The Coast Guard has purchased four additional Fast Response Cutters, which have a price tag of $65 million apiece.
The Coast Guard exercised a contract option with Bollinger Shipyards for the four new ships, the company announced on Wednesday. The military branch has awarded the shipping company 64 vessels, while 43 FRCs have gone into operational status.
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The ships, which will be built in the Lockport, Louisiana, facility, are scheduled to be completed between fall 2024 and summer 2025.
“We’re incredibly proud of the work we do at Bollinger, and we’re especially proud of our long history supporting the U.S. Coast Guard that stretches nearly four decades,” said Bollinger Shipyards President and CEO Ben Bordelon.
“Our unique experience building for the Coast Guard is unparalleled and has shown time and time again that we can successfully deliver the highest-quality vessels on a reliable, aggressive production schedule and cost, even in the most challenging circumstances, including the global pandemic and record hurricane season experienced over the past year,” he added.
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Each FRC costs about $65 million, according to a Congressional Research Service report from last month. The 64 FRCs having been awarded to Bollinger Shipyards totals more than $4.1 billion.
The 154-foot vessel is powered by two Tier 2 main diesel engines with 5760 Brake Horsepower, giving it a top speed of over 28 knots, according to the manufacture’s website. FRC’s can continuously patrol waterways for up to five days.
