The US Coast Guard has exercised a contract option with Bollinger Shipyards to fund initial construction of ten additional fast response cutters (FRCs).
The action made possible by the passage of Public Law 119-21, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, increases the total number of FRCs ordered under the current agreement from 67 to 77. This legislation provides nearly $25 billion, the largest single funding commitment in Coast Guard history, including $1 billion for additional FRCs.
The value of the newest deal is $507 million. Bollinger Shipyards earlier reported that it began negotiations with the US Coast Guard for the construction of at least ten vessels.
“As the first Coast Guard contracting action to execute over $100 million in reconciliation funds and the first reconciliation-funded action executed by a cutter program, this is a historic accomplishment for the Service,” said Rear Adm. Mike Campbell , the Coast Guard’s Director of Systems Integration and Chief Acquisition Officer.
“Since its introduction to the fleet in 2012 as the successor to the 110-foot Island class patrol boat, the Fast Response Cutter has consistently proven its capabilities, adaptability and effectiveness in a wide range of maritime environments and Coast Guard missions.”
The first FRC funded through this option is expected to be delivered in fiscal year 2028.
Sentinel-class FRCs are critical assets in the Coast Guard’s missions. To date, 59 of these cutters are in service, replacing the aging fleet of 1980s-era Island-class 110-foot patrol boats. The Sentinel-class FRCs feature advanced command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance equipment.
The FRC fleet will complement the capabilities of the service’s national security cutters (NSCs), offshore patrol cutters (OPCs) and polar security cutters (PSCs).
To remind, in August this year, US Coast Guard commissioned Earl Cunningham, the 59th fast response cutter (FRC) and the second of three FRCs to be homeported in Kodiak, Alaska.