Category Archives: boats

“South Korea Unveils High-Speed Interceptor Craft – HSIC” –Naval News

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Naval News reports,

South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) developed a “high speed interceptor craft” (HSIC) dubbed “Phantom” capable of reaching a top speed of 60 knots.

Specifications include:

  • Displacement: 20 tons
  • Length: 20 meters (65.6′)
  • Beam: 4 meters (13.1′)
  • Range: 300 nautical miles
  • Crew of up to 12 plus 2 ton payload

Apparently, the  high performance is made possible by carbon fiber composite construction. The US Coast Guard really doesn’t have anything of comparable length  that I can compare it to, but we have had much smaller 35 foot “Long Range Interceptor” alluminum hull cutter boats that displaced 12 tons and 45 foot “Response Boat, Medium” boats that displaced 18.4 tons (light). (I don’t have current specs. This information from my nine year old Combat Fleets of the World.)

Bet the Vampire APKWS guided rocket system would fit on the cabin roof in place of the remote weapon station with 12.7 to 30mm gun.

“Coast Guard awards $103 million contract to Inventech Marine for up to 200 over the horizon boats” –WorkBoat

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New Over the Horizon boat design. Inventech Marine Solutions rendering

WorkBoat reports on the award of a contract for construction of up to 200 “Over The Horizon Cutter Boats” (CB-OTH V) to Inventech Marine Solutions (IMS) of Bremerton, WA.

We had a Coast Guard news release on this contract award earlier, that talked about the selection process and where the boats will go, but the Workboat article gives much more detail about the tech that went into the boat and why it was chosen. Perhaps most significantly,

The performance of the boat during the in-water demonstration event was noteworthy in that it averaged 30 knots in SS3, the highest of any of the boats, while eliciting comments from the operators that it was the most comfortable and capable.

Thanks to Paul for bringing this to my attention. 

“RIBCRAFT Delivering On $80 Million Navy Contract” –Marine Link

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Marine Link reports,

RIBCRAFT will build up to 278 of the 7-Meter rigid inflatable boats worth approximately $80 million. This is purported to be the largest single contract based on number of boats ever awarded by the U.S. Navy.

Each vessel is powered by a single Steyr SE266E40 diesel engine with Bravo Two X Mercruiser outdrive and equipped with a Briartek man overboard indicator system (MOBI), and forward M60/M240 weapon foundation. With a full load of 18 sailors, the 7-meter RIB will have a sprint speed of 25 knots.

These boats will be built alongside the U.S. Navy Expeditionary 11-Meter RIB that RIBCRAFT is currently building at its Massachusetts facilities. Together these contracts have a total value of over $120 million, making the company New England’s most significant boat manufacturer.

These appear a bit less capable than the water jet powered Coast Guard 8 meter “Over the Horizon” cutter boat, more like the Cutter Boat, Large, employed on WMEC210s and 225 foot buoy tenders.

“Coast Guard selects builder for next-generation over the horizon cutter boats” –CG-9

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Over the horizon V cutter boat line drawing. Image courtesy of Inventech Marine Solutions.

The Acquisitions Directorate (CG-9) has announced award of a contract for a new class of 8 meter, Over the Horizon Cutter Boats.

The Coast Guard selected Inventech Marine Solutions of Bremerton, Washington, to build the next generation of over the horizon (OTH V) cutter boats. The first delivery order for four OTH Vs was placed Aug. 3 with a value of $1.973 million. These four OTH Vs will be used for operational test and evaluation before the program moves to full production. The 10-year contract supports delivery of up to 200 boats with a total value of approximately $103 million.

Beyond the similarities of speed and weight between the OTH V and the OTH IV it is replacing, the OTH V will include improved waterjet control technology, the second generation Scalable Integrated Navigation System, new generation communications equipment and the Coast Guard’s first boat shock monitoring system, which will provide the crew with real-time information on wave impact severity. The OTH V is powered by a marine diesel engine and waterjet, with a top speed of approximately 40 knots and a range in excess of 170 nautical miles. The dimensions are limited to 26 feet long by 8.5 feet wide, with a maximum performance weight of 8,700 pounds, to ensure compatibility with the various Coast Guard cutters it will support.

The Coast Guard awarded four OTH V indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contracts in June 2021, purchasing one boat from each contractor. Following delivery of the boats, the Coast Guard detailed five test crews to Norfolk, Virginia, to operate the boats for nearly four months in side-by-side simulated operational events to help identify the best value contract for follow-on production. Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division, Detachment Norfolk documented particulars of the performance and provided test facilities and support.

The Coast Guard will deploy the OTH V across the Coast Guard’s cutter fleet to national security cutters, fast response cutters, offshore patrol cutters, legacy medium endurance cutters, future polar security cutters and in-service polar icebreakers.

OTH V cutter boats will support almost all mission areas, with emphasis on search and rescue; drug and migrant interdiction; living marine resources; defense readiness; and ports, waterways and coastal security.

For more information: Boat Acquisition Program page

“USCG Discloses 90% Interdiction Success Rate For Pursuits Over The Last Three Years” –Naval News

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A low-profile go-fast vessel is shown next to the Coast Guard Cutter James in mid-May, 2020 in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Central America. The James’ crew interdicted 3,100 pounds of cocaine and four suspected smugglers aboard the boat. (U.S. Coast Guard photo.)

Naval News reports the Coast Guard’s response to a question regarding, how the U.S. Coast Guard tackles the problem of high speed pursuits?

Not surprisingly the response pointed out that “… it’s their smaller RHIBs, the Long-Range Interceptor II and the Cutter Boat Over-the-Horizon IV, that often pursue and come close to the (small) high-speed targets.” I might add that includes the 22 foot Cutter Boat Large on WMEC 210s that are not equipped with the larger 26 and 35 foot boats and air-borne use of force is sometimes require to provide disabling fire.

The new information, I had not seen before was, the 90% interdiction rate sited in the title. Of course, as noted, this refers to success once pursuit is initiated. Gross interdiction rates are much much lower.

Each maritime pursuit chase is unique, and factors such as ambient lighting and sea state, target speed and actions, and the target’s proximity to land directly influence interdiction results. Despite these myriad factors, the Coast Guard has an approximately 90% interdiction success rate, once starting pursuit operations, over the last three years. (emphasis applied–Chuck) Enhanced pursuit capabilities, including unmanned aerial surveillance, in combination with changes in pursuit tactics, like airborne use of force, and refinement of tactical geometry assessments may have increased the recent level of interdiction success,” Lieutenant Kneen said.

New Generation Long Range Interceptor Boats for NSCs

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U.S. Coast Guard long range interceptor (LRI) coming aboard into the notch at the stern of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter USCGC Bertholf (WMSL-750). 12 August 2009. U.S. Coast Guard Photo ID 090812-G-3421D_212_LRI, by PO2 Jetta H. Disco

It looks like the Coast Guard is preparing to procure their third generation Long Range Interceptors for the National Security Cutters. Marine Link reports,

“On March 2 the U.S. Coast Guard updated a pre-solicitation notice, originally from November 2021, regarding purchase of 15 Long Range interceptor cutter boats. These will become the 3rd generation cutters for the expanded National Security Cutter fleet. (Search SAM.gov, use ID 70Z02322R93250001.)

“The important change updates publication of the Request for Proposal (RFP). That document was expected in January or February. Now, the expected release is April or May 2022.”

The last contract for Long Range Interceptors I was aware of was reported in 2012 for eight boats.

“First full rate production cutter boat large delivered to Coast Guard fleet” –CG-9

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The first full rate production cutter boat large, hull 22335, is delivered to Coast Guard Cutter Dauntless in Pensacola, Florida, Feb. 7, 2022. U.S. Coast Guard photo.

The Acquisitions Directorate (CG-9) reports,

The Coast Guard accepted the first full rate production cutter boat large (CB-L) with delivery of 22335 to Coast Guard Cutter Dauntless in Pensacola, Florida, Feb. 7.

This is the fifth CB-L delivered. The first four were used to refine the design and configuration and for operational test and evaluation to validate that the vessel meets Coast Guard operational demands. An additional 17 CB-Ls are on order. The program of record is for up to 36 CB-Ls.

These 36 boats are intended to operate from the USCGC Alex Haley (WMEC-39), USCGC Mackinaw (WLBB-30), 14 Reliance class 210-foot medium endurance cutters, 16 Juniper class 225-foot seagoing buoy tenders for a total of 32 ships. So, looks like the intention is to provide only one per ship, even for those that have two ship’s boats positions. Sounds like some ships will end up operating two different types of boats.

We talked about this new boat a couple of times back in 2018 when the contract was initiated, here and here.

It appears this boat is closely related to “The Watcher” unmanned surface vessels that the Coast Guard evaluated.

“VESSEL REVIEW | JB41 – MARINE RESCUE NSW’S NEW HIGH-SPEED, ALL-WEATHER RIB” –Baird Maritime

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Australian rescue organization Marine Rescue New South Wales (MRNSW) inflatable boat (RIB) by local builder Harwood Marine.

Baird Maritime reports delivery of a new 45 foot, 30 knot boat to Marine Rescue New South Wales (MRNSW), a volunteer organization. This boat, which is comparable to the Coast Guard Response Boat, Medium, has some interesting features.

Most immediately obvious is provision for a secondary conning position in the flying bridge. There is “…a specially designed hydraulic heavy lift platform that drops below the waterline to assist in evacuating people and in the recovery of heavy equipment from the water.” The boat also uses the Swedish Zipwake ride control system, which is claimed to outperform trim tabs.

Coast Guard Special Purpose Craft Law Enforcement Generation II (SPC-LE II)

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Photo: Not positive, but this seems to be the boat we are talking about. 

The DOD recently announced a boat contract, awarded through the Navy, that involves boats for the Coast Guard (you have to look pretty far down to find it).

Silver Ships Inc.,* Theodore, Alabama, was awarded an $8,239,095 firm-fixed price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity single award contract (N00024-21-D-2205) for design and construction of up to 110 Navy 8-meter and 11-meter Surface Support Craft and Coast Guard Special Purpose Craft Law Enforcement Generation II (SPC-LE II). Work will be performed in Theodore, Alabama, and is expected to be completed in August 2023. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $51,663,787. Fiscal 2020 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $3,242,628 (39%); fiscal 2021 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $3,187,680 (39%); and fiscal 2021 other procurement (Coast Guard) funds in the amount of $1,808,787 (22%) will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract is a small business set-aside. This contract was competitively procured via the beta.sam.gov website, with four offers received. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. (Awarded Sept. 30, 2021)

This is Silver Ships’ announcement.

This appears to be the boat the Coast Guard will be getting. The Coast Guard will get the “Open Center Console (Open) variant.”

Each boat will use three outboards. These are the engines specified in the contract.

Thanks to Paul for bringing this to my attention. He also provided the following that gives more detail: 

C-1 PART 1 – GENERAL STATEMENT OF WORK

This Statement of Work (SOW) defines the effort required for the, design, construction, testing, configuration control, documentation, and program management for the acquisition of the 8m variant,11m variant of the Naval Special Warfare (NSW) Surface Support Craft (SSC) and the United States Coast Guard (USCG) 11m variant (Special Purpose Craft Law Enforcement).

C-1.1 BACKGROUND

The 8m variant and 11m variant NSW SSC boats operate from inshore littorals to blue water, over the horizon locations, in and up to moderate sea states (NSW) in widely diverse climatic conditions (tropical to arctic). They provide over-watch and coverage for diverse NSW waterborne operations, such as: transit for at sea personnel, water parachute jump, diving, surface swimmer support, medical evacuation and command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence duties. The SSCs also provide support for all NSW garrison locations and allow NSW to certify units for deployment in support of Navy and COMNAVSPECWARCOM requirements.

The USCG will use the 11m SSC variant to conduct counter-smuggling, search and rescue (SAR), recreational boating safety (RBS), and ports and waterways coastal security (PWCS) missions and will operate in higher sea states than the USN variants.

All boat variants are desired to provide comparable to enhanced performance of current capabilities while focusing on commonality to maintain reduction in Total Ownership Costs (TOC).

The NSW SSC requires two configuration variants of the 8m and 11m, Open Center Console (Open) and Enclosed Cabin (Cabin), to support mission needs.

The USCG requires the 11m Open Center Console (Open) variant to support mission needs.

C-1.2 QUANTITIES

The resulting contract will be a 5-year Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract for an estimated one hundred and ten (110) total craft. The initial award is for an estimated fourteen (14) boats.

C-2.2.1 Boat – The Contractor shall provide the boat and trailer in accordance with the Specification

(Attachment 1).

C-2.2.2 UID – The Contractor shall provide UIDs for each boat in accordance with Attachment 6.

C-2.2.3 Boat Specific Technical Data Package (TDP) – The contractor shall provide for each boat one (1) hard copy and one (1) electronic copy (CD/DVD) of the Final 11m OPEN USCG Variant TDP developed under CLIN 1022 specific to each boat.

C-2.2.4 Mercury Verado Engines– The Contractor shall provide three (3) Mercury Verado engines per boat in accordance with the Specification (Attachment 1). The Contractor shall complete the engine break-in in accordance with the Specification (Attachment 1) as part of the boat CLIN.

C-2.14 CLIN 1014 AND IF EXERCISED, CLINs 2014, 3014, 4014 AND 5014 – SHIPPING – USCG

STATION SAN DIEGO, CA and also USCG STATION SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, TX;  USCG STATION MIAMI, FL; USCG MARITIME LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY, CHARLESTON, SC.

The Contractor shall deliver the boat to the location specified in Section F (Deliveries or Performance) and in accordance with Section C, Part 3. Items not integrated into the boat shall be wrapped in protective packaging or container and shall be shipped to the same location either with the boat or via separate shipping.

C-2.18 CLIN 1018 AND IF EXERCISED CLIN 4018 – CREW FAMILIARIZATION (USCG) SAN DIEGO (and the locations listed above)

The Contractor shall provide crew familiarization and training for USCG personnel at San Diego, CA. Crew familiarization shall include craft operations, main equipment operations and maintenance. This shall include Contractor and/or OEM training and component change out for engines, electrical, and HM&E systems. At a minimum training shall be two (2) full days at End User‘s location for up to ten (10) students. The Contractor shall provide all training materials.