Bollinger Wins $507M Option to Build 10 More Fast Response Cutters for U.S. Coast Guard

Bollinger Shipyards has been awarded a $506.9 million contract option by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) to construct ten additional Sentinel-class Fast Response Cutters (FRCs). This latest award extends one of the most prolific shipbuilding programs in recent USCG history and underscores the service’s continued reliance on these versatile patrol vessels for coastal security and interdiction missions.

Contract Extension Reinforces FRC Program Longevity

The recently exercised option is part of an existing Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract initially awarded in 2017. The new tranche covers hull numbers 67 through 76 and brings the total number of FRCs ordered to 86—well beyond the original program goal of 58 units. The cutters will be built at Bollinger’s Lockport facility in Louisiana.

The $506.9 million award includes not only hull construction but also long lead-time materials and associated logistics support. According to Bollinger CEO Ben Bordelon, this milestone highlights both the company’s commitment to national security and its role as a key industrial partner for Department of Homeland Security maritime assets.

Delivery timelines have not been publicly disclosed yet, but based on past production rates—approximately four vessels per year—it is likely that deliveries will extend into FY2028 or beyond.

Sentinel-Class FRC Capabilities and Mission Set

The Sentinel-class Fast Response Cutter is a 154-foot (47-meter), steel-hulled patrol vessel designed primarily for missions including law enforcement, drug interdiction, search and rescue (SAR), border security patrols, and defense readiness operations within the USCG’s Area of Responsibility (AOR).

Displacement: ~353 long tons
Top Speed: >28 knots
Range: ~2,950 nautical miles at 12 knots
Crew: 24 personnel
Main Armament: One stabilized Mk38 Mod2 25mm autocannon; four .50 caliber machine guns
Sensors: Furuno navigation radar; electro-optical/infrared systems; C4ISR suite integrated with USCG command networks

The cutters are equipped with stern launch ramps capable of deploying Short Range Prosecutor RHIBs (Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats) while underway—a key feature enabling rapid boarding operations during interdiction or SAR missions.

Bollinger’s Strategic Role in U.S. Maritime Security

Bollinger Shipyards has become synonymous with small- to medium-displacement military vessel construction in the United States. Since acquiring VT Halter Marine in early 2023—now rebranded as Bollinger Mississippi—the company has expanded its capacity across multiple Gulf Coast facilities.

The FRC program has served as a cornerstone of Bollinger’s naval portfolio since it took over from Eastern Shipbuilding Group after initial delays in other cutter classes such as the Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC). With more than 50 FRCs already delivered across various homeports—including Bahrain under PATFORSWA—the platform is now operationally embedded across all major USCG districts.

This latest contract extension also helps sustain more than 650 direct jobs at Bollinger facilities and supports hundreds more across subcontractors supplying propulsion systems (e.g., MTU engines), weapon mounts (e.g., Rafael Advanced Defense Systems), navigation electronics, and composite components.

Evolving Operational Requirements Drive Fleet Expansion

The expansion beyond the originally planned fleet size reflects evolving mission demands placed on the Coast Guard amid increased transnational criminal activity in Caribbean waters, Arctic domain presence requirements, and Indo-Pacific maritime cooperation efforts.

In particular:

PATFORSWA Deployment: Several FRCs are forward-deployed to Bahrain under Patrol Forces Southwest Asia to support CENTCOM maritime security operations alongside U.S. Navy assets.
Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF-S): FRCs play a central role in counter-narcotics operations throughout Latin American transit zones.
Arctic Operations: The class has demonstrated capability during seasonal deployments into higher latitudes thanks to improved seakeeping versus legacy Island-class cutters.

The increased fleet size also provides redundancy during maintenance cycles and improves surge capacity during hurricane response or homeland security contingencies along U.S. coasts or territories such as Puerto Rico and Guam.

Sustainment Pathways and Future Outlook

The longevity of the Sentinel-class program raises questions about lifecycle sustainment strategies as well as eventual replacement timelines. While no formal successor program has been announced yet by USCG Acquisition Directorate (CG-9), several modernization efforts are underway including upgrades to communications systems compatible with Link-16 datalinks for joint force interoperability.

Bollinger continues to invest in digital shipyard technologies that may reduce construction timeframes through modular fabrication techniques—a capability that could prove critical should future platforms require faster ramp-up due to geopolitical crises or natural disasters impacting domestic infrastructure resilience.

The company is also positioning itself for potential involvement in future unmanned surface vessel programs under evaluation by both USN/USCG hybrid task forces focused on MDA (Maritime Domain Awareness) enhancement through AI-enabled ISR platforms integrated with manned vessels like FRCs or OPCs.

Conclusion: A Proven Platform Extended by Demand Signals

This latest award cements the Sentinel-class cutter’s role as one of the most successful small combatant programs executed by DHS agencies over the past two decades. With nearly double its original procurement quantity now funded or delivered—and continued operational demand from multiple theaters—the class represents a rare case where performance metrics have driven expansion rather than budgetary inertia alone.

Bollinger’s ability to maintain cost discipline while scaling production reinforces its status as a critical industrial base asset supporting U.S. homeland defense objectives through reliable maritime platforms tailored for multi-mission flexibility across contested littorals and blue-water seams alike.

Sources

“Bollinger awarded $507M option for 10 more FRCs” — MarineLog — link
“Sentinel-Class Fast Response Cutter” — U.S. Coast Guard Acquisition Directorate — link
“Bollinger Shipyards Awarded Contract Option For Additional Fast Response Cutters” — Naval News — link
“PATFORSWA Overview” — U.S. Navy Central Command — link
“Fast Response Cutter Fact Sheet” — Congressional Research Service via CRS Reports — link