July 29, 2025 —
Coast Guard Cutter John Witherspoon transits in the vicinity of Juneau, Alaska, in late January 2025. U.S. Coast Guard photo.
Bolstered by significant new funding for cutter acquisition, the Coast Guard has initiated discussions with Bollinger Shipyards of Lockport, Louisiana, to order at least 10 additional fast response cutters (FRCs). These additional cutters will enhance the Coast Guard’s ability to control, secure and defend the U.S. border and maritime approaches. This action is made possible by the passage of Public Law 119-21, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which includes $1 billion to procure FRCs.
“To date, 60 FRCs have been delivered by Bollinger and are operated by proud American men and women up and down the coast of the continental U.S. as well as Puerto Rico, Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and Bahrain; the sun never sets on the FRC fleet,” said Amber Stein, assistant commandant and program executive officer for surface. “The ability of the FRC to conduct homeland security, national defense, and search and rescue missions in so many diverse environments is a testament to the outstanding design, engineering, production quality and the value they provide to the United States.”
The Sentinel-class FRC is designed for multiple missions, including search and rescue; fishery patrols; drug and alien interdiction; ports, waterways and coastal security; and national defense. FRCs feature advanced command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance equipment; over-the-horizon cutter boat deployment to reach vessels of interest; and improved habitability and seakeeping.
The FRC fleet will complement the capabilities of the service’s national security cutters, offshore patrol cutters and polar security cutters as an essential element of the nation’s layered maritime security strategy. The Coast Guard has ordered 67 FRCs to date with 58 in service: 13 in Florida; seven in Puerto Rico; six each in Bahrain and Massachusetts; four each in California and Alaska; three each in Guam, Hawaii, Texas and New Jersey; and two each in Mississippi, North Carolina and Oregon.
For more information: Fast Response Cutter Program page