Austal secures $314m US Coast Guard offshore patrol cutter options

Austal Limited announced the United States Coast Guard has exercised options valued at $314 million with Austal USA for the Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) program. These options facilitate the order of long lead time materials (LLTM) for three additional OPCs, specifically the 4th, 5th, and 6th cutters for Austal USA, along with funding for logistic supply items for two OPCs.

The original OPC contract, awarded in June 2022, has a potential value of $3.3 billion for up to 11 OPCs. To date, two of these 11 OPCs have been awarded to Austal USA, in addition to LLTM for a third vessel. Work on the first OPC, Pickering (WMSMS 919), is progressing, with keel laying anticipated in December, and construction for Icarus (WMSMS 920) commenced in early August.

These 110-meter OPCs are integral to the US national security strategy, operating beyond 12 nautical miles from shore to conduct missions such as law enforcement, drug and migrant interdiction, and search and rescue. Each OPC boasts a range of 10,200 nautical miles at 14 knots and a 60-day endurance, enabling independent deployment or integration into task groups for surge operations, including hurricane response and mass migration incidents.