April 21, 2023 —
A Coast Guard crew tests a newly delivered over the horizon V cutter boat near Cape May, New Jersey. U.S. Coast Guard photo.
The Coast Guard on April 18 accepted delivery of its first fifth generation over the horizon (OTH V) cutter boat, which will support fast response cutter Angela McShan, based in Cape May, New Jersey. This is the first of four OTH Vs ordered for operational test and evaluation under a 10-year contract awarded to Inventech Marine Solutions of Bremerton, Washington, in August 2022. The contract supports delivery of up to 194 boats and has a total value of almost $100 million.
The OTH V will be deployed across the Coast Guard fleet of national security cutters, fast response cutters, offshore patrol cutters, polar security cutters and legacy medium endurance cutters. Outfitted with an onboard navigation and communications system, the OTH V will provide a high-speed capability to extend parent cutter capabilities when deployed in support of multiple Coast Guard missions.
OTH Vs will support mission accomplishment in almost all mission areas, with emphasis on search and rescue, drug and migrant interdiction, living marine resources, defense readiness, and ports, waterways and coastal security operations.
For more information: Boat Acquisition Program page