Future USCGC Argus building at Eastern. Eastern Shipyard photo.
Below is a news release from Eastern Shipbuilding. Good to see.
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MEDIA ADVISORY Tuesday, October 17, 2023 |
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Eastern Shipbuilding Group to Host Christening and Launch Ceremony for U.S. Coast Guard’s First Offshore Patrol Cutter Friday, October 27, 2023 What: Christening and Launch Ceremony for USCGC ARGUS (WMSM – 915) Who: Joey D’Isernia, CEO, Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. Admiral Linda Fagan, Commandant, USCG Captain (Ret.) Beverly Kelley, Sponsor Rear Admiral Chad L. Jacoby, Assistant Commandant for Acquisitions & Chief Acquisition Officer, USCG Where: Eastern Shipbuilding Nelson Facility 2200 Nelson Street, Panama City, FL When: Friday, October 27, 2023 – 1:00 PM central set up / 2:00 PM central event The Christening and Launch of U.S. Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Cutter ARGUS (WMSM-915) is scheduled to take place at Eastern Shipbuilding Group’s Nelson Shipyard on October 27, 2023. The christening of the lead vessel of the Heritage Class Offshore Patrol Cutters is a historic event for the Coast Guard and marks the beginning of a new fleet of national security assets that will support critical missions at sea for decades to come. The christening ceremony is a time-honored tradition in shipbuilding that will recognize the history and significance of ARGUS and her sponsor, Capt. Beverly Kelley. Request Media Credentials: |
Chuck Hill's CG Blog 
It’s about time!
Finally! But I thought it was bad luck to launch a ship on a Friday?
Has the MK38 Mark 3 25mm already been installed, or is there a chance this might get the MK38 Mark 4 30mm?
No direct knowledge, but indications are it will be a Mod3.
I am hoping that the “B Class” will get the Mod4.
It will be a fantastic class I think.
I’ve read that, given the cost growth since these were first contracted for, the OPCs are almost as expensive as the NSCs and that the follow-on OPCs might be replaced with NSCs. Is there any truth to this?
The Austal contract is 11 for 3.3 billion. That will exclude GFE, but that should mean these ships will come back down below the cost of any of the Eastern ships. Will that prove out, doubtful.
OPCs are still cheaper than NSCs so while it may have been talked about, its not likely. The Coast Guard has already let the contract for Austal to do a detail design ($208.26 million in FY2022) and build OPC #5 (FY2023). Looks like FY2024 will fund building the 6th OPC and long lead time items for OPC #7.
Frankly I had hoped we would document the need for more offshore patrol vessels and we would initiate a plan for larger numbers of a smaller vessel, say about 2500 tons full load. We have time to initiate a new program because even if we proceed as planned the last OPC will not be delivered until 2038.
The whole story is chronicled here: https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R42567
Wish there was more detail out there on Taiwan’s Miaoli class. It seems like it might be in the Cutter X zone.
@Andy, Wikipedia has some info.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miaoli-class_patrol_vessel
Nice photo here. Definitely in the Cutter X Zone
https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/adas-2016-taiwans-coast-guard-commissions-cutters/
Any word from Austal when they will start fabrication and/or what is their design?
Also can the public attend the Christening? I live 45 minutes away.
@Jamey, Can’t help you with getting into the launching, but if you do, send me some pictures.
Construction is due to start at Austal mid 2024. Their design, looks just like the Eastern Design on outside. Only details of construction might be different. https://usa.austal.com/news/Admiral-Linda-Fagan
About time!
Here’s to hoping it floats.
What’s the worst that could happen? Oops, don’t ask…
“10 Ship Launches That Went Horribly Wrong”
I don’t think that going to be a problem. Eastern seems to know how to launch a ship. Beside if they don’t do it now, the next hurricane might do it for them!
I am very pleased to see that Capt. Kelly will be the sponsor. She was a fine officer. She worked for me for about a year in PACAREA ops, and she was an expert in fisheries.
She was not swinging gently, and it still took 3 hits. That company gets its champagne bottles from one hard glass company!