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LATEST UPDATES

The Coast Guard christened the first offshore patrol cutter (OPC), Argus, on Oct. 27, 2023, at Eastern Shipbuilding’s Nelson Shipyard in Panama City, Florida.


The Coast Guard and Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG) commenced cutting steel for the fourth (OPC) Oct. 18, 2022, in Panama City, Florida.


The Coast Guard on Oct. 5, 2022, issued a notice to proceed to Austal USA to begin detail design work to support future production of Stage 2 offshore patrol cutters.

Offshore Patrol Cutter

OPC

Artist rendering courtesy of Eastern Shipbuilding Group.


Acquisition of the offshore patrol cutter (OPC) is the Coast Guard’s highest investment priority. The OPC will provide a capability bridge between the national security cutter, which patrols the open ocean in the most demanding maritime environments, and the fast response cutter, which serves closer to shore. The ships will feature state-of-the-market technology and will replace the service’s 270-foot and 210-foot medium endurance cutters, which are becoming increasingly expensive to maintain and operate.

Why this program?

The 270-foot and 210-foot medium endurance cutters that the OPC will replace are approximately 30 and 50 years old, respectively. The Coast Guard has made targeted investments to improve the reliability and operational availability of the medium endurance cutters, but they are still on their way to technological obsolescence. In addition, the Coast Guard’s missions have evolved in response to changing national and international maritime security needs, and the service needs a fleet designed to execute its missions. The OPC is the most effective way to fill the service’s need for long-term offshore capability to maintain current and future mission effectiveness.

The OPCs will provide the majority of offshore presence for the Coast Guard’s cutter fleet, bridging the capabilities of the 418-foot national security cutters, which patrol the open ocean, and the 154-foot fast response cutters, which serve closer to shore. The OPCs will conduct missions including law enforcement, drug and migrant interdiction, search and rescue, and other homeland security and defense operations. Each OPC will be capable of deploying independently or as part of task groups and serving as a mobile command and control platform for surge operations such as hurricane response, mass migration incidents and other events. The cutters will also support Arctic objectives by helping regulate and protect emerging commerce and energy exploration in Alaska.

Notional Characteristics

  • Number Planned: 25
  • Length: 360 feet
  • Beam: 54 feet
  • Draft: 17 feet
  • Maximum Speed: 22.5 knots
  • Range: 10,200 nautical miles at 14 knots
  • Endurance: 60 days

OPC: In the News

 

2022

Oct. 31, 2023 - Coast Guard christens first offshore patrol cutter

Oct. 18, 2022 - Steel cutting for fourth offshore patrol cutter begins

Oct. 5, 2022 - Stage 2 of the Coast Guard offshore patrol cutter moves forward

July 20, 2022 - Coast Guard authenticates keel for third offshore patrol cutter

June 30, 2022 - Coast Guard awards contract for Stage 2 of offshore patrol cutter acquisition

May 20, 2022 - Coast Guard modifies offshore patrol cutter contract to complete installation of combat and radar systems

April 26, 2022 - Coast Guard modifies contract to construct fourth offshore patrol cutter

2021

Sept. 28, 2021 - Steel cutting for third offshore patrol cutter begins

May 24, 2021 - Keel authenticated for second offshore patrol cutter

April 29, 2021 - Coast Guard modifies contract to construct third offshore patrol cutter, acquire long lead-time material for fourth

Feb. 1, 2021 - Coast Guard releases request for proposal for offshore patrol cutter follow-on detail design and production

2020

Oct. 9, 2020 - Coast Guard provides draft solicitation for offshore patrol cutter

Aug. 3, 2020 - Coast Guard opens access to offshore patrol cutter technical library

May 4, 2020 - Keel authenticated for first offshore patrol cutter

April 30, 2020 - Fabrication begins on second offshore patrol cutter

April 2, 2020 - Coast Guard modifies contract to construct second offshore patrol cutter, acquire long lead-time material for third offshore patrol cutter

March 20, 2020 - Coast Guard awards eight contracts for offshore patrol cutter industry studies

Jan. 10, 2020 - Coast Guard releases final request for proposal for industry studies

2019

Dec. 4, 2019 - Coast Guard releases draft request for proposal for industry studies, announces Offshore Patrol Cutter Industry Day

Nov. 22, 2019 - Coast Guard releases draft statement of work for offshore patrol cutter program industry studies

Oct. 18, 2019 - Coast Guard releases request for information to inform OPC acquisition strategy

Oct. 11, 2019 - Department of Homeland Security approves limited extraordinary relief for offshore patrol cutter contract

Feb. 7, 2019 - Commencement of steel cutting for first offshore patrol cutter

2018

Sept. 28, 2018 - Coast Guard exercises option to construct first offshore patrol cutter, acquire long lead-time materials for second offshore patrol cutter

2017

Sept. 7, 2017 - Coast Guard exercises long lead-time materials option for first offshore patrol cutter

Aug. 4, 2017 - Coast Guard reveals names of OPCs 1-11

May 3, 2017 - Acquisition update: Coast Guard establishes OPC Project Resident Office

2016

Oct. 5, 2016 - Acquisition update: Coast Guard moves forward to next phase of OPC acquisition

Sept. 15, 2016 - Acquisition update: Coast Guard selects offshore patrol cutter design

2014

June 4, 2014 - Acquisition update: GAO affirms offshore patrol cutter contract award

Feb. 11, 2014 - Acquisition update: U.S. Coast Guard awards three contracts for offshore patrol cutter preliminary and contract design

2013

Sept. 9, 2013 - Acquisition update: Coast Guard to hold discussions with offerors on OPC acquisition

Aug. 16, 2013 - Coast Guard cutter contract includes need for ISR capability