“Coast Guard awards $315 million contract to modernize fuel pier, utilities at Base Kodiak” –News Release

Posted on September 25, 2026 by Chuck Hill

CGAS Kodiak

The Coast Guard Cutter Douglas Munro (WHEC 724) is moored at the cutter’s homeport of Kodiak, Alaksa, April 24, 2021. The Douglas Munro was decommissioned during a ceremony following 49-years of service to our nation. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Petty Officer Matt Masaschi

Another investment in infrastructure. Below is a CG HQ news release.

WASHINGTON – The Coast Guard awarded a $315 million contract Sept. 11 to Tutor Perini Corp. to design and construct a new fuel pier and major cutter mooring at Base Kodiak, strengthening shore infrastructure to support Coast Guard operations in Alaska and the Arctic.

The project will deliver a new fuel pier capable of receiving fuel deliveries and providing up to two major cutter berths. Work is expected to be completed in the fall 2030.

“This contract represents a major investment in the infrastructure that supports Coast Guard crews and families in Alaska,” said Adm. Kevin Lunday, Commandant of the Coast Guard. “Modernizing Base Kodiak’s waterfront delivers the capabilities we need to be ready and carry out the missions to secure our northern border and maritime approaches in the Arctic.”

The project includes:

Waterfront improvements, including grading work to improve ground stability;
Construction of a new fueling utility building;
Installation of utilities, cutter shore ties and other site amenities, including information technology, water and sewage connections, and safety equipment; and
Unexploded ordnance removal.

The work is funded through a combination of sources, including the 2022 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Fiscal Year 2023 Major Acquisition Systems Infrastructure and Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Reconciliation funding.

The Coast Guard is leveraging historic investments to deliver shore facilities and infrastructure that support the full scope of Coast Guard missions.

For media inquiries contact mediarelations@uscg.mil.

“U.S. Strikes 70th Alleged Drug Boat, U.N. Brief Condemns Attacks” –USNI

Posted on September 23, 2026 by Chuck Hill

Kinetic attack target #20. Pentagon image.

The US Naval Institute News Service reports,

U.S. forces with Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere struck a go-fast vessel allegedly carrying illicit narcotics on Friday, killing four people aboard…A United Nations brief released Sunday alleges that the U.S. strikes violate international law.

“The United States military attacks are, however, contrary to international law, violate the human right to life, and plausibly constitute crimes against humanity,” Special Rapporteur on counter-terrorism and human rights Ben Saul wrote in the brief.

The lethal kinetic attacks on suspected drug smugglers have been going on for a little over a year. Initially these kinetic strikes were centered in the Caribbean, near Venezuela. This most recent attack was in the Caribbean, but there have also been lethal kinetic strikes in the Eastern Pacific.

The kinetic attacks do seem to have slowed down but I don’t expect the UN’s report will have an effect on the administration.

The UN report may have some effect on our relations with nations that have been cooperating with the US on Drug interdiction. There were adverse reactions from Colombia and the UK when the attacks began.

Contract for Offshore Patrol Cutter Homeport, Newport, RI

Posted on September 23, 2026 by Chuck Hill

NAVSTA Newport, RI

Below is a quote from the Department of War contracts for September 22, 2026.

That is a lot of money for infrastructure. Good to see. We have known for a long time, the fifth and sixth OPC were scheduled to go to Newport. Hopefully we will have #5 by 2030.

Ironically they will be the most powerful surface ships, Navy or Coast Guard, on the Atlantic Coast home-ported North of Virginia.

Thanks to Paul for bringing this to my attention.

“Skanska USA Civil Northeast Inc., Waltham, MA is awarded a $271,226,000.00 firm-fixed price contract for construction services for Design-Bid-Build United States Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Cutters Homeport Pier. Work will be performed at Naval Station Newport, Newport Rhode Island, and is expected to be completed by March 2030. The maximum dollar value, including the base price and four options, is $271,226,000.00. Fiscal 2022 Major Acquisition Systems Infrastructure and fiscal 2025 One, Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), Department of Homeland Security, Coast Guard funding in the amount of $271,226,000.00 will be obligated at the time of the award. The amount of $51,108,836 will expire at the end of the fiscal year. The remaining amount will not expire at the end of the fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the http://www.SAM.gov website, with three offers received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia is the contracting activity (N40085-26-C-0032).”

“U.S. and Canada Conduct Joint Arctic Naval Exercise to Strengthen North American Defense” –Army Recognition’s Navy News

Posted on September 20, 2026 by Chuck Hill

USCGC Munro and HMCS Max Bernays. “Aircraft can cover large areas quickly but operate for limited periods, while ships can remain in strategically important waters and maintain surveillance longer. The U.S. Coast Guard and Royal Canadian Navy demonstrated that role earlier in September when USCGC Munro and HMCS Max Bernays conducted a September 8-9 combined sail through the Bering Sea under TUNDRA MERLIN. U.S. Northern Command described the activity as part of the effort to sustain maritime presence, improve domain awareness and integrate U.S. and Canadian capabilities across North America’s Arctic approaches.”

Army Recognition’s Navy News reports,

The United States and Canada are testing a faster Arctic kill chain near Russia, using Alaska-based F-35 fighters, E-3 Sentry airborne warning aircraft, and maritime forces to accelerate the detection, tracking, and engagement of threats approaching through the Bering Sea. During Operation TUNDRA MERLIN from September 18 to 22, 2026, the two countries are linking sensors and combat platforms roughly 100 nautical miles north of Dutch Harbor to reduce the time between initial contact and a coordinated response.

It is clear that at least USCGC Munro is a significant player in this exercise. It appears the surface ships, both USCG and RCN would be used to shadow Russian and Chinese ships to look for suspicious activity (called taking custody in the report). They might also be called upon to inspect suspicious vessels.

The second requirement is tracking and maintaining target custody. Detecting an aircraft or vessel once is insufficient if commanders lose its position, identity, or movement before an interception can be organized. Maritime patrol aircraft can search broad ocean areas and classify contacts, while surface and subsurface vessels can maintain closer surveillance of the maritime target. Combining their information with airborne radar and other sensors allows U.S. and Canadian commanders to construct a continuously updated operational picture rather than relying on isolated detections from individual aircraft or ships.

I can appreciate the fact that aircraft are the weapon of choice given the way the allied surface ships are armed. The Coast Guard cutter is better armed than the RCN Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships, (AOPS) but given that cruise missiles fit nicely in a 40 foot container, on a variety of potentially hostile ships, I would like to see the surface ships be able to quickly respond with deadly force if a merchant ship suddenly reveals an offensive capability. The 57mm Mk110 is not enough. A 25mm Mk38 certainly is not enough. The AOPS and cutter can currently perform only a trip wire function.

Both the National Security Cutters and the Canadian AOPS do have data link which is really a requirement for this mission.

The AOPS is capable of operating in light ice but otherwise it is not as capable as the NSCs.

Speed could be important for this mission, both for making the initial intercept and for the ability to stay with a contact of interest. The AOPSs’ 17 knots may not be adequate. Canadian conventionally powered submarines might also have trouble keeping up with faster ships. Canada does have frigates stationed on the West Coast and they or the proposed “Vigilance Continental Defense Corvette” would generally equal the NSC and provide better armament.

CGAS Kodiak C-130Js equipped with Minotaur, could be an important contributor to Maritime Domain Awareness in the Arctic, but they were not mentioned in the report.

At some point the Coast Guard will have long range, longe endurance, shore based, medium altitude UAS which would also be very useful in this type of operation. They might ultimately replace a cutter or AOPS in monitoring Russian or Chinese traffic.

What about the US Navy? The Pacific Fleet virtually never sends surface ships much North of the Aleutians. They do send submarines. They really need to reopen NAS Adak, Navy P-8 Maritime Patrol Aircraft could be very useful.

“Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak helicopter aircrew earns Air Medal”

Posted on September 19, 2026 by Chuck Hill

From left to right, Coast Guard Vice Adm. Joseph Buzzella, Coast Guard Pacific Area Commander, Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class William McKnight, a rescue swimmer at Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak, Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Samuel Hoppe, an aviation maintenance technician at Air Station Kodiak, and Coast Guard Master Chief Josh McBride, Coast Guard Pacific Area Command Master Chief, pose for a portrait after awarding Air Medals in Kodiak, Alaska, Sept. 17, 2026. McKnight, Hoppe, and their aircrew rescued nine lives aboard the fishing vessel Arctic Sea which ran aground near St. George Island. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Cameron Snell)

Above is from Defense Video Information Distribution Service Coast Guard News Wire.

“Coast Guard awards $30.5 million contract for new child development center at Base Alameda” –News Release

Posted on September 18, 2026 by Chuck Hill

Rendering shows the planned child development center at Coast Guard Base Alameda in Alameda, California. The Coast Guard awarded a $30.5 million design-build contract Sept. 10, 2026, to J.I. Garcia of Fresno, California, to build the new 18,930-square-foot facility, which will increase child care capacity from 68 to 126 spaces for children ages 6 weeks through 5 years and is expected to be completed in November 2028. (U.S. Coast Guard rendering courtesy of J.I. Garcia)

Below is a news release from CG HQ.

Good to see the Coast Guard making investments in child care. Note similar facilities are already contracted for Kodiak and E-City.

WASHINGTON – The Coast Guard awarded a $30.5 million design-build contract Sept. 10 to J.I. Garcia of Fresno, California, to build a new child development center at Coast Guard Base Alameda.

The project will replace most of the existing facility with a new 18,930-square-foot child development center, increasing capacity from 68 to 126 spaces for children ages 6 weeks through 5 years. The new facility will include a 7,200-square-foot outdoor play area and other site improvements.

“This project is an investment in our people, our families and our readiness,” said Capt. Joseph Graham, commander, Coast Guard Base Alameda. “By expanding access to safe, reliable child care at Base Alameda, we are helping remove barriers for our workforce and ensuring Coast Guard members can stay focused on the missions our nation depends on.”

The expanded center is intended to help meet child care demand for Coast Guard families assigned to Coast Guard Island Alameda and nearby units.

The contract involves the following work:

Building child care activity rooms, outdoor storage, an administrative office, a commercial kitchen, and a gathering area.
Installing new pavement, sidewalks, playgrounds, windows, finishes and furnishings.
Installing updated utilities, new heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system, and a video surveillance system.

The contract is funded by the fiscal year 2022 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and is expected to be completed in November 2028.

The Base Alameda project is part of a broader Coast Guard effort to increase and enhance child care services for the workforce by building and recapitalizing child development centers. The Coast Guard awarded similar contracts for facilities at Base Elizabeth City, North Carolina, in April 2026 and Base Kodiak, Alaska, in May 2026.

The projects are designed to improve affordability, expand access, increase capacity, and recapitalize aging facilities to meet the needs of Coast Guard families, strengthening personnel readiness for operational missions.

For media inquiries contact mediarelations@uscg.mil.

“How the US Navy Fixed a Missile Crisis With a Shipping Container” –Navy Decoded

Posted on September 17, 2026 by Chuck Hill

I have long felt the way to make cutters readily adaptable for various wartime missions would be to have provision for containerized sensors and weapons. Of course that would only work if the Navy had containerized sensors and weapons to put on the cutters and has identified previously trained crews of reservists that can be recalled to active duty to augment cutter crews.

This seems to indicate that the Navy is moving in that direction, at least in terms of hardware.

“I want to containerize everything,” (Chief of Naval Operations–Chuck) Caudle said. “That’s why I kicked off the containerized capability campaign plan to get after this challenge at scale.”

In fact there was a recent announcement the Navy wants a low-cost missile interceptor packaged 60 to a container and they wasn’t 500 of them completed in 12 month.

Coast Guard assets have several advantages over putting containerized systems on merchant ships in that the crews are military. Secure military communications are already installed. Larger ships have a SCIF (Special Compartmented Information Facility). All have at least basic self defense capability. The larger cutters already have data links.

Other than a place to put the container and utility connections, all a cutter really needs to exploit even the most sophisticated containerized weapons is a Cooperative Engagement Capability.

Containers could be sited on the flight deck, but I would hope to see at least two positions on NSCs and OPCs where containers could be placed without interfering with helicopter operations.

To me the most urgently needed containerized systems for cutters would be an Active/Passive towed array, and support for operation of MH-60R ASW helicopters.

“USS St. Louis Assumes U.S. Northern Command Mission At Southern Border” –SeaPower

Posted on September 15, 2026 by Chuck Hill

NAVAL STATION MAYPORT, Fla. (Sept. 13, 2026) – Freedom-class littoral combat ship USS St. Louis (LCS 19) departs Naval Station Mayport in support of U.S. Northern Command’s mission to secure the southern border of the United States, Sept. 13, 2026. Photo credit: U.S. Navy

The Navy League’s on-line magazine, Seapower, reports,

Freedom-class littoral combat ship USS St. Louis (LCS 19) departed Naval Station Mayport in support of U.S. Northern Command’s (USNORTHCOM) mission to secure the southern border of the United States, Sept. 13, 2026.

St. Louis assumes duties previously executed by the USS Cooperstown (LCS 23) in support of USNORTHCOM’s border security objectives. U.S. Northern Command is working together with the Department of Homeland Security to augment U.S. Customs and Border Protection along the southern border to disrupt illicit drug trafficking and protect the homeland.

Notice the statement makes no mention of the Coast Guard.

Until the current administration took over in 2025, NORTHCOM, really seemed to have no interest in the trafficking of drugs or people. Since then there has generally been an LCS underway for border security.

COMBATANT COMMANDS

USS Cooperstown (LCS 23) got underway May 16 and returned to Naval Station Mayport August 31, 2026.
USS Wichita (LCS 13) got underway 14 November 2025 and returned May 4, 2026. Wichita did have a CG LEDET.
USS St. Louis (LCS 19) Returns from Deployment in Support of Southern Border Operations, Nov. 11, 2025 (She did have a CG LEDET).

I have had difficulty locating any reports of successful interdictions under NORTHCOM.

Of course there is already a significant concentration of Coast Guard assets in the NORTHCOM AOR that have made numerous interdictions, but they do not report to NORTHCOM.

–

Adding a single LCS to the already substantial Coast Guard forces in the Gulf and Caribbean may not be the best use of these more expensive assets. Historically the LCS were more successful when assigned to 4th Fleet and SOUTHCOM, particularly when patrolling the Eastern Pacific Drug transit zones,

“Coast Guard awards $173.7 million contract to advance Base Seattle modernization” –News Release

Posted on September 14, 2026 by Chuck Hill

Base Seattle (It is an old photo)

Below is a HQ news release.

Polar Star, Storis, and Healy. U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy (WAGB-20) arrives at Pier 46 on Coast Guard Base Seattle, Oct. 26, 2025. The crew of the Healy transited over 20,000 miles, supporting Operation Arctic West Summer and Operation Frontier Sentinel, protecting U.S. sovereign rights and territory, and promoting national security in the Arctic. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Lieutenant Christopher Butters)

Sept. 14, 2026

WASHINGTON – The Coast Guard awarded a $173.7 million contract to The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company to advance a major modernization of Base Seattle, strengthening the shore infrastructure needed to homeport and sustain the Service’s future polar security cutters.

Awarded by the Coast Guard’s Facilities Design and Construction Center, the contract funds Phase 1B of the modernization effort. Work includes construction of a new pier at Slip 36B, structural enhancements, and utility and electrical upgrades.

The contract is funded through Fiscal Year 2025 budget reconciliation funding.

“Modernizing Base Seattle is critical to ensuring our Coast Guard has the infrastructure required to support the next generation of cutters and the missions they will perform in the Arctic and across the Pacific,” said Adm. Thomas G. Allan Jr., Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard. “This investment strengthens our ability to homeport and maintain polar security cutters, enhances readiness for our growing surface fleet, and ensures our crews have the facilities they need to meet the Nation’s evolving maritime security needs.”

Base Seattle is key to Coast Guard operations in the Pacific Northwest and supports cutter operations, logistics, maintenance and personnel assigned to regional and national missions.

The latest award builds on the Coast Guard’s initial Base Seattle modernization contract, announced in September 2025, and continues a multiyear effort to prepare the base for Arctic and Antarctic operations.

Phase 1B includes dredging Slip 36 and building two modernized major cutter berths capable of hosting polar security cutters. The initial modernization contract award, Phase 1A, is 26% complete. Phases 1A and 1B remain on schedule for completion in Fiscal Year 2029.

Phase 1C is in the planning stages. Together, the first three phases are scheduled for completion in 2030, positioning Base Seattle to support delivery of the first polar security cutter. The full modernization project will deliver four major cutter berths for the Coast Guard’s growing surface fleet.

“U.S. Coast Guard concludes participation in multinational GALAPEX exercise alongside international partners near Galapagos Islands” –District SW

Posted on September 13, 2026 by Chuck Hill

U.S. Coast Guard and partner nations conduct a formation sail during PANAMAX 2026
From left to right, U.S. Coast Guard fast response cutter USCGC Robert Ward (WPC 1130), Mexican navy ARM Jalisco, Ecuadorian navy BAE Loja, Colombian navy coastal patrol vessel ARC Isla Gorgona, and the Panamanian National Aeronaval Service Panquiaco (P-301) perform a formation sailing exercise in the Pacific Ocean near Panama, during PANAMAX 2026, Aug. 6, 2026. PANAMAX 2026 scenarios help the defense and public security forces of participating nations improve interoperability, hone their skills during scenarios involving coalition and all-domain operations, forge strong cooperative partnerships, and demonstrate their collective capacity to respond to and deter threats to the region and its critical waterways. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class William Kirk)

Below is a District SW news release.

This is another example of a Pacific Area Webber class WPC that has gone far from home (more than 3000 nautical miles in this case) and stayed away about two months. USCGC Robert Ward also participated in the PANAMAX 2026 exercise in early August (here and here). It will probably be at least ten days before she returns home.

Meanwhile we have had USCGC Emlen Tunnell (WPC 1145) and USCGC Charles Moulthrope (WPC 1141) exercising with Indonesia.

ALAMEDA, Calif. — The U.S. Coast Guard Sentinel-class cutter Robert Ward (WPC 1130) crew concluded participation in GALAPEX 2026 offshore of the Galapagos Islands from Aug. 17 – Sept. 03, 2026.

Ecuador hosted participants from 12 partner nations, including the United States, for the fourth iteration of GALAPEX. Comprehensive joint exercise events provided participating nations an opportunity to strengthen partnerships and interoperability to counter illicit maritime activity, including illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the region.

IUU fishing represents a critical strategic and economic threat to global maritime security. By depleting marine resources, it undermines food security, destabilizes vulnerable coastal economies, and negatively impacts law-abiding maritime commerce. Moreover, IUU fishing networks frequently intersect with broader illicit maritime activity such as human, drug, and weapons trafficking. Active counter-IUU fishing enforcement provides maritime law enforcement authorities with the ability to disrupt transnational criminal organizations and safeguard the global maritime domain.

Participating nations included Argentina, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Italy, Japan, Peru, Spain, and the United States. Other military branches represented included the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force. Participating agencies included the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Global Fishing Watch, WildAid, and the Indo-Pacific Regional Information Sharing platform.

U.S. Coast Guard personnel from the CGC Robert Ward, Southwest District enforcement, and Pacific Area conducted joint exercises and simulated maritime enforcement scenarios with partner nations throughout the exercise.

The CGC Robert Ward crew conducted simulated High Seas Boarding and Inspections (HSBI) alongside partner forces to review a vessel’s compliance with maritime law and detect signs of illicit activity. Additionally, the crew participated in a joint high speed pursuit exercise and steamed alongside international partners to enhance at-sea formation proficiency and multi-ship coordination. Shoreside, the crew marched in several GALAPEX parades in Santa Cruz and San Cristobal Islands, Galapagos. In recognition of participation, San Cristobal’s Honorable Mayor, Rolando Caiza Carrillo, presented the keys to the city to the commanding officer of CGC Robert Ward, Lt. Jak Loewenstein.

“Partnerships built through exercises like GALAPEX are essential to our shared maritime security,” said Loewenstein. “The scope of nations represented in this year’s exercise reflects a collective recognition of the importance of collaboration to strengthen partnerships and counter illicit maritime activity.”

“Exercises like GALAPEX strengthen essential maritime security partnerships to effectively combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing and enhance the overall collective maritime security in the region,” said Capt. Jason Hagen, chief of enforcement, Southwest District. “Operations of this scale depend on cross-border cooperation, and the Coast Guard remains committed to working alongside our international partners throughout the Eastern Pacific.”