“SeaVision, A web-based maritime situational awareness tool” –DOT

Posted on August 27, 2026 by Chuck Hill

SeaVision

I have long felt the Coast Guard should be a partner in a Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) program along with the Navy. AMVER is really a sort of MDA, but includes only those that want to be included. It could be an input to a more complete system.

I was surprised to find that DOT already maintains, SeaVision, an unclassified MDA system in partnership with US Fleet Forces Command, Naval Information Warfare System Pacific, and Battlespace Awareness and Information Operations (PMW120) (the SeaVision Team). The Coast Guard is notably absent though I have to believe the Coast Guard is providing information.

Reportedly SeaVision has over 5,000 active users from 120 partner nations.

Below are screen grabs of its claimed features and data.

“SpaceX plans $100 billion spaceport on Louisiana Gulf Coast” –Marine Log

Posted on August 26, 2026 by Chuck Hill

Vermilion Parish

Marine Log reports,

“SpaceX said August 25 that it plans to invest $100 billion in a massive new launch facility on Louisiana’s Gulf Coast, a development that could bring a new type of industrial activity to the state’s working coast and eventually require coordination between space operations and marine traffic in the Gulf.

“The company plans to develop the 125,000-acre site in Vermilion Parish as its fourth and largest launch facility, with the capacity to support thousands of launches annually. (emphasis applied–Chuck) Construction is expected to begin in 2027, with the first launch targeted for as early as 2029.

This might be important.

The report notes, “…barge transportation has also been identified as one of the logistical advantages of the location…The U.S. Coast Guard already works with the Federal Aviation Administration, NASA and commercial space operators, including SpaceX, to address risks that launch operations can pose to vessels and navigable waters. Depending on the location and trajectory of a launch, those measures can include temporary safety or restricted areas and notices advising mariners of potential hazards.”

When I first heard about this, I was worried that it might impact traffic on the Mississippi, but looks like that is unlikely given the geography.

Will the Coast Guard need to provide waterside security? If so the nearest WPCs are based in Galveston, TX and Pascagoula, Mississippi. The Navy League 2026 Almanac tells me USCGC Yellowfin (WPB-87319) is in Abbevile, LA. That is within the Parish.

Vermilion Parish: The parish seat is Abbeville. Vermilion Parish is part of the Lafayette metropolitan statistical area, and located in southern Acadiana. At the 2020 U.S. census, the population was 57,359.

“U.S. Coast Guard concludes participation in multinational PANAMAX exercise alongside international partners in Panama” –News Release

Posted on August 25, 2026 by Chuck Hill

U.S. Coast Guard and partner nations conduct a formation sail during PANAMAX 2026
From left to right, U.S. Coast Guard fast response cutter USCGC Robert Ward (WPC 1130), Mexican navy ARM Jalisco, Ecuadorian navy BAE Loja, Colombian navy coastal patrol vessel ARC Isla Gorgona, and the Panamanian National Aeronaval Service Panquiaco (P-301) perform a formation sailing exercise in the Pacific Ocean near Panama, during PANAMAX 2026, Aug. 6, 2026. PANAMAX 2026 scenarios help the defense and public security forces of participating nations improve interoperability, hone their skills during scenarios involving coalition and all-domain operations, forge strong cooperative partnerships, and demonstrate their collective capacity to respond to and deter threats to the region and its critical waterways. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class William Kirk)

Below is a news release. I am not sure which office wrote the release. It may be from the Coast Guard liaison officer in Panama.

I did a post on this exercise based on a Navy League “Seapower” post on August 7.

The new release is the most detailed I have seen on the exercise and the accompanying photos give a good feel the importance of the exercise.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth addresses U.S. service members supporting PANAMAX 2026
The Honorable Pete Hegseth, Secretary of War, stands with U.S. Coast Guard Port Security Unit 301 (PSU 301) service members and a commemorative gift presented by the unit during a dinner at Panama City, Panama, Aug. 12, 2026, in support of PANAMAX 2026. The engagement recognized the contributions of PSU 301 personnel and highlighted the importance of service, teamwork and readiness among forces supporting the multinational exercise. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Crystal Burgess)

The earlier post discussed why I think Atlantic Area’s AOR should be realigned to include all of the 4th Fleet AOR and that Atlantic Area should be responsible for all Coast Guard drug enforcement operations in the 4th Fleet AOR. Interestingly, while Cmdr. Patrick Frost, deputy chief of enforcement for Coast Guard Southwest District, served as the Pacific Task Force commander for the exercise, was apparently the senior officer from Pacific Area, and USCGC Robert Ward came down from Long Bech CA, the ranking Coast Guard officer was Atlantic Area Deputy Commander, Rear Adm. John Vann. (PSU 301 is out of Buzzards Bay, Cape Cod, MA.)

USCGC Sentinel-class Robert Ward (WPC-1130) hosts distinguished guests during PANAMAX 2026. Deputy Commander of U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area Rear Adm. John Vann speaks to members of the USCGC Sentinel-class Robert Ward (WPC-1130) about their role during PANAMAX 2026 in Panama, Aug. 12, 2026. PANAMAX 2026 seeks to improve interoperability and strengthen collective capacity to conduct complex multinational and all-domain operations to ensure free flow of commerce through the Panama Canal and maintain security and stability in the region. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class William Kirk)

Note, the most heavily armed vessels involved in the exercise were the Mexican Navy’s 282 foot, 1,680 ton Oaxaca class Offshore Patrol Vessel ARM Jalisco (1 x Bofors 57 mm gun; 1 × OTO Melara 30 mm cannon; 2 × OTO Melara remote-controlled M2 12.7mm MG) and the Ecuadorian Navy’s 204 foot, 685 ton Esmeraldas class guided missile corvette BAE Loja (1- Otobreda 76 mm gun; 1 – 40 mm Breda Dardo guns;1 – Surface-to-air-missile – Selenia Aspide (1 × 4); 6 – MM40 Exocet anti-ship missiles; 2 – Mk32 torpedo launchers).

Panama hosted participants from 18 partner nations, including the United States, for PANAMAX 2026. The exercise provided participating nations an opportunity to conduct combined security and stability operations to enhance their joint-operations capabilities.

U.S. Coast Guard personnel from Port Security Unit (PSU) 301, Maritime Security Response Team (MSRT) – West, District Southwest enforcement, and the Robert Ward conducted joint training and simulated exercises with partner nations throughout the exercise.

PSU 301 conducted Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) and small boat operations alongside U.S. Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance and partner forces from Panama, Mexico, Ecuador and the Dominican Republic. The unit conducted a full-mission-profile exercise raid of the Amador Cruise Terminal and participated in integrated waterside and shoreside security operations. PSU 301 also employed command-and-control, common operating picture and unmanned aerial systems technologies to provide real-time video and communications in support of joint and combined forces.

MSRT West integrated with U.S. special operations forces and commando units from Panama, Argentina and Peru to prepare for complex maritime security missions. The exercise provided an opportunity to refine multinational tactics and coordination while demonstrating the ability of special operations forces to respond to maritime threats in the region.

Coast Guard Southwest District enforcement staff concluded an expansive eight-month planning process in conjunction with the U.S. Coast Guard liaison officer in Panama, to lead the Combined Maritime Forces Pacific Task Force through 12 separate exercise events. The Robert Ward and crew conducted these integrated at-sea and in-port exercises with partner nations throughout PANAMAX 2026, including boardings, escorts and search-and-rescue operations. These exercise events culminated in a real-world multinational escort of a commercial cargo vessel as it exited the canal, followed by a complex final exercise. This exercise involved live assets simulating an aggressive action against a security formation, and ultimately concluded with effective turnover to PSU 301 for final boarding. This training tested a coordinated coalition response, strengthening the ability of multinational forces to operate together across a range of maritime security missions.

“The performance of the Combined Maritime Force was exceptional and the regional partnerships strengthened will endure beyond PANAMAX,” said U.S. Coast Guard Cmdr. Patrick Frost, deputy chief of enforcement, U.S. Coast Guard Southwest District. “The U.S. completed six full days of integrated exercises; including interdictions, boardings, security escorts, and search-and-rescue. The success of PANAMAX was a result of joint planning efforts dating back months, heavily attributed to the hospitality of Panama’s aeronaval service, and effectively laid groundwork for further collaboration to build off training events and achieve advanced real-world operations.”

Participating nations included Panama, Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Netherlands, Paraguay, Peru, the United Kingdom and the United States. The scope of nations represented in this year’s exercise reflects a collective recognition of the importance of the Panama Canal as a vital maritime waterway, and the ever-increasing collaborative partnership between public security and defense forces in the region.

Panama served as the exercise host, and the United States co-led the four force components. Alongside their U.S. counterparts, Argentina co-led the special operations forces component, Chile co-led the maritime component, Colombia co-led the air component, and Peru co-led the ground component.

This year marks the first time in 14 years that PANAMAX was conducted as a live multinational exercise in Panama as well as a command post exercise, both in Panama and the U.S.

For updated information about PANAMAX 2026, visit the PANAMAX 2026 DVIDS page at www.dvidshub.net/feature/Panamax26.

“Exclusive First Look at Davie/Helsinki Shipyard’s Arctic Security Cutter Design” –Sixty Degrees North

Posted on August 23, 2026 by Chuck Hill

Davie/Helsinki Arctic Security Cutter ASC. Click on the photo to enlarge.

Sixty Degrees North provides an excellent review of the Davie/Helsinki Shipyard version of the Arctic Security Cutter design, including a history of the previous ships that provided the basis of the design.

The post includes some details I had not previously seen.

The ships will be provided with a SCIF, “Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility.”

It also appears, from the graphic, they will have a multi-mode radar.

Armament will reportedly include a 25mm Mk38 (upgradable to 57mm) and 4 x M2 .50cal mounts/remote weapons stations. The mention of remote weapon stations (RWS) is encouraging. Requiring a crew to stand out in the open in the Arctic for long periods of time is probably not conducive to readiness. Plus the electro-optics on the RWS can be very useful for various missions. Still I would hope the main gun would have been a 30 X 173mm Bushmaster II Mk38 Mod 4 currently planned for the Polar Security Cutter. The Secondary armament for all large cutters should include something like the RWS used for the Army’s M-SHORAD that includes a 30 X 113mm M230 chain gun and short range missiles like Stinger, APKWS, Hellfire, or JAGM. Both versions of the 30mm offer air burst munitions while the 25mm does not. This would give the ships at least some protection against surface craft, drones, low flying aircraft, glide bombs, and cruise missiles. Replacing the Mk38 with a third such RWS in addition to two near the rear corners of the superstructure would provide good all round protection while simplifying training and logistics.

There was a suggestion that the Moon Pool might be used for ASW even in the ice.

“The design’s ‘standard’ moon pool intrigues me, as one criticism of armed icebreakers is that they cannot conduct Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) because icebreaking is so loud as to make SONAR systems useless. Absent the capability to detect and counter submarines, icebreakers will not survive long in combat. Deploying ASW UUVs (or even ROVs) via a moon pool may challenge that criticism in the future.”

The most surprising thing was the suggestion that these ships could host Mk70 containerized missile launch systems, providing the equivalent 16 Mk41 Vertical Launch Systems. (See the rendering below.) This seems like an answer to the similar sized Russian Project 23550 icebreaker which when first revealed the model of the ship had two containerized CLUB-K missile systems on the stern, but in fact we have not yet seen any icebreaker equipped this way. Basically any ship that has room for containers in an open area can do this, including putting them on the flight deck.

Rendering of the MPPS ASC version showing four MK70 launchers (16 VLS cells) and a cargo handling crane. (Image: Davie Defense)

“U.S. Fires JAGM Missiles from Saildrone Surveyor USV to Expand Distributed Firepower at Sea” –Navy News

Posted on August 21, 2026 by Chuck Hill

A Lockheed Martin Joint Air-to-Ground Missile is fired from a Saildrone Surveyor USV during the US Navy’s Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise. Photo credit: Saildrone

Army Recognition’s Navy News reports,

Lockheed Martin and Saildrone launched two JAGM missiles from a Surveyor-class unmanned surface vessel during RIMPAC 2026, demonstrating that the platform can receive external targeting data and execute a remote engagement. The test advances the US Navy’s effort to distribute sensing and firepower across unmanned vessels while reducing reliance on crewed combatants for forward presence.

Not that I expect the Coast Guard to have Saildrones armed with JAGM or Hellfire, but it is another illustration that these weapons can be mounted on relatively small craft. Does not hurt that the weapon is also effective against UAS and other low altitude aircraft. Hellfire has also proven capable of disabling even large ships.

The Saildrone that launched these JAGM was only 20 meters long, about 66 feet.

Screengrab from video posted to social media

“Coast Guard awards $60 million contract for Sector St. Petersburg facilities” –News Release

Posted on August 21, 2026 by Chuck Hill

USCGC Pablo Valent (WPC-1148), the only WPC currently based in St. Petersburg. There are also two WMEC210s based in St. Petersburg, Resolute and Venturous.

Below is a Headquarters news release. St. Petersburg is a bit unusual as a Webber class WPC base in that it only has one WPC while in most places three or more cutters are based together, to provide near 365 day/year readiness.

District SE already has 20 WPCs but only one is on the Gulf side of the Peninsula, the other 19 are based in Miami, Key West, and San Juan, PR.

We will almost certainly see two more added. Will the additional WPCs replace the two WMEC210s or will they be replaced by OPCs based at St. Pete?

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Coast Guard awarded a $60 million contract on Aug. 13, 2026, to repair, recapitalize and improve waterfront facilities at Sector St. Petersburg in St. Petersburg, Florida.

The contract, awarded to Tutor Perini Corp. of Framingham, Massachusetts, will support the removal and rebuilding of facilities damaged by Hurricane Helene, as well as constructing new infrastructure to support future Fast Response Cutter operations.

The project, expected to be completed in summer 2028, will include:

Demolition of damaged facilities.
Construction of new berthing, marine maintenance facilities, and a multipurpose training facility.
Delivery of new stormwater management facilities, a boat ramp and a fuel station.
Construction of a new waterfront bulkhead, upgrading berth strength to accommodate crane operations and new mooring fenders and hardware.
Installation of new shore utility connections and waterfront lighting to support fast response cutters and other cutter classes.
Improvements to the buoy storage lot to facilitate access and stormwater management.
Construction of a Maintenance and Weapons Detachment facility to support cutter maintenance.

“Investing in Sector St. Petersburg’s waterfront infrastructure is an investment in Coast Guard readiness,” said Capt. Courtney Sergent, commander, Sector St. Petersburg. “This project will restore storm-damaged facilities, modernize critical shore support, and give our crews the resilient infrastructure they need to operate, maintain, and deploy cutters along Florida’s Gulf Coast.”

Sector St. Petersburg is an essential homeport for Coast Guard cutters, which support Coast Guard missions to save lives; control, secure, and defend U.S. borders and maritime approaches; ensure the safe and secure flow of commerce; and respond to crises and contingencies that may come with little or no warning.

Improvements to Sector St. Petersburg are made possible by the Coast Guard’s historic $25 billion investment provided by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the American Relief Act of 2025, and other annual appropriations.

Using the $25 billion investment in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the largest capital investment in the Service’s history, the Coast Guard has already ordered over $15 billion in new assets and capabilities, critical depot maintenance, and shore facilities. This rapid investment demonstrates the Coast Guard’s commitment to modernizing acquisition, delivering next-generation technology, restoring readiness, and revitalizing shore infrastructure.

Two Posts / Updates on the Icebreaker Programs

Posted on August 18, 2026 by Chuck Hill

Artist’s rendering of the Polar Security Cutter: U.S. Coast Guard

Two recent articles provide updates on icebreaker programs currently underway.

First, “July 2026 U.S. Coast Guard Update Part Two: Procurement and Ports” from Sixty Degrees North provides an overview of all icebreaker programs, Polar Security Cutter, Arctic Security Cutter, and Homeland Security Cutter–Light Icebreaker, written by the Directory of Polar Intelligence for Davie Group. It also looks at future basing possibilities.

When all of the upgrades are complete, we will have the Polar Star (to be replaced by the PSCs) and Healy in Seattle, Storis in Juneau, two ASCs in Kodiak, and one ASC in Seward. That will place many of our assets closer to the Arctic Circle (which is about 150 nautical miles north of Nome):

From Sixty Degrees North

Second we have “Twin Icebreaker Projects Progressing at Bollinger’s Gulf Coast Yards” that follows a US Naval Institute reporter’s visit to Bollinger shipyards building the Polar Security Cutter and the Arctic Security Cutter.

We are still a long way from delivery but nice to hear progress is being made.

First deliveries of the Bollinger/Rauma Marine ASCs is expected in 2028 and all six by 2031.

The first of the Davie/Helsinki built ASCs is expected in 2028 with all five complete by 2035.

First delivery of the Polar Security Cutter is nominally 2030 but GAO suggests 2033. Delivery of all three Polar Security Cutters is expected 2039. And yes the price has gone up. $6B for the three ships. Actually that does not sound too unreasonable since we are paying about $2B each for USS San Antonio class LPDs which are about the same size.

From Sixty Degrees North

“Coming soon: A redesigned Coast Guard website” –MyCG

Posted on August 17, 2026 by Chuck Hill

Below is a post from MyCG. On the MyCG website it says,

“What you can do now to help make the new site better”

Obviously, I was interested. I thought maybe I would ask my readers to offer feedback. This is supposed to be a public-facing website, and we are the public, whereas most readers of MyCG are internal to the organization.

But looking down at “What should members do?” the only thing I see in terms of making the site better is, “Participate when asked.  Your feedback will directly influence the final website and contribute to ongoing improvements post-launch.”

Currently there are a lot of public-facing website such as news by region and many that are directed primarily to service members but accessible to the public like the district websites. CG-9 has a web site. Individual ships and other units have websites and Facebook pages.

I have also seen a need to improve Coast Guard websites and keep them up to date. What I see in this notice also seems to be an attempt to restrict what is said. I have not seen a problem with what has been made public, but this is what it says:

“…making content management…more consistent for all audiences.
“…fragmentation makes it harder…to keep information…compliant.
“Every decision in the process is guided by leadership…
“Present a…more consistent Coast Guard brand to the public
“All content will use approved templates, standardized tags…
“Present a…more consistent Coast Guard brand to the public
“Stronger governance and brand alignment
CG-OPA will manage the content approval process for adding or changing public web content. This ensures updates are…aligned with Coast Guard priorities. A dedicated Brand Team will also formalize visual identity, tone, and voice standards.

I can see a single site to pass along information on Coast Guard units, their location and characteristics and to provide information on history, budget requests and status, contracting and other questions of national importance to the general public, but I hope the Coast Guard will not limit public access to just this one website. Multiple websites exist because they address different audiences. A top down requirement for approval will delay distribution and limit response to local news agencies.

CG-OPA should also be making sure unofficial outlets have correct and up to date information. This seems to be being done. Wikipedia and the Navy League’s Seapower Almanac frequently seem to be more up to date than Coast Guard websites.

Nevertheless, as a user of public information sites, the Coast Guard does a great job, much better than the Navy. I believe that is because we have done, what the Coast Guard has always done, pushed decision making down to the local level.

That is not to say HQ should not be checking on what they do.

The Coast Guard is taking a major step toward modernizing its digital presence with a redesigned website — a change that will affect not only how we communicate with the public, but how many of us do our jobs.

The new and improved public-facing website, which is expected to launch in late 2026, will consolidate multiple Coast Guard domains into a single platform. The goal is to make it easier for the public to find accurate information, while making content management faster, clearer, and more consistent for all audiences.

Every decision in the process is guided by leadership and backed by data on how people actually use our site. Ultimately, this will help us meet our Force Design goals by making the Coast Guard more adaptable, technologically savvy, and ready for whatever comes next.

Why this matters

Today, information about the Coast Guard lives across multiple websites, platforms, and formats. This fragmentation makes it harder for external audiences to find what they need and harder to keep information current, consistent, and compliant.

The new website will:

Reduce duplicate content and outdated pages

Improve searchability and readability using plain language

Free time for content managers to focus on mission-critical work

Present a clearer, more consistent Coast Guard brand to the public

Whether you manage web content directly or rely on public-facing information to support operations, recruiting, outreach, or stakeholder engagement, this redesign improves how the Coast Guard communicates.

What’s changing

One unified public website
Multiple Coast Guard public domains will be merged into a single platform, allowing users to find information and services more easily while simplifying workflows for content managers.

Structured, plain-language content
All content will use approved templates, standardized tags, and plain language guidelines. This improves clarity for users and boosts search engine optimization (SEO), making Coast Guard information easier to find and understand.

Stronger governance and brand alignment
Once the redesigned site launches, CG-OPA will manage the content approval process for adding or changing public web content. This ensures updates are timely, accurate, on-brand, and aligned with Coast Guard priorities. A dedicated Brand Team will also formalize visual identity, tone, and voice standards.

Data-driven decisions
The redesign is guided by analytics and discovery insights from tools like Google Analytics and SiteImprove, ensuring improvements are based on how real users interact with Coast Guard content, not assumptions.

Internal content handled separately
A separate team is developing a strategy for internal-facing content to ensure resources for employees are organized, accessible, and fit for purpose.

Timeline

The project will follow a phased approach, with:

Ongoing previews, testing, and feedback

A soft launch planned for late 2026

Continuous refinements based on user input and performance data

This approach allows the Coast Guard to adapt quickly and improve the site as needs evolve.

What should members do?

Stay informed. Look for updates through MyCG articles, briefings, emails, Quarterly Content Manager meetings, Teams channels, and direct communications.

Participate when asked. Your feedback will directly influence the final website and contribute to ongoing improvements post-launch.

Prepare for new processes. If you manage or contribute to web content, expect new templates, workflows, and governance policies.
Take advantage of training. The CG-OPA Web Team will provide training, guidance, and tools to help you transition smoothly.

Looking ahead

This website redesign is more than a technical upgrade. It’s a cultural shift toward clearer communication, smarter workflows, and a stronger Coast Guard presence online. By working together and embracing these changes, we’re building a digital platform that better supports our missions, our workforce, and the public we serve.

For more information, check out our FAQ. If you have additional questions or concerns, please reach out to the CG-COMMS web team through your normal points of contact, or to Rodrigo.Brinski@uscg.mil.

“Canada to plug surveillance gaps with Aussie over-the-horizon radar” –Defense News

Posted on August 16, 2026 by Chuck Hill

JORN, a network of three over-the-horizon radar facilities, is a strategic and early-warning asset for Australia. Canada is buying a similar system. (Australian Defence Force)

Defense News reports,

“CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand — The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), operated by Canada and the United States, has gaping holes in its airspace radar coverage. Ottawa went some way to filling those gaps when it signed four related agreements in June for a new radar system sourced from Australia.

“The system is called the Arctic Over-The-Horizon Radar (A-OTHR), and the deal is worth some US$1.75 billion to Australia.

Not mentioned is the fact that these systems can detect surface targets as well air targets. New Over the Horizon radars will be an important element in Arctic Maritime Domain Awareness.

More info here: “Australia, Canada formalize Arctic over-the-horizon radar deal” –The Watch.

“Floating Bombs: New Trend In Dangerous Fuel Types Aboard Merchant Ships” –Covert Shores

Posted on August 16, 2026 by Chuck Hill

Two very large and exposed LNG fuel tanks aboard the Chinese-built and operated Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) Yuan Rui Yang (IMO: 9843326)

Covert shores points out the potential dangers associated with alternative fuels being used on merchant ships.

“Increasingly we are seeing new fuel types being used by merchant ships. This trend is driven by environmental regulations (regardless of their current status at the IMO – International Maritime Organization), which pushes ship operators toward equipping merchant ships to operate on alternative fuels. The fuels of interest ate liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), liquid ammonia (NH₃), and methanal (MeOH).”

This is obviously a Port Security issue, but really may become an issue in SAR cases or Port, Waterways, and Coastal Security missions.

It is one more reason we need to be able to counter drones, and we need weapons that target with precision and minimum collateral damage.

The article makes much of the fact that frequently these fuel tanks are exposed, but perhaps internal tanks may be equally dangerous and less obvious.