Work on Coast Guard Cutter to Begin at Ketchikan Shipyard
Coast Guard Cutter John F. McCormick crew transits through the San Francisco Bay during their voyage to homeport in Ketchikan, Alaska.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Loumania Stewart | US Coast Guard District 11
The US Coast Guard has awarded Vigor Alaska, a Titan company, a contract to perform maintenance and repairs on US Coast Guard Cutter (USCGC) John McCormick at the Ketchikan Shipyard. McCormick will be the first US Coast Guard maintenance solicitation awarded at the Ketchikan Shipyard since 2011. The Fast Response Cutter is stationed at Coast Guard Base Ketchikan, just three and a half miles from Ketchikan Shipyard, ensuring work on this locally-based vessel supports jobs in Ketchikan’s local economy. Work on the vessel began in mid-September.
Partnership Boosts Community
“Vigor and our skilled employees are looking forward to beginning work on CGC John McCormick at our local Ketchikan Shipyard,” said Adam Beck, Vigor executive vice president of Ship Repair. “Having a strong partnership with the Coast Guard supports family wage jobs in Ketchikan and helps get vessels back into service patrolling our coastlines faster. We are grateful for the opportunity to serve the Coast Guard and ready to get to work.”
The $3.65 million contract represents a significant milestone in Vigor’s tenure as operator of Ketchikan Shipyard, which is owned by the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA). The critical partnership between owner and operator supports a strong local economy in Ketchikan.
“AIDEA is proud to partner with Vigor in providing jobs in Ketchikan and boosting the local economy,” said Randy Ruaro, executive director of AIDEA. “We applaud USCG in trusting the Ketchikan Shipyard for this important maintenance work and look forward to similar projects in the future. The US Coast Guard’s District 17 fleet has an Alaska maintenance facility to rely on.”
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August 2026
Work on McCormick will cover comprehensive maintenance and repair of the vessel. After McCormick is dry docked, the team at Ketchikan Shipyard will inspect the hull plating, conduct maintenance on the ship’s propulsion system, and renew hull coatings, as well as several other key maintenance and repair operations. Work is anticipated to last through the fall, with approximately forty employees supporting the project.
Marine Highway System Also a Partner
In addition to USCGC John McCormick, Vigor continues to conduct critical work for the Alaska Marine Highway System at Ketchikan Shipyard. Maintenance work on MV Kennicott began last month and will continue into November. Work on MV Stikine was completed earlier this year.
Titan Acquisition Holdings, a family of bicoastal leaders in ship repair, ship modernization, marine and complex fabrication services, was formed in 2019. Titan is the parent company of Vigor, operating in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska; MHI Holdings, based in Norfolk, Virginia; and Continental Maritime of San Diego in California. Notable Titan family customers include Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, US Navy, Military Sealift Command, Maritime Administration, US Army, local and state ferry systems, and commercial ship owners.
