USCGC Steadfast (WMEC 623)
The Star, a Malaysian publication, reports,
“The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) is set to receive the former United States Coast Guard Cutter (USCGC) Steadfast once its preparation in Baltimore, in the US, is completed and the vessel is transported back to Malaysia in the first quarter of 2025.”
Of the 16 original WMEC210s, two, Courageous and Durable were decommissioned in 2001 and later transferred to Sri Lanka and Colombia respectively. That left us with 14.
USCGC Decisive was decommissioned 2 March 2023, followed by USCGC Steadfast decommissioned Feb. 1, 2024. That left us with 12.
Most recently, this year, three more WMEC210s were effectively decommissioned, being placed in “In Commission, Special” status: Dependable, 9 April; Confidence 2 May; and Dauntless 21 June. This status suggests they might reenter active service sometime in the future, but it probably means they are being held as parts donors.
This leaves the Coast Guard with nine active WMEC210s, 13 WMEC270, Alex Haley, and ten National Security Cutters, a total of 33 large patrol cutters, fewer than the currently planned 36 (11 NSCs and 25 OPCs).
This is the smallest number of large patrol cutters the Coast Guard has had since 1941.
As much as I am impressed with the capabilities of the Webber class Fast Response Cutters, they are not a substitute for cutters that have an endurance of 21 days or more.
We can’t really expect the remaining WMECs to remain in service until replaced on a one for one basis. There is a good chance we will see the number drop further. We need to start completing more than two cutters a year. We have not been completing even one a year (10 NSCs in 16 years).
The Coast Guard has contract or options for 15 OPCs. Eleven have been named, one has been launched. I don’t think contracts have been awarded nor work done on any more than five. GAO anticipates there will be additional delays and costs will rise.
If planning started in the near future, instead of building the last ten OPCs, the Coast Guard could build about 20 true WMEC replacements of 2,000 to 2,500 tons for the about the same price and have at least ten of them completed by 2038 when the last OPCs is supposed to be completed. If we tried hard enough, we might have all 20 completed by then, providing 46 cutters by then instead of 36. It is not impossible. In only nine years, 1964 to 1972 the Coast Guard commissioned 28 ships, 16 WMEC210s and 12 WHEC378s.
Thanks to Peter for bringing the report of Steadfast’s transfer to my attention.
Chuck Hill's CG Blog 
Not sure where you would expect to find a shipyard that could accomplish 2ea WMEC/OPC?
America has lost its ship building talent over the years. Ship repair seems in chaos with government contracts for repair work slowing down in the last 3 1/2 years and if we get another 4 years of this thought process we dig the hole deeper!
Shipyard capacity is expanding while some building programs are ending.
The orginal plan was for Eastern to build two ships a year after the first three.
Then it became the plan for Austal to build two per year after the first three.
If the yards get their act together, no reason we could not build four OPCs a year.
Building four ships half the size of OPCs a year should be easy.