Babcock wins OPC design support contract
Babcock International will provide platform engineering design support for the design and construction phases of the US Coast Guard's Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) class vessels, the company announced on 21 March.
Babcock will deliver services as part of Team Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG), including delivering a whole ship 3D model, selected systems and production support as part of the new design work, supporting detailed modelling, production outputs and the detailed design of auxiliary systems, structure, outfit and electrical systems. Elements of the work will be subcontracted to VARD.
The first cutter is set to enter production in late 2018, and will be complete by 2021. Up to eight follow-on ships are included in the coast guard's initial order.
The OPCs will be 110m length, with 4,000 tonnes displacement. They will have a range of 10,200 nautical miles, and will carry a helicopter, boats and unmanned systems. Each OPC will feature a flight deck, weapons and command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance equipment.
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