May 16, 2024 —
Fast response cutters Emlen Tunnell and Glen Harris operate in the Gulf of Aqaba during the International Maritime Exercise/Cutlass Express in 2022. U.S. Army photo by Cpl. DeAndre Dawkins.
The Coast Guard exercised a contract option on May 8 with Bollinger Shipyards of Lockport, Louisiana, for production of two Sentinel-class fast response cutters (FRCs) and associated deliverables.
This option, valued at $113.1 million, brings the total number of FRCs under contract with Bollinger to 67 and the total value of the Phase 2 contract to approximately $2 billion. The FRCs built under this option will be delivered in fiscal year 2028.
To date, 56 FRCs have been delivered. Fifty-five FRCs are in operational service, operating out of 13 homeports located across the Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf Coasts, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Guam. Additionally, six FRCs are assigned to Patrol Forces Southwest Asia (PATFORSWA) in Manama, Bahrain, in support of U.S. Central Command and national security objectives.
The Coast Guard currently operates 55 FRCs throughout the United States and in support of U.S. Central Command. U.S. Coast Guard graphic.
FRCs perform a multitude of missions that include ports, waterways and coastal security; living marine resource protection and enforcement; search and rescue; drug and immigrant interdiction; joint international operations; and national defense. With a demonstrated capability to carry out a broad scope of missions both domestically and in conjunction with international partners, the growth of the FRC fleet will further the United States’ Indo-Pacific strategy and will enhance the Coast Guard’s meaningful presence in that region.
FRCs have a maximum speed of over 28 knots, a range of 2,500 nautical miles and an endurance of five days. They feature advanced command, control, communications, computers, cyber, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance equipment; over-the-horizon cutter boat deployment to reach vessels of interest; and improved habitability and seakeeping.
For more information: Fast Response Cutter Program page