Panama City, FL, Eastern Shipbuilding Group reports that steel cutting for the second offshore patrol cutter (OPC), Coast Guard Cutter CHASE (WMSM-916), commenced on April 27, 2020 at Eastern’s facilities. The cutting of steel started the fabrication and assembly of the cutter’s hull, and ESG is to complete keel laying of CHASE in 2021. Additionally, ESG has commenced the placement of orders for long lead time materials for OPC #3, Coast Guard Cutter INGHAM (WMSM-917).
Eastern’s President Mr. Joey D’Isernia noted the following: “Today marks a monumental event and reflects the dedication and resolve of our workforce to execute program milestones on-time. ESG is dedicated to the task of building the most sophisticated, highly capable ships for the Coast Guard. Today’s success is the start of serial production of the OPCs at ESG by our dedicated team of shipbuilders and subcontractors for our customer and partner, the United States Coast Guard. We are excited for what will be a great 2020 for Eastern Shipbuilding Group and Bay County, Florida.”
The OPC is designed to conduct multiple missions in support of the nation’s maritime security and border protection. The OPC will provide a capability bridge between the national security cutter, which patrols the open ocean in the most demanding maritime environments, and the fast response cutter, which serves closer to shore. The OPC design includes the capability of carrying an MH-60R or MH-65 helicopter and three operational Over The-Horizon small boats. The vessel is also equipped with a highly sophisticated combat system and C4ISR suite that will enhance capabilities to execute the service’s missions.
On September 15, 2016, the U.S. Coast Guard exercised the option for Detail Design on Eastern Shipbuilding Group’s OPC contract. Eastern Shipbuilding Group will construct the Offshore Patrol Cutters to replace the Medium Endurance Cutters currently in service. The contract includes the production of up to four vessels.
About Eastern Shipbuilding Group:
Eastern’s original shipyard was established in 1976 for the purpose of constructing commercial fishing vessels for the company’s founder and CEO, Brian R. D’Isernia. As the owner of a fleet of commercial fishing vessels, Mr. D’Isernia ventured into the world of shipbuilding after learning first hand that the only way to get the type of vessels he wanted was to design the vessels, write the specifications, and build them himself. As he built and developed his own fleet of vessels, other professionals in the industry took notice and also began requesting their own custom-built vessels. Soon customers in areas including New England, the Pacific Northwest and Alaska were contacting Eastern with requests for customized fishing vessels. By 1980, 26 commercial fishing vessels had been constructed and delivered.
Building on his passion for boats and the sea, Mr. D’Isernia decided to diversify Eastern’s reputation from a ‘Fishing Vessel’ shipyard into a shipyard that could fulfill any type of custom vessel request, large or small. In 1981, Eastern’s diversification began with the delivery of its first Offshore Supply Vessel. Today, Eastern’s portfolio includes over 350 vessels and has become one of the most diversified vessel construction companies as a result of its state of the art production line and fabrication process. Eastern has built everything from Offshore Supply Vessels to Tugs, Articulated Tugs/Barges, Inland Towboats, a SWATH Vessel, Passenger Vessels, Ro-Ro/Passenger Ferries, Inland Transport Vessels, Barges, Fireboats, Research Vessels, SUBSEA Construction Vessels, Dredges, High Speed Passenger Vessels, Fishing Vessels, and more. Eastern currently operates two shipyards in Bay County and one shipyard in Gulf County, FL.
In support of OPC construction, ESG has made improvements to the Nelson Street facility. In conjunction with the state of Florida and Triumph Gulf Coast, Inc., ESG has commenced construction on additional warehousing, a state-of-the-art C4ISR Production Facility, improved building and launch ways, among numerous other improvements. This wave of facility improvements positions ESG to continue OPC production as efficiently as possible. ESG’s investments have grown Panama City’s public shipbuilding infrastructure for the purpose of helping establish within the City, a shipyard that helps meet the nation’s needs for ships that support national defense, border security and other public purposes, today and into the future.
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OPC Characteristics:
- Length: 360 feet
- Beam: 54 feet
- Draft: 17 feet
- Sustained Speed: 22 Plus knots
- Range: 8500 Plus nautical miles
- Endurance: 60 Days
