Her keel was laid on September 16, 1982 at Robert Derecktor Shipyard Incorporated, Middletown, Rhode Island.

[citation needed] Seneca is the sixth of thirteen 270' Famous-class cutters designed to take the Coast Guard past the year 2000.

The advanced technology used in her construction gives her the potential of being an effective Search and rescue (SAR) and Maritime Law Enforcement (MLE) platform.

SCCS allows operators to view or act upon information from any of the ship's sensors, radar sources, or radio transceivers.

The success of Operation New Frontier, marked a new era in Coast Guard law enforcement and maritime security efforts, and achieved a principal milestone in the Coast Guard's successful execution of the President's National Drug Control Strategy.