Press Releases

This week, Congressman Mike Ezell (R-MS), Chairman of the House Coast Guard & Maritime Transportation Subcommittee, joined U.S. Coast Guard and Austal USA leadership for the keel laying of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Pickering (OPC 919) — the first Heritage-class Offshore Patrol Cutter to be constructed at Austal USA’s Mobile shipyard.

The ceremony marks the official authentication of the vessel’s keel and a major milestone in the multibillion-dollar construction program awarded to Austal USA in 2022. The contract, valued at up to $3.3 billion, authorizes the design and construction of up to 11 Offshore Patrol Cutters, strengthening the Coast Guard’s future fleet and supporting hundreds of Gulf Coast shipbuilding jobs.

Rep. Ezell joined Admiral Kevin Lunday, Acting Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard; Dr. Meghan Seymour, the ship’s sponsor; Austal USA President Michelle Kruger; and industry partners for the event.

“This program is vital to our national security and to the Coast Guard’s ability to meet its mission for decades to come,” Ezell said. “The men and women of the Coast Guard deserve modern, capable ships, and that’s exactly what we’re building here on the Gulf Coast. Today’s keel laying of the USCGC Pickering represents American workmanship, American jobs, and a stronger future for our maritime security. These vessels will serve on the front lines, often far from public view, but their impact on our national security cannot be overstated. I’m proud to support a program that strengthens our Coast Guard while investing directly in the Gulf Coast workforce.”

“Austal USA is deeply committed to the United States Coast Guard and the Offshore Patrol Cutter program as a core priority of our shipbuilding efforts,”  commented Austal USA President Michelle Kruger.  “We are extremely grateful for the steadfast leadership of Chairman Ezell and Admiral Lunday in supporting the OPC program.”

The keel laying signifies the official recognition of the ship’s start of construction. The USCGC Pickering is the fifth OPC in the class and the first to be produced at Austal USA’s steel manufacturing facility in Mobile.

Ezell, who represents Mississippi’s Fourth Congressional District, has made Coast Guard readiness and shipbuilding modernization top priorities in Congress. As Chairman of the Coast Guard & Maritime Transportation Subcommittee, he continues to advocate for stable and predictable funding to support construction of new cutters across the service.