The Coast Guard is actively acquiring three types of boats to complement its cutter fleet. The long range interceptor II (LRI II) is deployed on the national security cutters (NSCs), providing a semi-enclosed cabin for extended cutter boat missions to help cutter crews extend their interdiction range. The over the horizon IV (OTH IV) boats are deployed across the major cutter fleet ranging from fast response cutters (FRCs) to NSCs, providing a high-speed, highly maneuverable cutter boat with the ability to operate outside the visual range of the cutter while delivering boarding teams to vessels of interest. The cutter boat large (CB-L) is a high-speed, maneuverable boat primarily focused toward law enforcement support for the 225-foot seagoing buoy tender and the 210-foot medium endurance cutter fleet.
Why this program?
Cutter boats provide the critical final link in mission execution for the cutter fleet. Cutter boats allow the deployment or transfer of personnel and equipment when the transfers cannot be performed directly from the cutter. A typical service life for a cutter exceeds 25 years, while the service life for a cutter boat ranges from seven to 10 years, requiring replacement of the cutter boat once or twice during the expected service life of the cutter. Each time the cutter boat is replaced, the program works to take advantage of state-of-the-market advances and incorporate improvements into the new generation of boats. This typically results in more capable cutter boats that provide increased or enhanced mission-capability for the parent cutters.
For the three current cutter boat programs, marketplace advances support enhancements in the following areas in comparison to boats they replace:
The LRI II features increased passenger carrying capability, a semi-enclosed cabin, improved dynamic stability, higher speeds, ballistic protection systems, robust logistics support infrastructure, improved navigation systems and appropriate hull design for stern launch and recovery.
The OTH IV features increased top speed and passenger capacity, improved navigation systems, and an appropriate hull design for stern launch and recovery.
The CB-L features similar high-speed capability and crew accommodation as the OTH IV, with reduced complexity in the communication and navigation systems. Its design allows for full interoperability among four classes of cutters without the need for variants or modifications.
How are the boats being acquired?
The cutter boat program will acquire up to 11 35-foot LRI II boats for deployment on NSCs. The program will procure up to 114 26-foot OTH IVs, which the Coast Guard will deploy aboard the NSC and other major cutters including the legacy medium endurance cutter fleet and the FRC platforms. A new project to acquire the next generation OTH, the OTH V, has been initiated to meet future cutter boat needs, including the introduction of the offshore patrol cutter and the polar security cutter classes. Additionally, the program will procure a new fleet of up to 39 22-foot CB-Ls, which will replace the current boats onboard 210-foot medium endurance cutters, 225-foot seagoing buoy tenders, and Coast Guard Cutters Alex Haley and Mackinaw.
Long Range Interceptor II
The LRI II extends the NSC’s mission reach with over the horizon capability, providing high-speed pursuit, interdiction and rescue capabilities.
Characteristics
- Length: 35 feet
- Maximum Speed: 40 knots
- Range: 240 nautical miles
Over the Horizon IV
The OTH IV is the quick response boat for the NSC, FRC, medium endurance cutter and operational units.
Characteristics
- Length: 26 feet
- Maximum Speed: 40 knots
- Range: 200 nautical miles
Cutter Boat Large
The CB-L provides capability to multiple cutter classes as a high-speed cutter boat focused on law enforcement missions.
Characteristics
- Length: 22 feet
- Maximum Speed: 35 knots
- Range: 200 nautical miles
47-foot motor lifeboat service life extension program
The Coast Guard is working to extend the service life of the 47-foot motor lifeboat (MLB) – the service’s primary boat to conduct search and rescue missions in surf and heavy weather conditions.
A service life extension program (SLEP) addresses specific systems and major maintenance to extend the service life of the vessel beyond the original design service life. A SLEP is not designed to increase a vessel’s capability; it continues to provide the current capability for an extended service life by replacing obsolete, unsupportable or maintenance-intensive equipment, and by seeking standardization of configuration issues.
The Coast Guard on Aug. 5, 2019, awarded a firm fixed price indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract to Birdon America Inc. of Denver, Colorado, to perform work supporting the service’s 47-foot MLB SLEP. The initial award to complete the detail design and service life extension work on the first vessel is valued near $6.5 million. The total projected contract value is close to $190 million to complete the SLEP over the 10-year contract period. The work will be performed on between 107 and 117 MLBs.
The 47-foot MLB fleet was placed in service during the 1997-2002 timeframe with an expected service life of 25 years. With the planned service life ending in 2022-2027, the 47 MLB SLEP was initiated to extend the useful life of the MLB fleet by 20 years through 2047. The SLEP will reduce support costs and improve operational availability through renewal of the propulsion, electrical, steering, towing, navigation, and hull and structural systems, along with other minor work items.
Response boat-small II
The Coast Guard acquired 370 response boats-small II (RB-S II) at a total contract value of approximately $150 million, making it one of the largest boat buys of its type for the service.
The RB-S II is a more easily deployable vessel with higher speeds compared to the Defender class RB-S it replaced. The RB-S II has an increased emphasis on ergonomics and crew comfort when compared to the first generation RB-S. Designed to operate year-round in waters along coastal borders, the RB-S II has proven effective in executing Coast Guard missions including port and waterway security, search and rescue, drug and migrant interdiction, environmental and other law enforcement missions.
The acquisition program is transitioning to sustainment, with the service’s small boat product line assuming responsibility for sustainment including change management and maintenance.
For more information: RB-S II sustainment page
Response boat-medium
The Coast Guard acquired 174 RB-Ms to replace the 41-foot utility boat class, which was in service from 1973 to 2014.
The 45-foot response boat-medium (RB-M) revitalized the Coast Guard's shore-based boat fleet, delivering improved speed, maneuverability and ergonomics over the 41-foot utility boat and other nonstandard boats it replaced. The RB-M has proven effective in performing Coast Guard missions, including search and rescue; ports, waterways and coastal security; law enforcement; and drug and migrant interdiction.
The RB-M program transitioned to sustainment in June 2015 and the Coast Guard completed an RB-M electric power generation system retrofit program in May 2017.
For more information: RB-M sustainment page