Bollinger Awarded $255 Million for Response Cutters

Bollinger Shipyards, based in Lockport, has recently been awarded a $255 million contract for building six fast-response cutters to replace part of the USCG’s aging fleet.

Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA), who is the chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee, stated that she had included the funding for the cutters in the FY 2014 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill.

According to Landrieu, in addition to updating aging vessels, the contract will keep 1,200 employees in their jobs at Bollinger. Not only that, but Landrieu also estimates that an additional 1,800 workers for suppliers and subcontractors will remain on the job.

Expressed Landrieu, “The men and women of the Coast Guard have gone above and beyond to protect our citizens, ecosystems and way of life through hurricanes, oil spills, river closures and countless search and rescue missions. The Coast Guard is part of our DNA in Louisiana. I am proud that Louisiana's highly skilled workers will play an important part in keeping the Coast Guard strong for generations to come,”

Chris Bollinger, President of Bollinger Shipyards, was more than pleased, stating, “This is great news for our talented and dedicated shipbuilders at Bollinger. This award of additional FRCs will continue to provide the Coast Guard with six more game-changing assets as they conduct their critical missions. I deeply appreciate Senator Landrieu's support of the Coast Guard and shipbuilding in Louisiana.”

Landrieu says that the addition of funding for the cutters from the USCG’s discretionary fund in the current federal budget will mean a savings of $5 million per vessel ($30 million for taxpayers).

The new vessels will find homes in Atlantic Beach, NC; South Portland, Maine; and Honolulu, Hawaii. The USCG’s intention is to acquire 58 cutters, with 30 being paid for through the current fiscal year, and Senator Landrieu stated that she will include additional funding for six more vessels in the FY 2015 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill.

Bollinger delivered its 10^th-fastest response cutter to the 7^th Coast Guard District (Key West, FL) in June. To build the vessel, Bollinger utilized an in-service parent craft design that was based on the design of the Damen Stan Patrol Boat 4708. The flank speed of the vessel is 28 knots, and it includes state-of-the-art control, command, communications, computer technology, as well as a stern launch system for the ship’s cutter boat.