General Dynamics BIW Awarded $21 Million Contract for Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Cutter Program

Bath Iron Works president Fred Harris said the Coast Guard design contract was an important development as the shipyard seeks to expand its customer base and maintain its design and manufacturing workload.

“Our experienced engineering and design team will now focus on developing a preliminary OPC design that meets or exceeds our customer’s requirements,” said Harris. “We will also continue our yard-wide actions to ensure we can build these ships affordably, safely and on – or ahead of – schedule.”

At the end of the 18-month Phase I period, the Coast Guard will select one team to develop Phase II detail design and build the first nine to 11 ships of a planned 25-ship class.

The OPC is a next-generation ship which will replace the Coast Guard’s aging fleet of Medium Endurance Cutters, complementing the current and future fleet and extending the service’s operational capabilities. The OPC will feature increased range and endurance, more powerful weapons, a larger flight deck and improved command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance equipment.