WASHINGTON – The U.S. Coast Guard has awarded a $17.8 million contract to Ocean Construction Services Inc. for the construction of new engineering and weapons training facilities at Training Center (TRACEN) Yorktown, Virginia.
The project is a critical step in preparing Coast Guard personnel to operate the service’s next generation of Offshore Patrol Cutters (OPCs) and Waterways Commerce Cutters (WCCs).
“This state-of-the-art training facility is a cornerstone of our modernization effort, ensuring our investment in a 21st-century fleet is supported by the men and women who carry out our critical maritime missions,” said Jennifer Sinclair, director of Force Readiness Command. “We shape the future of maritime security through advanced training, equipping our personnel with the skills and confidence to meet tomorrow’s challenges.”
The project will add 18,700 square feet of building space to Samuel Travis Hall, the training center’s Cutter and Weapons Training Building. This expansion will ensure tailored ship-specific engineering and weapons training facilities for the modern fleet. This building is named in honor of Captain Samuel Travis, Captain of the Revenue Cutter Surveyor, which achieved legendary fame in the War of 1812 during battle on the York River, near TRACEN Yorktown.
The expansion includes mock-up engine rooms, training labs, classrooms, a mock-up training space and other administrative needs to support comprehensive “C-School” training for future cutter crews. This project furthers the Service’s historic transformation made possible by Fiscal Year 2025 Reconciliation by enabling world-class training for two of the Coast Guard’s newest fleets: 25 OPCs and 30 WCCs.
The 25 OPCs are set to replace the aging fleet of medium-endurance cutters, some of which have been in service for over 50 years. These new cutters will form the core of the Coast Guard’s offshore presence, bridging the capabilities between the service’s National Security Cutters and Fast Response Cutters to save lives, control, secure, and defend U.S. borders and maritime approaches, and respond to contingencies.
The 30 WCCs in the new "Chief Petty Officer class" will replace the legacy inland tender fleet and strengthen Coast Guard operations to facilitate maritime commerce vital to economic prosperity and strategic mobility. WCCs’ specialized capabilities are essential for maintaining the United States’ 12,000-mile Marine Transportation System, a critical waterway network supporting over $5.4 trillion in annual economic activity and millions of American jobs.
Using the $25 billion provided by the historic Fiscal Year 2025 Reconciliation, the Coast Guard has already ordered over $13 billion in new fleet assets and capabilities. This rapid investment demonstrates the Coast Guard’s commitment to modernizing acquisitions, delivering next-generation technology, and revitalizing American shipbuilding.
For media inquiries contact mediarelations@uscg.mil.
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About the U.S. Coast Guard
With more than 95,000 miles of shoreline, 25,000 miles of navigable rivers and 4.5 million square miles of U.S. exclusive economic zone, the U.S. Coast Guard defends the Nation, protects the marine transportation system, regulates and safeguards ports and waterways, leads the Nation in maritime drug interdiction and secures the maritime border. As a member of the joint force, a law enforcement organization, a regulatory agency and a member of the U.S. intelligence community, the Coast Guard employs a unique mix of authorities to ensure the safety and integrity of the maritime domain to protect the economic and national security of the nation. More than 76,000 members of the Coast Guard operate a multi-mission, interoperable fleet of more than 220 cutters, 185 fixed and rotary-wing aircraft, 1,300 boats and its own dedicated cyber command to protect critical maritime infrastructure.
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