June 29, 2023 —The Coast Guard’s In-Service Vessel Sustainment (ISVS) Program in partnership with the Boat Acquisition Program completed service life extension program (SLEP) work on a ninth and 10th 47-foot motor lifeboat (MLB) in June.

The SLEP work package for these two MLBs incorporated design modifications to address operational test and evaluation (OT&E) findings. The extra time and resource investment to develop and refine solutions from the OT&E findings for these two boats should reduce future MLB SLEP durations.

Based on the OT&E findings, the additional work completed on these MLBs encompassed a reconfiguration of the open and enclosed bridge areas, revised console configuration on the open bridge and revised exterior lighting. Further repairs under the SLEP included engine control system modifications to improve speed and responsiveness in hazardous surf conditions as well as extensive hull plating replacement.

For efficiency, the SLEP work is being conducted in two locations, one on each coast, and each facility worked on one of the MLBs incorporating the OT&E production modifications.

On the West Coast, the work was completed in Bellingham, Washington, on June 14, 2023. This MLB was the first post-SLEP boat delivered to Station Umpqua River along the Central Oregon coast.

On the East Coast, the work was completed in the newly opened facility in Portland, Connecticut, on June 9, 2023. This boat is the second post-SLEP MLB delivered to Station Barnegat Light, New Jersey.

SLEP work extends an asset’s service life by replacing obsolete, unsupportable or maintenance-intensive equipment with standardized configuration. The 47-foot MLB SLEP was initiated to extend the useful life of the MLB fleet by 20 years through 2047. The SLEP timeline remains on schedule to place up to 107 MLBs back to full operational capability prior to 2030.

For more information: In-Service Vessel Sustainment Program and Boat Acquisition Program pages