Construction of first waterways commerce cutter begins

The Coast Guard issued a delivery order on June 18, 2025, to start construction on the first inland construction tender, shown at left in this notional rendering. Other variants that make up the waterways commerce cutter fleet are the river buoy tender (right), which will be acquired under the same contract as the inland construction tender, and the inland buoy tender, which will be acquired separately. Image courtesy of Birdon America Inc.

The Coast Guard on June 18 issued a delivery order valued at $36.86 million to Birdon America Inc. in Bayou La Batre, Alabama, to start construction on the first inland construction tender (WLIC), which will be part of the waterways commerce cutter (WCC) fleet. Inland construction tenders construct, repair and maintain fixed aids to navigation within inland waterways along the Eastern Seaboard and Gulf Coast. They are the only Coast Guard platform with the capability to drive and remove piles, erect towers and effect major structural changes. Construction of the first WLIC is expected to be completed in 2027.

The WCCs will replace the legacy inland tender fleet, which has an average vessel age of nearly 60 years and includes ships still in service at 80 years old. The Coast Guard inland fleet is responsible for maintaining more than 28,200 marine aids throughout 12,000 miles of inland waterways, through which an estimated 630 million tons of cargo move annually. These waterways are part of the U.S. Marine Transportation System, which in total accounts for more than $5.4 trillion annually in U.S. economic activity.   

For the WCC fleet, the Coast Guard plans to acquire 11 WLICs, 16 river buoy tenders (WLRs) and three inland buoy tenders (WLIs). The WLICs and WLRs are being acquired under the same contract due to their substantial design similarity. Three WLI cutters will be acquired separately. Construction on the WLR is expected to begin later this year.

For more information: Waterways Commerce Cutter Program page