US Coast Guard starts construction of first heavy weather response craft

July 13, 2026, by Fatima Bahtić

The US Coast Guard and Rozema Boat Works authenticated the keel for the first special purpose craft – heavy weather (SPC-HWX II) during a ceremony on July 8 in Mount Vernon, Washington.

A keel authentication is a time-honored maritime tradition marking the formal start of a vessel’s construction. The US Coast Guard plans to acquire up to six SPC-HWX II vessels to replace the 15.8-meter heavy-weather boats, which entered service in the 1950s and 1960s and were retired in 2021.

Measuring 19.5 meters in length, the SPC-HWX II design features self-righting capability and can operate in 10.7-meter seas, 7.6-meter surf and winds of up to 111 km/h. Powered by twin 1,200-horsepower diesel engines, it will reach speeds of 37 km/h, tow up to 272 tonnes, and operate up to 241 kilometers offshore.

With accommodation for a relief crew, the SPC-HWX II will have an endurance of up to 48 hours, a critical feature for long-range heavy-weather missions.

Like their predecessors, the SPC-HWX II will be homeported in the Pacific Northwest and designed to perform US Coast Guard missions in extreme weather and challenging surf conditions beyond the capabilities of other boats.

The SPC-HWX II will support search and rescue, disabled vessel towing, law enforcement, ports, waterways and coastal security, as well as other coast guard missions.

“This platform is going to bring significantly enhanced capabilities to the Coast Guard in the Pacific Northwest. Most importantly, it’s going to save lives,” Larsen and Chief Warrant Officer Beth Slade, commanding officer of the National Motor Lifeboat School, said.

The US Coast Guard plans to acquire up to six SPC-HWX II vessels to replace the 52-foot heavy weather boats, which entered service in the 1950s and 1960s and retired in 2021.

Delivery of the first SPC-HWX II is scheduled for 2027.