Austal USA celebrated the keel-laying ceremony of the USCGC Pickering (WMSM 919) at its shipyard in Mobile, Alabama. This is the first Heritage-class patrol vessel (OPC) that the company will build for the U.S. Coast Guard. This contract, with a potential value of US$3.3 billion, includes up to 11 units, of which six have already been secured.
The Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) program aims to replace the aging Famous and Reliance-class Medium Endurance Cutters, bridging the gap in capabilities between the larger, longer-range National Security Cutters (NSCs) and the Fast Response Cutters (FRCs), designed for coastal operations.
The OPC program was initially awarded in 2016 to Florida-based Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG), which built the first Heritage-class units. However, following difficulties caused by Hurricane Michael in 2018 and subsequent schedule delays, the Coast Guard decided to diversify the construction, awarding an additional contract in 2022 to Austal USA to expand production and ensure timely delivery of the vessels.
The ceremony was attended by local officials, members of Congress, and high-ranking Coast Guard officers, including Acting Commandant Admiral Kevin Lunday. The ship’s godmother, Dr. Meghan Pickering Seymour, a descendant of Colonel Timothy Pickering—for whom the Coast Guard’s first cutter was named in 1798—authenticated the keel by welding her initials onto the ceremonial plaque.
The Heritage-class patrol boats are destined to become a cornerstone of the Coast Guard’s ocean presence, capable of operating independently or in task groups. In addition to their traditional maritime security missions, the new patrol boats will be able to serve as command and control platforms in large-scale operations, including hurricane response, mass migration incidents, and the protection of strategic interests in the Arctic.
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