Bollinger Shipyards hands over newest FRC John Witherspoon to US Coast Guard

Shipbuilder Bollinger Shipyards has delivered the 58th fast response cutter (FRC) USCGC John Witherspoon to the US Coast Guard.

As informed, the delivery took place at Coast Guard Sector Key West on November 7, 2024. The vessel John Witherspoon will be homeported in Kodiak, Alaska. This ship is the fourth FRC to join the fleet in Alaskan waters.

“The FRC platform has proven itself time and again as a cornerstone of the Coast Guard’s fleet, excelling in a wide range of operational conditions. We’re confident John Witherspoon will serve its crew well in their mission of defending our nation’s national security interests over a vast and challenging area of responsibility,” said Bollinger President & CEO Ben Bordelon.

Each FRC is named for an enlisted Coast Guard hero who distinguished themselves in the line of duty. This vessel is named after Captain John Witherspoon, who served as commanding officer of cutters Mallow, Valiant, and Dependable.

Notably, he was the first African American officer to command a shore unit when he assumed command of the Houston/Galveston Vessel Traffic Service. 

FRCs have conducted operations as far as the Marshall Islands—a 4,400 nautical mile trip from their homeport. Measuring in at 47 meter, FRCs have a flank speed of 28 knots, a C4ISR suite and stern launch and recovery ramp for an over-the-horizon interceptor cutter boat.

In May this year, the company was awarded a contract to build two additional Sentinel-Class fast response cutters for the USCG.

More recently, Bollinger Shipyards was awarded a contract to build the US Navy’s seventh auxiliary personnel lighter – small (APL 73) class berthing and messing barge.