Amid the renewed Guyana–Venezuela territorial dispute in the 2010s when Guyana discovered offshore oil, Venezuela increased its aggression towards its eastern neighbor.

[1] In May 2021, Guyana used emergency funds to make a down payment to commence the construction of the GDFS Berbice, citing the need to defend its exclusive economic zone from Venezuela.

[1] On 4 August 2023, the Berbice was launched from the Metal Shark Boats production factory in Jeanerette, Louisiana.

[2] Months later on 30 October 2023, Metal Shark announced that the ship sailed to its shipyard in Bayou La Batre, Alabama.

[3] It can also serve as a mother ship for 5-meter (16 ft) rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) that can be crewed by ten individuals.