b'MEMBER NEWSOffshore Patrol Cutter production by Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. MEMBER NEWSEastern Shipbuilding Group Cuts Steel forU.S. Coast Guard Offshore Patrol CutterE astern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. (ESG),The first four offshore patrol cutters are fullyInaddition,theCoastGuardmodifiedthe a PVA member, began construction ofunder production for the U.S. Coast Guardcontract with Eastern Shipbuilding Group on U.S.CoastGuardCutter(USCGC)thankstothesteadfastcommitmentofourMay 20 so installation of the Athena combat Rush (WMSM-918)Hull 4 of the Heritageskilled professionals and partners, said Joeyweapons system and multi-mode radar system Class Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) program.DIsernia, President of Eastern Shipbuildingwill be completed during the production phase The occasion was observed by leaders of theGroup. USCGC Rush is part of a class ofof the OPC. The Athena system, radar and ar-Coast Guard Project Resident Office at ESGsships that boast multi-mission capabilities andmament of the OPC are provided to the Coast Allanton Shipyard where the first steel platesthe endurance to carry the men and women ofGuard as Navy type-Navy owned government were cut by ESG personnel. the USCG for more than half a century. furnished equipment.Priortothismodification,installationof bothsystemswastooccuraftercontract delivery while each cutter was in its home-port,accordingtoDIsernia.TheNavy hascompleteddevelopment,integration and testing of the Athena and radar systems, attention to detail enabling the Coast Guard to shift to produc-tion-phase installation. Performing this work prior to delivery reduces the technical risks PHOTOS COURTESY OF EASTERN SHIPBUILDING GROUP, INC. associated with post-delivery installation and delivers mission-ready OPCs to the fleet as soon as possible.Byimplementingthesemodificationsnow, ESG expects that it will deliver capability years aheadofapost-deliveryintegrationstrategy whichisamassivebenefittotaxpayersand nationalsecurity.Thisadditionalscopeof work results in a new delivery date in 2023 for the lead cutter Argus which is 75 percent complete.ThesecondandthirdOPCare currently in production and the fourth OPC is scheduled for delivery in 2026.www.beurteaux.comFOGHORN 34'