Bollinger Shipyards has been awarded a $250 million contract to build six Fast Response Cutters (FRCs) for the Coast Guard, the Chair of the Senate Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee, U.S. Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., announced yesterday.
Sen. Landrieu included the funding for these vessels in her FY 2013 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. The funding will keep 1,200 Louisianians employed.
“For the Coast Guard to keep carrying out its vital role in protecting our nation, we must replace its aging fleet. That is why I continue to focus a portion of the Homeland Security budget on investing in these exceptional ships that will allow the Coast Guard to carry out critical lifesaving, law enforcement and homeland security missions,” Sen. Landrieu said. “The Coast Guard is part of our DNA in Louisiana. The men and women of the Coast Guard have gone above and beyond to protect our citizens, ecosystems and way of life through hurricanes, oil spills, river closures and countless search and rescue missions. I am proud that Louisiana will be a part of keeping the Coast Guard strong for generations to come.”
“Bollinger is extremely pleased that the Coast Guard has awarded six additional Fast Response Cutters (FRCs) to our ongoing contract. This follow-on award will continue to provide hundreds of jobs for our employees and our Louisiana supplier network. Senator Landrieu’s support of programs that bring jobs to Louisiana is indicative of her tireless efforts on behalf of Louisiana. This award reflects the continued confidence that Senator Landrieu and the Coast Guard have in the quality products delivered by our combined team of employees, suppliers and contractors. Recent operational successes by delivered FRCs prove that this vessel’s enhanced capabilities are a ‘game changer’ for the Coast Guard. The Bollinger Shipyard family of employees is proud to be a part of it.” said Chris Bollinger, President of Bollinger Shipyards.
Building an additional six ships with FY 2013 funding fills the production line and generates savings of $5 million per ship, resulting in savings of $30 million for taxpayers.
The funding was part of a total $9.3 billion in discretionary funding allocated to the Coast Guard in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s budget for FY 2013. The six boats to be built by Bollinger Shipyards will be homeported in Pascagoula, Miss.; Ketchikan, Alaska; and Honolulu, Hawaii.
The Coast Guard intends to acquire 58 FRCs, of which 24 have been funded. [mappress] Press Release, September 26, 2013; Image: USCG