Bollinger Shipyards has delivered the new US Coast Guard (USCG) Cutter Frederick Mann on July 1. The vessel is the 60th fast response cutter (FRC) built by Bollinger under the current program and the 186th vessel the yard has built for the USCG.
The Frederick Mann was delivered last week at Coast Guard Sector Key West and will be homeported in Kodiak, Alaska, becoming the third FRC stationed there and the sixth in Alaskan waters. The 154-foot (46.9-metre) FRCs have a maximum speed of 28 knots.
The cutter is named for Chief Warrant Officer Frederick Mann, who earned the Silver Star for heroic action during the 1942 Guadalcanal campaign.
Bollinger stated it is investing in its workforce and facilities to maintain production as US Congress considers a proposal to fund up to twelve additional FRCs. Ben Bordelon, Bollinger's President and CEO, said the company is moving forward with investments now to help stabilize costs and keep its skilled workers on the job.