Coast Guard members tour new Waterways Commerce Cutters being built in Alabama

Some members of the U.S. Coast Guard Heartland District chiefs mess were recently in Bayou La Batre, Alabama to tour Birdon shipyard, which is building the first Waterways Commerce Cutters (WCC) that will be named in honor of a Coast Guard chief petty officer.

Some members of the U.S. Coast Guard Heartland District chiefs mess pose during a tour of the new Chief Petty Officer class Waterways Commerce Cutters in Bayou La Batre, Alabama. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Vincent Moreno)

U.S. Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Adam C. Palumbo, Waterways Commerce Cutters project resident office member, follows a tour of the new Chief Petty Officer class WCCs in Bayou La Batre, Alabama. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Vincent Moreno)

Some members of the U.S. Coast Guard Heartland District chiefs discuss the building process of the new Chief Petty Officer class Waterways Commerce Cutters in Bayou La Batre, Alabama, August 26, 2025. The chiefs toured the Birdon shipyard to see the initial construction of the first WCCs that will be named in honor of a Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Vincent Moreno)

Some members of the U.S. Coast Guard Heartland District chiefs mess examine the construction of the new Waterways Commerce Cutters at the Birdon shipyard in Bayou La Batre, Alabama. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Vincent Moreno)

Birdon has invested more than $27 million to improve its Alabama shipyard and prepare it to build six or more WCC vessels at a time. It started building its first WCC in June.

Birdon was awarded a $1.187 billion contract in 2022 to design and build 27 new WCC vessels for the U.S. Coast Guard, including 16 River Buoy Tenders (WLRs) and 11 Inland Construction Tenders (WLICs).

From top: Coast Guard notional renderings of an Inland Buoy Tender, Inland Construction Tender, and River Buoy Tender. (U.S. Coast Guard)

WCCs are essential to maintain and protect the nation’s 12,000 miles of commercially active inland waterways through which 630 million tons of cargo moves annually, accounting for more than $5.4 trillion in annual economic activity and supporting 30.7 million jobs for the U.S. economy.

To support the safe and efficient flow of economic activity along these U.S. rivers, lakes, intercoastal waterways and harbors, WCCs establish and maintain over 28,200 inland Aids to Navigation (ATON). Additional missions include search and rescue (SAR), marine safety, marine environmental protection and security of ports, waterways and coasts.

Notional vendor rendering of two Waterways Commerce Cutter variants: an Inland Construction Tender (left) and River Buoy Tender (right). The Inland Buoy Tender variant will be acquired separately. Image courtesy of Birdon America Inc. (U.S. Coast Guard)

Many of the current Inland waterways fleet are over 50 years old and are increasingly difficult and expensive to maintain. The new WCCs will greatly enhance the Coast Guard’s ability to perform their Marine Transportation System missions.