![A rendering of the future U.S. Coast Guard Waterways Commerce Cutters Allen Thiele, Fred Permenter, and Samuel Wilson. [U.S. Coast Guard courtesy rendering Birdon Group]](https://www.marinelog.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/wccthree-300x225.jpg)
The U.S. Coast Guard authenticated the keels for future Coast Guard waterways commerce cutters Allen Thiele, Fred Permenter and Samuel Wilson this past Friday in Bayou La Batre, Ala., where they are
![Rendering of two waterways commerce cutter variants: a river buoy tender (left) and an inland construction tender (right). [Image: Birdon America Inc.]](https://www.marinelog.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Birdon_WCC-300x225.jpg)
Birdon America has started construction on the third U.S. Coast Guard waterways commerce cutter (WCC) vessel: Inland construction tender WLIC 1602. This milestone comes just months after beginning work on WLIC 1601
The U.S. Coast Guard is continuing to move forward with the acquisition of the new waterways commerce cutter (WCC) class that will replace the legacy fleet of inland tenders and has ordered
Hunt Valve, part of the Fairbanks Morse Defense portfolio, will supply critical valve and actuator systems for two new Coast Guard vessels. It has secured a contract from Birdon to supply key
The Department of Homeland Security this week approved full production of the first U.S. Coast Guard Polar Security Cutter (PSC). The Coast Guard also received DHS approval for low-rate initial production of
Birdon Group reports that Tony Ardito has become the new president of Birdon America, effective January 27, 2025. Ardito, who has held key leadership positions at BAE Systems and Austal USA, brings
Australia’s Birdon Group reports that its Birdon America Inc. subsidiary has acquired Metal Shark Boats’ 32-acre Bayou La Batre shipyard in Alabama. It says that the acquisition brings a fully developed shipyard
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has rejected a bid protest filed by Steiner Construction Company, Inc., a small business of Bayou La Batre, Alabama, against the continued performance of a contract awarded
Former Austal USA chief naval architect Spencer Johnson has joined Birdon as its ship design director. In that role, he will lead Birdon’s engineering and integrated product teams as they work to
Birdon America, Inc. has selected Master Boat Builders, Inc. of Coden, Alabama, to build the superstructure for the Coast Guard’s Waterways Commerce Cutter (WCC) Program. Birdon has a contract worth a potential
