The class leader USCGC Barracuda underway. Note the boat launching ramp at the stern. The fifty caliber machine guns mount on pintles, port and starboard, just forward of the red stripe. The black smudge in the hull abaft the superstructure is the exhaust of the port engine.
The Coast Guard placed its original order in 1999 for 50 boats, which were delivered by mid-2002.[4] Several additional orders brought the class to a total of 74 ships, with the last, USCGC Sea Fox, being completed in October 2009.[3][5][6] Four additional vessels were built for Foreign Military Sales, with two each going to Malta and Yemen.[7]
The Marine Protector class replaced the 82-foot Point class, which had smaller accommodations and had to stop to deploy its pursuit inflatable boat via crane. The last Point-class cutter was decommissioned in 2003.[8][9]
In 2020, the Department of Homeland Security began to decommission the fleet, with 8 Marine Protector cutters replaced by newer Sentinel class cutters.[10]
In May 2021, the United States announced that it would send three ships to the Lebanese Navy[11]
In 2022, three ships, Albacore, Cochito, and Gannet were donated to the Uruguayan Navy under the Excess Defense Articles program. As part of the transfer deal, Uruguay spent $4.99 million to refurbish the ships, on spare parts, and to train their crews. They were renamed Rio Arapey, Rio De La Plata, and Rio Yaguaron.[12][13]
In 2023, the United States delivered two Marine Protector class ships to the Ghanaian Navy. They were commissioned as GNS Aflao, and GNS HalfAssini.[14]
USCGC Cochito launching a small boat from the stern ramp
Missions include combating drug smuggling, illegal immigration, marine fisheries enforcement and search and rescue support. Since the September 11, 2001 attacks, many have had a homeland security mission in the form of ports, waterways and coastal security (PWCS) patrols.[19]
Boarding parties can be launched while the vessel is underway through the cutter's stern launching ramp.[3] The attached rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) has been upgraded in an effort to increase speed and sea state sustainability for boarding parties and rescue and assistance teams. The stern launching system requires only a single crew member to remain on deck to launch or retrieve the boarding party.
The vessels consume approximately 165 gallons of diesel per hour at their maximum speed of 26 knots (48 km/h; 30 mph).
Like all new U.S. Coast Guard vessels, the Marine Protector class is designed to accommodate crews of mixed gender with five separate small berthing spaces accommodating standard crews of ten with maximum berthing for 12.[3]
^Keyon K. Jeff (11 October 2009). "Bollinger Shipyards delivers final Marine Protector-class CPB". Tri-Parish Times. Archived from the original on 11 October 2009. We're very sad to see the Sea Fox leave. This contract was supposed to end at 51 vessels, and now we're at 75," said Christopher Bollinger, executive vice president of new construction. "We're excited to see the workmanship continue as we start the next contract for 36 boats.
^"USCG Contract for Bollinger". Marine News. July 2007. p. 8. Archived from the original on 18 July 2014. Retrieved 17 July 2014. The Bollinger built CPBs are based on the Damen STAN 2600 design developed for the Hong Kong police.
^""Last of the Class": USCGC PT BROWER (WPB 82372)". Transquest. 28 March 2003. Archived from the original on 17 April 2003. Retrieved 13 February 2020. On March 28th, 2003, the United States Coast Guard will transfer Coast Guard Cutter Point Brower (WPB 82372) to the country of Azerbaijan thus bringing an incredible era of "Point Class" vessels to an end.
^"Office of Counterterrorism & Defense Operations Policy (CG-ODO)". US Coast Guard. 28 December 2016. Archived from the original on 20 May 2017. Retrieved 13 February 2020. The Homeland Security Act of 2002 divided the Coast Guard's eleven statutory missions between homeland security and non-homeland security. Reflecting the Coast Guard's historical role in defending our nation, the Act delineated Ports, Waterways and Coastal Security (PWCS) as the first homeland security mission.
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