Fast Response Cutter
For more photos of the Fast Response Cutter, visit image gallery on Flickr.
In late August, 2018, fast response cutters (FRCs) responded to the impacts of Hurricane Lane in Hawaii; The Coast Guard exercised a contract option on Aug. 9 worth just over $294.4 million with Bollinger Shipyards of Lockport, Louisiana, for production of six more Sentinel-class FRCs and eight sets of ship rudders as spares.
The Coast Guard accepted delivery of the 30th fast response cutter (FRC), Robert Ward, in Key West, Florida, Aug. 21, 2018.
The Coast Guard commissioned the 28th FRC, Nathan Bruckenthal, in Alexandria, Virginia, July 25, 2018.
On Nov. 22, 2017, the Coast Guard announced the names of 19 planned Sentinel-class FRCs. The cutters will be named after enlisted leaders, trailblazers and heroes of the Coast Guard and its predecessor services.
Program Information
The Sentinel-class fast response cutter is a new Coast Guard patrol boat that is capable of deploying independently to conduct missions that include port, waterways and coastal security; fishery patrols; search and rescue; and national defense.
Named after Coast Guard enlisted heroes, the FRCs are replacing the aging Island-class 110-foot patrol boats. The Sentinel Class patrol boat project will deliver vital capability to the Coast Guard, helping to meet the service’s need for additional patrol boats. The current patrol boat gap hinders the Coast Guard’s ability to successfully and efficiently complete all potential missions, and this critical FRC acquisition will help address these identified needs.
The Coast Guard selected a “parent-craft” design for the Sentinel Class patrol boat to ensure that the operating force receives new patrol boats, capable of performing the required missions, as quickly as possible. The Coast Guard coined the term “parent craft” to describe the use of an existing ship design that has successfully performed equivalent missions.
The Coast Guard followed a disciplined acquisition strategy including careful analysis of operational requirements; conducting worldwide market research; close consultation with Coast Guard technical authorities; use of the services of the U.S. Navy, use of independent commercial agents; a full and open competition, and an assessment of the most competitive designs put forth by industry.
