US Coast Guard bares plans to acquire 200 small craft by 2030

The US Coast Guard has issued requests for information (RFIs) to numerous boatbuilders in preparation for the planned acquisition of 200 newbuild small craft during the 2021-2030 timeframe.

The acquisition will cover improved variants of the service’s 7.5-metre Cutter Boat-Over the Horizon (CB-OTH) rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIBs) used for counter-drug patrols, 10-metre long-range interceptors for deployment aboard the service’s Legend-class national security cutters (NSCs), and 7.6-metre aids to navigation tenders to be equipped with electric winches capable of lifting up to 225 kilograms.

The coast guard said the chosen boatbuilders will be confirmed in 2021 and 2022. These will be expected to deliver up to 20 CB-OTHs, 15 interceptors, and 30 tenders every year until all orders are fulfilled.