July 15, 2026 —
The Coast Guard and boat builder Rozema Boat Works authenticated the keel for the first special purpose craft-heavy weather (SPC-HWX II) in Mount Vernon, Washington, July 8.
A keel authentication is a time-honored maritime tradition ceremonially marking the start of a vessel’s construction. Rear Adm. Jon Hickey, deputy commandant for systems, component acquisition executive and chief acquisition officer for the Coast Guard, attended the ceremony with Rep. Rick Larsen (Washington) and other distinguished guests. During the ceremony, Larsen and Chief Warrant Officer Beth Slade, commanding officer of the National Motor Lifeboat School, the Coast Guard’s primary training facility for heavy weather boat operations, welded their initials into the keel signifying that the keel is, in traditional parlance, “well and truly laid.”
The Coast Guard plans to acquire up to six SPC-HWX IIs. The SPC-HWX II will replace the 52-foot heavy weather boats, which entered service in the 1950s and 1960s. These vessels were retired in 2021. Like their predecessors, the SPC-HWX IIs will be homeported in the Pacific Northwest and designed to perform a wide range of Coast Guard missions in extreme weather and challenging surf conditions that exceed the capabilities of other boats. The SPC-HWX II will support search and rescue; disabled vessel towing; law enforcement; ports, waterways and coastal security; and other Coast Guard missions.
Measuring 64 feet in length, the SPC-HWX II will be capable of operating in 35-foot seas, 25-foot surf and winds up to 60 knots and will feature self-righting capability. Powered by twin 1,200-horsepower diesel engines, it will reach speeds of 20 knots, tow up to 300 tons and operate up to 150 miles offshore. With accommodation for a relief crew, the SPC-HWX II will have an endurance up to 48 hours, a critical feature for long-range heavy-weather missions.
Delivery of the first SPC-HWX II is scheduled for 2027.
For more information: Boat Acquisition Program