Bollinger Shipyards has officially delivered the US Coast Guard’s 61st Sentinel-class patrol boat, the USCGC Olivia Hooker (WPC 1161), during a ceremony in Key West, Florida. This handover is a significant part of the ongoing Fast Response Cutter (FRC) program, aimed at enhancing the Coast Guard’s capabilities.
The USCGC Olivia Hooker is set to be homeported in Pascagoula, Mississippi, where it will join two other Sentinel-class vessels, the USCGC Benjamin B. Dailey (WPC 1123) and USCGC Jacob Poroo (WPC 1125). This new addition to the fleet is named in honor of Dr. Olivia Juliette Hooker, recognized as the first African American woman to serve in the U.S. Coast Guard. Dr. Hooker enlisted in 1945 during World War II, later becoming a psychology professor at Fordham University and a steadfast advocate for education and civil rights.
Ben Bordelon, CEO and president of Bollinger, expressed pride in delivering the Olivia Hooker, continuing a tradition of providing high-quality, mission-ready vessels to the Coast Guard. He emphasized the proven reliability of the FRC platform as a fundamental element of the Coast Guard’s fleet, capable of performing effectively under various operational conditions.
The recent delivery follows a significant contract awarded to Bollinger by the US Coast Guard for 10 additional FRCs, backed by $1 billion in funding from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. This latest contract expands the total number of vessels in the program to 77, extending production timelines by approximately three years beyond the original target of 2028.
The FRC program has made substantial economic contributions, reportedly generating over $2 billion in material spending and directly supporting more than 650 jobs in Southeast Louisiana. Additionally, it has indirectly created nearly 1,700 jobs in the region.
Launched in 2012 as part of a modernization effort, the Sentinel-class FRC is designed to replace the Coast Guard’s aging Island-class patrol boats, enhancing operational readiness across various missions, including national defense, interdiction, maritime protection, and border security.
Each Sentinel-class vessel is approximately 47 meters (154 feet) long and can accommodate a crew of up to 20 personnel. They come equipped with sophisticated sensors for surface and aerial search, navigation, and enemy identification. Additionally, each cutter features a 25-millimeter weapon system, along with multiple crew-served machine guns for enhanced security capabilities.
Powering the Sentinel-class vessels are twin MTU engines, providing a total output of 5,800 horsepower, alongside a 1,010-horsepower bow thruster. This configuration allows these cutters to achieve speeds exceeding 28 knots (approximately 52 kilometers or 32 miles per hour) and have a commendable operational range of 2,500 nautical miles (4,630 kilometers or 2,877 miles).
