston.

May 30, 2023

Coast Guard begins third phase of Polar Star service life extension program

The Coast Guard has commenced the third of five planned phases of Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star’s service life extension program (SLEP), as part of the In-Service Vessel Sustainment Program. The contractor, Mare Island Dry Dock LLC, began work at the cutter’s homeport in Seattle on April 17, 2023, performing various initial operational tests and cable installation for the new fire detection system.

May 30, 2023

Coast Guard awards contract for long range interceptor III cutter boats

The Coast Guard awarded an indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract to MetalCraft Marine U.S. Inc. of Watertown, New York, May 23 for construction, testing, delivery and logistical support for the third generation of long range interceptor (LRI III) cutter boats.

May 12, 2023

Coast Guard accepts 53rd fast response cutter

The cutter’s namesake was born in New Jersey in 1834. In 1870, after serving in the U.S. Civil War, Patterson signed on as a surfman with the U.S. Life-Saving Service station in Sandy Hook, New Jersey.

May 10, 2023

National Capital Region Air Defense unit assumes duties with upgraded MH-65E

The National Capital Region Air Defense (NCRAD) Facility stood watch with the upgraded MH-65E Dolphin short range recovery helicopter for the first time on April 17.

April 25, 2023

MH-60T new hull production underway for Coast Guard acquisition/sustainment program

The Coast Guard celebrated the start of new hull production for the MH-60T Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) March 8 at the Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. production facility in Troy, Alabama. Delivery of the first new hull is scheduled for September 2023. Hulls two and three are projected to be delivered in March and April 2024.