Austal begins construction of US Coast Guard’s second Heritage-class OPC

Austal USA has started the construction of the second Heritage-class offshore patrol cutter being built for the US Coast Guard.

As disclosed, the company received a contract option from the US Coast Guard to construct the second Heritage-class OPC and acquire materials for a third Stage 2 OPC.

The $273 million option is part of a contract that includes options for up to 11 OPCs, with a potential value of $3.3 billion.

The construction of Icarus (WSMM 920) kicked off at the shipbuilder’s Mobile, Alabama, shipbuilding facility.

Austal Limited CEO Paddy Gregg said the OPC program is gathering momentum, with the option exercising the second OPC highlighting a unique build strategy that has included the optimization of the hull design for the first vessel, Pickering (WSMM 919). The construction of the ship started last August.

“The Austal USA team have optimised the hull structure design of the first steel-hull OPC, Pickering, which will deliver a more efficient build process, a reduction in vessel weight and ultimately a longer vessel life expectancy,” Gregg added.

“Austal USA has also developed a new 3-D model of the OPC, that is enabling each vessel module manufactured in Mobile, Alabama to be completed to an industry-leading level of completion. The team are effectively setting new benchmarks for manufacturing productivity and efficiency with the OPC program.”

The 110-metre OPCs will make up the backbone of the US Coast Guard’s offshore fleet. These versatile vessels will carry out a wide range of missions, including law enforcement, drug and migrant interdiction, and search and rescue operations.

Each OPC has a range of 10,200 nautical miles at 14 knots and can stay at sea for up to 60 days. They are designed to operate independently or as part of larger task forces and can serve as mobile command and control centers during surge operations such as hurricane response, mass migration events, and other emergencies.

Additionally, the cutters will play a vital role in supporting US interests in the Arctic, particularly in regulating and protecting emerging commercial and energy activities in Alaska.

Austal USA currently has seven ships under construction, including the OPC Icarus. To support this growing workload, the company is building a new final assembly facility (FA2). Once completed, this building will add approximately 18,000 square meters of covered manufacturing space. It will feature three bays, two of which are specifically designed for the construction of OPCs.