US Coast Guard starts construction of first Waterways Commerce Cutter
Rendering of the WLIC on the left and the WLR on the right. (Photo: Birdon America Inc)
By replacing capabilities that are more than 60 years old, the Inland Construction Tenders will support the building, repairing and maintaining of fixed aids to navigation.
The US Coast Guard (USCG) and Birdon America Inc have started building the first Inland Construction Tender (WLIC), which will be part of the branch’s waterways commerce cutter (WCC) fleet. The manufacturing process in Bayou La Batre, Alabama, began last week after the service issued a US$36.86 million delivery order on 18 June.
The building of the first WLICs is scheduled to be completed in 2027. The platform will be deployed to construct, repair and maintain fixed aids to navigation within inland waterways along the Eastern Seaboard and Gulf Coast.
Under the WCC programme, the branch plans to acquire 11
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Australia’s A$12 billion Perth shipyard upgrade offers positive sign for AUKUS]()
Australia’s A$12 billion Perth shipyard upgrade offers positive sign for AUKUS
While the Australian government insists the investment is predominantly aimed at strengthening the country’s defence capabilities, the upgrade also bodes well for the AUKUS pact which Australia’s defence minister said “is going well”.
-
![US Coast Guard orders 10 additional Fast Response Cutters]()
US Coast Guard orders 10 additional Fast Response Cutters
The USCG exercised a $507 million contract option for the acquisition of 10 extra FRCs. This new order will raise the total number of Sentinel-class vessels procured by the service from 67 to 77.
-
![DSEI 2025: Red Cat expands into USV production with focus on combat-proven technology]()
DSEI 2025: Red Cat expands into USV production with focus on combat-proven technology
At DSEI 2025, Red Cat outlines its expansion from UAVs into uncrewed surface vessels (USVs), positioning itself as a multi-domain defence provider spanning land, sea, and air.
