Bollinger Shipyards
Encyclopedia
Bollinger Shipyards is an American
constructor of ships, workboats and patrol vessels.
The firm was founded in 1946.
Its thirteen shipyards and forty drydocks are located in Louisiana
and Texas
.
Its drydocks range in capacity from vessels of 100 tons displacement to 22,000 tons displacement.
has called upon Bollinger Shipyards to build many of its vessels, much of the work performed under the Integrated Deepwater System Program
.
Bollinger secured the contract to build approximately fifty Marine Protector cutters.
These 87 feet (26.5 m) vessels were staffed by a crew of 10. Uniquely for Coast Guard vessels of this size they were designed to be capable of being crewed by crews of mixed gender. These high speed vessels were lightly armed, mounting just two Browning M2 fifty caliber machine guns. But they were equipped with a rear launching ramp, capable of launching and retrieving a high speed pursuit boat while the cutter was still in motion. The launch and retrieval of the pursuit boat required just one sailor to remain on deck.
.
Bollinger secured a contract to refit the Island Class cutters, adding thirteen feet to their stern, so they too could launch and retrieve a pursuit boat from a rear launching ramp.
The refit also included replacing the original deckhouse and refitting the crew accommodation so they could carry a mixed gender crew of 18. The refitted 123 feet (37.5 m) Island class cutters proved to be so unseaworthy, forcing the scrapping of all eight boats. As a result, in August 2011, the US government sued Bollinger over the failed modifications, alleging that the company made false statements about the hull strength that would result from its extensions to the patrol boats.
These 42.8 metres (140.4 ft) 240 ton vessels will be staffed by a crew of 22, and will armed with four fifty caliber machine guns in addition to a 25 mm autocannon. These vessels too would be capable of launching and retrieving a high speed pursuit boat, without coming to a stop. These vessels too would be capable of being staffed by a mixed gender crew. They were designed for missions of five days.
.jpg)
Bollinger built 14 Cyclone-class patrol ships
for the U.S. Navy
between 1993 and 2000. The ships are 179′ (55 m) long carry a crew of 28 (4 officers, 24 enlisted). Their mission is coastal patrol and interdiction surveillance. These ships can also provide full mission support for Navy SEALs
and other special operations
forces. As of 2010, four of these vessels have been decommissioned in the Navy. Three have been loaned to the Coast Guard
. One vessel, PC-1
, was given to the Philippine Navy
. The other ten vessels are still in active service with the US Navy.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
constructor of ships, workboats and patrol vessels.
The firm was founded in 1946.
Its thirteen shipyards and forty drydocks are located in Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
and Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.
Its drydocks range in capacity from vessels of 100 tons displacement to 22,000 tons displacement.
Coast Guard vessels
The United States Coast GuardUnited States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
has called upon Bollinger Shipyards to build many of its vessels, much of the work performed under the Integrated Deepwater System Program
Integrated Deepwater System Program
The Integrated Deepwater System Program is the 25-year program to replace all or much of the United States Coast Guard's equipment, including aircraft, ships, and logistics and command and control systems...
.
Marine Protector cutters
These 87 feet (26.5 m) vessels were staffed by a crew of 10. Uniquely for Coast Guard vessels of this size they were designed to be capable of being crewed by crews of mixed gender. These high speed vessels were lightly armed, mounting just two Browning M2 fifty caliber machine guns. But they were equipped with a rear launching ramp, capable of launching and retrieving a high speed pursuit boat while the cutter was still in motion. The launch and retrieval of the pursuit boat required just one sailor to remain on deck.
Island Class cutters
Bollinger originally built 54 110 feet (33.5 m) Island class cutters, so named because each cutter was named after an Island. These vessels were staffed by a crew of 18, and their primary armament was a 25 mm autocannonAutocannon
An autocannon or automatic cannon is a rapid-fire projectile weapon firing a shell as opposed to the bullet fired by a machine gun. Autocannons often have a larger caliber than a machine gun . Usually, autocannons are smaller than a field gun or other artillery, and are mechanically loaded for a...
.
Bollinger secured a contract to refit the Island Class cutters, adding thirteen feet to their stern, so they too could launch and retrieve a pursuit boat from a rear launching ramp.
The refit also included replacing the original deckhouse and refitting the crew accommodation so they could carry a mixed gender crew of 18. The refitted 123 feet (37.5 m) Island class cutters proved to be so unseaworthy, forcing the scrapping of all eight boats. As a result, in August 2011, the US government sued Bollinger over the failed modifications, alleging that the company made false statements about the hull strength that would result from its extensions to the patrol boats.
Sentinel Class cutters
Bollinger secured a contract to build 24-34 Sentinel Class cutters.These 42.8 metres (140.4 ft) 240 ton vessels will be staffed by a crew of 22, and will armed with four fifty caliber machine guns in addition to a 25 mm autocannon. These vessels too would be capable of launching and retrieving a high speed pursuit boat, without coming to a stop. These vessels too would be capable of being staffed by a mixed gender crew. They were designed for missions of five days.
Cyclone-class patrol ships
Cyclone class patrol ship
The Cyclone class patrol ships are a class of United States Navy coastal patrol boats. Most of these ships were launched between 1992 and 1994....
for the U.S. Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
between 1993 and 2000. The ships are 179′ (55 m) long carry a crew of 28 (4 officers, 24 enlisted). Their mission is coastal patrol and interdiction surveillance. These ships can also provide full mission support for Navy SEALs
United States Navy SEALs
The United States Navy's Sea, Air and Land Teams, commonly known as Navy SEALs, are the U.S. Navy's principal special operations force and a part of the Naval Special Warfare Command as well as the maritime component of the United States Special Operations Command.The acronym is derived from their...
and other special operations
Special operations
Special operations are military operations that are considered "special" .Special operations are typically performed independently or in conjunction with conventional military operations. The primary goal is to achieve a political or military objective where a conventional force requirement does...
forces. As of 2010, four of these vessels have been decommissioned in the Navy. Three have been loaned to the Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
. One vessel, PC-1
USS Cyclone (PC-1)
USS Cyclone was the first of the Navy's Cyclone class coastal patrol ships. As the first of her class, Cyclone served as the test bed for this series of 14 vessels...
, was given to the Philippine Navy
Philippine Navy
The Philippine Navy is the naval arm of the Armed Forces of the Philippines . Its official name in Filipino is Hukbong Dagat ng Pilipinas, literally, "Sea Force of the Philippines"....
. The other ten vessels are still in active service with the US Navy.