April 12, 2021 —
The Coast Guard today awarded a contract to Safe Boats International L.L.C. of Bremerton, Washington, for up to 20 over the horizon IV (OTH IV) cutter boats with supporting equipment. The fixed price contract has a total potential value of $8.8 million and includes an initial order for one OTH IV and supporting equipment. This contract will enable the Coast Guard to meet equipment requirements for new cutters as the service prepares to transition to the OTH V cutter boat platform.
OTH IVs acquired through this contract will outfit new national security cutters (NSC), fast response cutters (FRC) and offshore patrol cutters (OPC) through April 2024. The new contract incorporates revisions to the navigation and communication systems to mitigate obsolescence concerns.
The Coast Guard has used OTH IVs since 2013; it is the service’s standard cutter boat for missions that may extend 70 nautical miles from its parent craft. Two OTH IVs are assigned to each NSC, one OTH IV to each FRC, with OPCs capable of operating one to three OTH IVs. OTH IVs are 26 feet long and have a top speed of 40 knots. Compared to earlier generations, the OTH IVs feature increased cargo space and seating, higher speeds and compatibility with both stern and side-davit launch and recovery systems.
Cutter boats deployed aboard cutters facilitate mission accomplishment in almost all mission areas, with emphasis in search and rescue, drug interdiction, alien migrant interdiction operations, living marine resources, defense readiness, and ports, waterway and coastal security.
For more information: Boat Acquisition Program page