“Coast Guard awards $60 million contract for Sector St. Petersburg facilities” –News Release

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USCGC Pablo Valent (WPC-1148), the only WPC currently based in St. Petersburg. There are also two WMEC210s based in St. Petersburg, Resolute and Venturous.

Below is a Headquarters news release. St. Petersburg is a bit unusual as a Webber class WPC base in that it only has one WPC while in most places three or more cutters are based together, to provide near 365 day/year readiness.

District SE already has 20 WPCs but only one is on the Gulf side of the Peninsula, the other 19 are based in Miami, Key West, and San Juan, PR.

We will almost certainly see two more added. Will the additional WPCs replace the two WMEC210s or will they be replaced by OPCs based at St. Pete?

Aug. 21, 2026

Coast Guard awards $60 million contract for Sector St. Petersburg facilities

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Coast Guard awarded a $60 million contract on Aug. 13, 2026, to repair, recapitalize and improve waterfront facilities at Sector St. Petersburg in St. Petersburg, Florida.

The contract, awarded to Tutor Perini Corp. of Framingham, Massachusetts, will support the removal and rebuilding of facilities damaged by Hurricane Helene, as well as constructing new infrastructure to support future Fast Response Cutter operations.

The project, expected to be completed in summer 2028, will include:

  • Demolition of damaged facilities.
  • Construction of new berthing, marine maintenance facilities, and a multipurpose training facility.
  • Delivery of new stormwater management facilities, a boat ramp and a fuel station.
  • Construction of a new waterfront bulkhead, upgrading berth strength to accommodate crane operations and new mooring fenders and hardware.
  • Installation of new shore utility connections and waterfront lighting to support fast response cutters and other cutter classes.
  • Improvements to the buoy storage lot to facilitate access and stormwater management.
  • Construction of a Maintenance and Weapons Detachment facility to support cutter maintenance.

“Investing in Sector St. Petersburg’s waterfront infrastructure is an investment in Coast Guard readiness,” said Capt. Courtney Sergent, commander, Sector St. Petersburg. “This project will restore storm-damaged facilities, modernize critical shore support, and give our crews the resilient infrastructure they need to operate, maintain, and deploy cutters along Florida’s Gulf Coast.”

Sector St. Petersburg is an essential homeport for Coast Guard cutters, which support Coast Guard missions to save lives; control, secure, and defend U.S. borders and maritime approaches; ensure the safe and secure flow of commerce; and respond to crises and contingencies that may come with little or no warning.

Improvements to Sector St. Petersburg are made possible by the Coast Guard’s historic $25 billion investment provided by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the American Relief Act of 2025, and other annual appropriations.

Using the $25 billion investment in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the largest capital investment in the Service’s history, the Coast Guard has already ordered over $15 billion in new assets and capabilities, critical depot maintenance, and shore facilities. This rapid investment demonstrates the Coast Guard’s commitment to modernizing acquisition, delivering next-generation technology, restoring readiness, and revitalizing shore infrastructure.

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