Homeland security cutter-light concept rendering.
Below is a news release from the Assistant Commandant for Acquisirtions (CG-9).
July 1, 2026 —The Coast Guard released a request for proposal (RFP) June 30 for design, production, testing and delivery of homeland security cutter-light (HSC-L) vessels. The Coast Guard plans to acquire seven HSC-Ls through an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract.
The RFP is available here. Proposals are due by July 14, 2026.
The Coast Guard’s aging fleet of 65-foot light icebreaking tugs was commissioned into service between 1961-1967 and is well beyond its planned end of service life. The HSC-Ls will replace these critical assets with a dual-capability platform, maintaining year-round access to smaller ports and harbors. The HSC-Ls will be designed to operate efficiently in a variety of ice conditions and will be equipped with aids to navigation capabilities, providing safe passage and navigation for vessels of all sizes.
The Coast Guard plans to use a two-phase process for evaluation of industry proposals received through this RFP. Following receipt of Phase 1 proposals, the service intends to issue advisory down-select notices to select offerors. Phase 2 proposal due dates will be included in a subsequent solicitation amendment.
For more information: Homeland Security Cutter-Icebreaker page
Chuck Hill's CG Blog 
The phrase “Homeland Security Cutter” may please the Department, but to me it sounds a bit pretentious for these little ships which are really small icebreaking buoy tenders. “Homeland Security Cutter” says nothing about what their mission is anymore than calling them Coast Guard Cutters, probably less.
I note they have used the same phrase for a commercial supply vessel.
https://chuckhillscgblog.net/2026/06/27/coast-guard-taps-commercial-supply-vessel-to-keep-cutters-on-station-longer-gcaptain/
This phrase seems to tie the vessels to the Department rather than to the Coast Guard.
I have seen the Coast Guard change departments twice, from Treasury to Transportation in 1967 and from DOT to DHS in 2003. There is no reason to believe Coast Guard will be in DHS forever. Personally I think it should be an independent agency since six of eleven CG missions including SAR are not really DHS missions.
Calling these Homeland Security Cutters seems like an attempt to tie them to Department. It might even be a first step in dismembering the Coast Guard.
Correct, it’s a name game and “Homeland Security Cutter” sounds more something than “tug” or “buoy tender” just like when they seize people trying to get into the U.S. they are now “aliens” in place of refugees or whatever they were called a few years ago.
It is nice that they are finally upgrading the fleet, but a long ways to go and there is a shortage of yard capacity and trained workers and a good ship design does not just magically appear from a designer / naval architect
The description is supposed to mean something. In this case it does not. These little ships are unglamorous but essential. That should be enough.
I think the idea is great, a ship that does three things needed on the Great Lakes means they will work year around and be crewed all the time so better competency and knowledge and lessons learned will be passed on better and not lost, no crew rotation out during the off season
The lawmakers for the Great Lakes area will understand exactly how important a Three Job rated vessel is and the rest of the lawmakers will see “security” in the description and vote for funding since they will be concerned that Canada might invade us via the Great Lakes (sorry never underestimate the gullibility of some of our elected leaders)
Keep up the good work keeping us informed, Thanks Much
To think that all we need is 7 is interesting. I would have thought that at least twice that number would be more appropriate. Will be interesting to see who submits designs and who is selected to build them. With such a small number, it should be 1 yard delivering all 7 in less than 3 years.
The Coast Guard originally built 15 of the 65 foot tugs. Currently we have eleven.
On the other hand we currently have nine 140 foot icebreaking tugs and they expect to replace them with eleven medium domestic icebreakers.