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Homeland Security Cutter – Light Icebreakers (HSC-L)�Program Overview�International Workboat Show

CG-SEA-A8 | Mr. Greg Blewett CG-751 | LT Dugan O’Donnell

CG-SEA-E4 | Mr. Alex Wyputa, LCDR Kyle Ennis CG-SEA-C | Mr. Bill Lewis

December 2025

Assistant Commandant – Surface

Program Executive Officer (CG-SEA)

Assistant Commandant – Surface

Program Executive Officer (CG-SEA)

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The Homeland Security Cutter Fleets

UNCLASSIFIED | HSC-L Program Overview | CG-SEA-A8

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Heavy (Great Lakes Icebreaker)

Medium Icebreakers

Light Icebreakers

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240’ WLBB 30

Fleet size: 1 current; 2 planned

Average age of fleet: 19 yrs

Icebreaking capability: 32 in

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140’ WTGBs

Fleet size: 9 current; 11 planned Average age of fleet: 44 yrs

Icebreaking capability: 22 in

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65’ WYTLs

Fleet size: 11 current; 7 planned

Average age of fleet: 62 yrs

Icebreaking capability: 12 in

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Assistant Commandant – Surface

Program Executive Officer (CG-SEA)

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A System of Systems

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Annual Missions

  • Operation Renew

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Support to Commerce

  • Enables annual flow of billions of dollars in goods, millions of tons of cargo.

UNCLASSIFIED | HSC-L Program Overview | CG-SEA-A8

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Assistant Commandant – Surface

Program Executive Officer (CG-SEA)

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Current Icebreaking Capability

UNCLASSIFIED | HSC-L Program Overview | CG-SEA-A8

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65-foot light icebreaking tug (WYTL)

140-foot light icebreaking tug (WTGB)

240-foot Great Lakes Icebreaker (WLBB)

Assistant Commandant – Surface

Program Executive Officer (CG-SEA)

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Thinking Differently

UNCLASSIFIED | HSC-L Program Overview | CG-SEA-A8

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Acquisition Strategy

Contract Deliverables

Program Reviews

Engineering Reviews

Onsite Oversight

Design Approach

Schedule

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Program Executive Officer (CG-SEA)

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Prior Requests for Information

  • RFI 1: May 2025 – Notice ID: 70Z02325RFIICE001
    • Solicited design and production data.

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  • RFI 2: Oct 2025 – Notice ID: 70Z02326IHSCLIGHT
    • Solicited available designs from international and domestic industry, considerations on a contract design approach, and production information from domestic industry.

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UNCLASSIFIED | HSC-L Program Overview | CG-SEA-A8

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Assistant Commandant – Surface

Program Executive Officer (CG-SEA)

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Notional Acquisition Strategy

UNCLASSIFIED | HSC-L Program Overview | CG-SEA-A8

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Operational Requirements Definition

Develop Detailed Specification

Detailed Design

Production Ready Design

Production

Detailed Design & Production Contract

Operational Requirements Definition

Contract Design

Develop Performance Specification

Production Ready Design

Production

Design Contract

Production-Ready Design and Production Contract

Prior

Strategies

Contemplated

Strategy

Gov’t-led

Activity

Shipyard-led Activity

Legend

Notionally solicit Production-Ready Design and Production Contract mid-2026

Assistant Commandant – Surface

Program Executive Officer (CG-SEA)

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Contract Design Approach

  • Design to ABS Marine Vessel Rules.
    • First Year Ice Class 1C.
  • Design as a boat.
  • Commercial off the shelf equipment.
  • Streamline design timeframe.
  • Use existing CG navigation systems.

UNCLASSIFIED | HSC-L Program Overview | CG-SEA-A8

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Missions: Icebreaking, Aids to Navigation

Coast Guard notional

contract design rendering

Assistant Commandant – Surface

Program Executive Officer (CG-SEA)

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Notional Contract Design Package

  • List of Drawings & Reports
  • Placemat
  • Hull Lines Plan
  • Baseline Weight Estimates (3-digit SWBS)
  • Hydrostatics, Intact and Damage Stability
  • Critical Equipment List
  • Equipment List
  • Speed, Power, and Endurance Analysis
  • Structural Design Report
  • Structural Drawing Package
  • General Arrangement
  • Machinery Arrangement
  • Shafting Arrangement
  • Machinery Cooling System Diagram

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UNCLASSIFIED | HSC-L Program Overview | CG-SEA-A8

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  • Exhaust System Diagram
  • Fuel System Diagram
  • Hydraulic Systems Diagram
  • Hydraulic Systems Report
  • Fire Protection System Design Report
  • Fire Protection System Diagram
  • Bilge, Ballast and Drainage System Diagram
  • Electrical One-Line Diagram
  • Electrical Power Load Analysis (EPLA)
  • Machinery Controls & C5I Diagram
  • Topside Antenna Arrangement
  • HVAC Load Calculations
  • HVAC System Diagram
  • 3D Model

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Assistant Commandant – Surface

Program Executive Officer (CG-SEA)

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Operationally Critical Characteristics

UNCLASSIFIED | HSC-L Program Overview | CG-SEA-A8

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Parameter

Requirement

Length

70 feet

Draft

7 feet

Icebreaking

The vessel shall be capable of independently breaking freshwater ice with a thickness of 12 inches at a continuous speed of 3 knots.

Endurance

The vessel shall be capable of conducting unreplenished icebreaking operations for at least three days to include: fuel, potable water, sewage, greywater, and food.

Air Draft

The vessel shall be capable of achieving a fixed height of no more than 20 feet above the waterline.

Aids to Navigation Capability

The vessel shall be capable of retrieving, deploying, stowing, transporting, and servicing at least three 5x11 feet buoys with moorings and associated equipment.

Mission Equipment

Lifting capacity: 4,500 lbs.

Reach: 5 feet beyond deck edge

Assistant Commandant – Surface

Program Executive Officer (CG-SEA)

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Thank You

UNCLASSIFIED | HSC-L Program Overview | CG-SEA-A8

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Gregory D. Blewett

Program Manager, Homeland Security Cutter

 

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Learn more about HSC

Scan the code to visit program website

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Meet with Us

Scan the code for available times Thursday

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Office: (571) 610-0204 | gregory.d.blewett@uscg.mil | smb-comdt-cg-9328@uscg.mil

Assistant Commandant – Surface

Program Executive Officer (CG-SEA)