The news is about a week old, but I like the graphic.
From the news release:
“SAFE Boats International (SAFE) was recently selected to build the U.S. Coast Guard’s new Cutter Boat-Over the Horizon-IV (CB-OTH-IV). The contract calls for up to 101 boats procured over 7 (seven)-years. The CB-OTH-IV will act as a multi-mission, cutter-launched law enforcement vessel and the Coast Guard will begin taking delivery in early 2013. At 26-feet in length, the CB-OTH-IV is capable of speeds in excess of 40 knots and is based off of the SAFE 250 Center Console. It seats 5 (five) crew members and features a 480hp inboard diesel engine with a water jet, encrypted communications equipment, a state-of-the-art navigation system with a custom radar arch, a forward-facing weapons mount as well as SAFE’s patented hull design, XDR Collar system and mountable ballistic protection.”
Chuck Hill's CG Blog 
All that gear and no oar locks.
There has been a tangental discussion about how these boats could be lifted onto cutter NOT equipped with a stern ramp. of course, a stern ramp is quick but takes up much space in the hull. But given the total number of boats being procured it is obvous that the OTH Mk IV boat will end up on other cutters. I presumed that many of those ships are not equipped with new davits? The general consensus was that the USCG should buy modern davits systems which can function in higher sea states to lift these boat onoboard. IOW buy davtis which work with new boats at same time. Maybe install them as the older cutters go through their overhauls.
Check out companies like Vestdavit and Schat-Harding for newer systems.
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The WMEC/WHEC’s were upgraded with modern dual point davits from Wellin-Lambie to support the OTH MKIII when they transitioned away from the MSB’s. The MKIII is just about a foot shorter so depending on the lift point locations they should be able to support the MKIV’s. I’m curious about how easily the aft rack lowers to the stowed position. The CB-SPC-LE prototyped on BERTHOLF requires removing bolts to lower it, which is not feasible for davit use.
I’m more concerned about the port position for the coxn. The LRI MKI has a left seat and it made for challenging notch interfaces (validated in the 2010 boat launch and recovery testing conducted by ELC). The SPC had three-wide front seat with the coxn in the center, radio operator on the left and the nav operator on the right. It made for a good pursuit C2 setup and easy interface. I don’t understand why they deviated from the MKIII configuration with the coxswain in front by themselves and the operators behind. It makes me wonder about the experience of those that selected the design. In the BM world there are relatively few coxns with cutter boat experience (when compared to driving station boats), even fewer with notch interface experience (only 87′ WPB, 123′ WPB, 154′ WPC, 179′ WPC,and 418′ WMSL), and only a couple dozen experienced at interfacing the larger cutters (WMSL and maybe the WPC’s which act totally different than the WPB’s).
My conclusion is that either they lacked the experience to see how poorly this design will integrate into the WMEC/OPC/WMSL/WPC fleet, didn’t care because it ran well in calm water on a river, or were muscled into the decision. Metal Shark got the RBS contract and now SAFE has a huge production facility they expanded in response to the original run of RBS’s. Now some senator is worried about losing jobs in their district and the Coast Guard is forced to live with an inferior product. It just seems fishy that SAFE loses out on the RBS and miraculously gets the OTH contract right in the middle of budget talks.
Piero – Sorry none of the above went into the selection process. I think you know who designed the boat. And you know the experience they have. Pretty one sided point of view you had way back in 2012 shipmate.
Order for another 6 boats. http://www.dcms.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/Assistant-Commandant-for-Acquisitions-CG-9/Newsroom/cutterboats_022818/
I don’t want to sound snarky here, but that is $385,000.00 per boat. A 26 foot long boat. Let’s look at it another way. That’s $14,807.69 per foot. Man the U.S. government is the worst consumer in the world.