Coast Guard takes over cutter program

The U.S. Coast Guard is set take over a new national security cutter following setbacks in updating its vessels to fight crime on the high seas, officials say.

Coast Guard officials disputed allegations made in a March 12 Washington Times story regarding the Bertholf, saying the "article misrepresented the current status and future plans of the National Security Cutter ... project."

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Coast Guard is set take over a new national security cutter following setbacks in updating its vessels to fight crime on the high seas, officials say.

The Coast Guard takes ownership of the of the USCGC Bertholf this month as part of a step to extend the reach of patrols beyond U.S. shores, The Washington Times said Tuesday. The newspaper said the Coast Guard is taking over the cutter program after contractors failed to fix the current fleet.

The U.S. Navy Board of Inspection and Survey gave the cutter high marks, describing the ship as "a unique and very capable platform with great potential for future service" with the Coast Guard.

Coast Guard representative Megan Mitchell said the new cutter has a different design than past programs that developed cracks in the hulls following a $100 million upgrade.

The Coast Guard scrapped a massive program to overhaul 49 of its vessels when officials said problems with the program were too numerous to fix.

Coast Guard officials disputed allegations made in a March 12 Washington Times story regarding the Bertholf, saying the "article misrepresented the current status and future plans of the National Security Cutter ... project."