Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) maintains the Coast Guard’s recent decision to modify the Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) contract with Panama City-based Eastern Shipbuilding provides certainty for Northwest Florida’s communities.
“Hurricane Michael had a devastating impact on our local economy, including impeding the Coast Guard’s Offshore Patrol Cutter project and subsequently jeopardizing thousands of local jobs,” Rubio said. “I am grateful the administration took action to protect America’s national security and continue Florida’s recovery from one of the most destructive storms to ever make landfall.”
The Coast Guard previously sought flexibility to modify the OPC contract while not exceeding the original affordability requirement established by the government in the existing contract, as a result of rising labor costs due to Hurricane Michael.
In October 2018, Hurricane Michael struck Northwest Florida and made history as one of only four category 5 hurricanes to make landfall on the mainland.
After reviewing the request for relief, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Kevin K. McAleenan decided to grant extraordinary contract relief limited to the first four hulls on the basis that Eastern Shipbuilding Group performance on the OPC contract.