This option brings the total number of FRCs under contract with Bollinger to 60 and the total value of the contract to approximately $1.48 billion. The FRCs built under this option will be delivered in 2024. The FRC contract was recently modified to increase the maximum number of cutters to 64 FRCs and total potential value to $1.74 billion if all options are exercised. This change was needed to maintain the domestic program of record of 58 FRCs while also providing for the replacement of six 110-foot patrol boats assigned to Patrol Forces Southwest Asia.
To date, there are 38 FRCs in operational service. 12 in Florida; seven in Puerto Rico; four in California; three each in Hawaii and New Jersey; two each in Alaska, Mississippi, North Carolina and Texas. Future FRC homeports include Santa Rita, Guam; Astoria, Oregon; and Kodiak, Seward and Sitka, Alaska.
About Sentinel-class FRC
FRCs have a maximum speed of over 28 knots, a range of 2,500 nautical miles and an endurance of five days. The ships are designed for multiple missions, including drug and migrant interdiction; ports, waterways and coastal security; fishery patrols; search and rescue; and national defense. They 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 are built by the Louisiana-based firm Bollinger Shipyards, using a design from the Netherlands-based Damen Group, with the Sentinel design based on the company’s Damen Stan 4708 patrol vessel.
USCG Sentinel-class FRC features
- Enhanced response time with a minimum top speed of 28 knots
- Ability to conduct missions on moderate seas up to transit speed for eight hours in all directions
- Ability to survive on very rough seas up to loiter speed for eight hours in all directions
- Armed with a stabilized 25-mm machine gun mount and four crew-served .50-caliber machine guns
- Fully interoperable command and control systems with Coast Guard existing and future assets and with the departments of Homeland Security and Defense
USCG Sentinel-class FRC characteristics
- Number Planned: 60
- Length: 154 feet
- Beam: 25 feet
- Draft: 9 feet 6 inches
- Displacement: 353 long tons
- Maximum Speed: 28+ knots
- Range: 2,500 nautical miles
- Endurance: Five days
- Crew: 24
