The Coast Guard broke ground Wednesday for a new facility at the department’s Base Los Angeles-Long Beach in San Pedro.

The $35 million, 11,500-square-foot Naval Engineering Department facility will be an extension of the Coast Guard’s existing Maintenance Augmentation Team building and will support the department’s two new offshore patrol vessels.

The two ships—the Coast Guard Cutter Argus and Coast Guard Cutter Chase—are under construction and are expected to arrive at the facility in late 2022 to early 2023. They will join the Coast Guard’s existing four ships currently stationed at the San Pedro base.

Once completed, the Naval Engineering Department facility will accommodate about 60 personnel who will provide maintenance, weapons and naval engineering support for the ships operating from the base.

“This new cutter support facility will enhance the capabilities of future Coast Guard cutters to meet critical mission needs in a demanding and constantly evolving maritime environment,” U.S. Coast Guard Vice Admiral Michael F. McAllister said.

“The Coast Guard’s first two offshore patrol cutters will be homeported at Base Los Angeles-Long Beach and this facility will provide the operational support needed to ensure future Coast Guard crews can accomplish their mission successfully.”

Construction of the facility is scheduled to be completed in October 2022.