The US Coast Guard and Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG) have authenticated the keel for the first offshore patrol cutter (OPC), Argus, during a ceremony in Panama City, Florida.
The April 28 keel authentication, a time-honored tradition in shipbuilding, was conducted by Joey D’Isernia, president of ESG and Capt. Andrew Meverden, commanding officer of Coast Guard Project Resident Office Panama City. Bradley Remick, a welder with ESG, used a welding torch to apply the initials of the sponsor, retired US Coast Guard Capt. Beverly Kelley, to the ceremonial plate.
The first OPC is named for the revenue cutter Argus, which was one of the first ten ships assigned to the United States revenue cutter Service, a predecessor service to the United States Coast Guard. Revenue cutter Argus began thirteen years of service to the newly formed United States of America in 1791.
Delivery of Argus is scheduled for 2022. The coast guard ordered construction of the second OPC and acquisition of long lead-time material for the third OPC on April 2. Delivery of the second OPC, to be named Chase, is scheduled to occur in 2023.
The acquisition of 25 OPCs will complement the capabilities of the service’s national security cutters, fast response cutters and polar security cutters as an essential element of the Department of Homeland Security’s layered security strategy. Also known as the Heritage-class, OPCs will replace the the coast guard’s aging medium endurance cutters, which are becoming increasingly expensive to maintain and operate
