Austal USA has initiated construction on the US Coast Guard’s third Heritage-class offshore patrol cutter at the shipbuilder’s center in Mobile, Alabama.
Austal USA has initiated construction on the US Coast Guard’s third Heritage-class offshore patrol cutter at the shipbuilder’s center in Mobile, Alabama.
The milestone on the future USCGC Ingham (WMSM-917) forms part of a $3.3-billion program to deliver up to 11 cutters under the series, all to take over roles of the aging Famous- and Reliance-class patrol boats.
For the new fleet, Austal leverages a modular construction method to optimize manufacturing timeline and complete associated module outfitting before final assembly.
The firm also uses a virtual 3D twin of a vessel through design and construction for improved development.
Once completed, the Ingham will be homeported in Kodiak, Alaska, from where it will deploy independently or as part of a task group for command and control support, border protection, and humanitarian response across open ocean and littoral domains.
Additionally, the platform will assist Washington’s broader initiatives to regulate and secure “emerging commerce and energy exploration in Alaska.”
“Each new [offshore patrol cutter] moving into production demonstrates how far our steel shipbuilding team has come,” Austal USA President Gene Miller stated.
“Ingham will give the Coast Guard the endurance, flexibility and offshore capability it needs to protect our nation’s maritime interests. We are committed to building a strong, serial production program for this important class of cutters.”
Alongside the Ingham, Austal is currently facilitating parallel constructions under the Heritage program for the fifth and sixth hulls USCGC Pickering (WSMM-919) and USCGC Icarus (WMSM-920).
The Heritage Patrol System
The Heritage-class spans 360 feet in length and is built with a 54-foot beam.
It can carry three rigid-hull inflatable boats, a medium-type helicopter, an unmanned aerial system, and more than 120 personnel.
The vessel is fitted with two 9,760-horsepower Fairbanks Morse diesel engines and four additional diesel generators for a maximum speed of 23 knots (43 kilometers/26 miles per hour), a range of 10,200 nautical miles (11,738 miles/18,890 kilometers), and 60-day functionality.
The firepower of the boat is supported by a 57mm naval automatic gun, 25mm and 12.7mm machine guns, and a 7.62mm co-axial gun.
