Renovation Completed On Sixth 225-Foot Seagoing Buoy Tender

Below is a post from the Acquisitions Directorate, provided here for convenience. Some history of the project here. There are a total of 16 Juniper class 225 foot buoy tenders so this program still has a while to run. 

Coast Guard Cutter Fir departed today from the Coast Guard Yard in Curtis Bay, Maryland, following completion of its midlife maintenance availability (MMA). The MMA is one of several projects that comprise the In-Service Vessel Sustainment (ISVS) Program to enhance mission capability, improve reliability and reduce maintenance costs of the service’s legacy cutter fleet.

Fir, which started undergoing the MMA work in August 2018, is the sixth of 16 225-foot seagoing buoy tenders to undergo this process through the ISVS Program. The work will keep the tenders in service another 15 years and includes an overhaul of the deck equipment and weight handling gear, updates to the machinery control system and HVAC systems, topside preservation and a stability assessment. The 225-foot Juniper-class seagoing buoy tenders were commissioned between 1996 and 2004. Fir will be stationed in Cordova, Alaska, after completing a roughly 7,000-8,000 nautical mile voyage through the Panama Canal and up the Pacific Coast. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Lt. Cmdr. Michael Adams.

For more information: In-Service Vessel Sustainment program page

7 thoughts on “Renovation Completed On Sixth 225-Foot Seagoing Buoy Tender

  1. Following information from CG-9, the Acquisitions Directorate.

    https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/Assistant-Commandant-for-Acquisitions-CG-9/Newsroom/Latest-Acquisition-News/Article/1971108/eighth-225-foot-seagoing-buoy-tender-arrives-for-midlife-maintenance-availabili/

    I would note that this “midlife” renovation is occurring 23 years into Juniper’s supposed 30 year service life.

    Eighth 225-Foot Seagoing Buoy Tender Arrives For Midlife Maintenance Availability
    Sept. 25, 2019 —

    Coast Guard Cutter Juniper arrived today at the Coast Guard Yard in Curtis Bay, Maryland, to begin midlife maintenance availability (MMA) work as part of the In-Service Vessel Sustainment Program. The 225-foot seagoing buoy tender, which was previously based in Newport, Rhode Island, is the eighth of 16 Juniper-class ships to undergo an MMA. Work includes updates to the machinery control system, HVAC systems and propellers; an overhaul of the deck equipment and weight handling gear; and topside preservation. Upon completion, the cutter will relocate to Honolulu. In 1996, Juniper was the first of its class to enter service; the renovations are designed to increase operational availability and mission capability over the remainder of the ship’s 30-year service life.

  2. From CG-9 https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/Assistant-Commandant-for-Acquisitions-CG-9/Newsroom/Latest-Acquisition-News/Article/2096118/ninth-225-foot-seagoing-buoy-tender-arrives-for-major-maintenance-availability/

    Ninth 225-foot seagoing buoy tender arrives for major maintenance availability

    Coast Guard Cutter Walnut arrived Feb. 26 at the Coast Guard Yard in Curtis Bay, Maryland, to begin major maintenance availability (MMA) work as part of the In-Service Vessel Sustainment program. The 225-foot seagoing buoy tender, which was previously based in Honolulu, Hawaii, is the ninth of 16 Juniper-class ships to undergo an MMA. Targeted work includes topside preservation and updates to the machinery control system, HVAC systems, propellers, deck equipment and weight handling gear. The work is necessary for the cutter to achieve the remainder of its service life. MMAs facilitate the ease of fleet maintenance and the availability for missions. Upon completion, the cutter will relocate to Pensacola, Florida.

  3. Seventh WLB completes major maintenance availability.
    https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/Assistant-Commandant-for-Acquisitions-CG-9/Newsroom/Latest-Acquisition-News/Article/2152589/renovation-completed-on-seventh-225-foot-seagoing-buoy-tender/
    Coast Guard Cutter Sycamore departed from the Coast Guard Yard in Curtis Bay, Maryland, April 14, following completion of its major maintenance availability (MMA). The MMA is one of several projects that comprise the In-Service Vessel Sustainment (ISVS) program to enhance mission capability, improve reliability and reduce maintenance costs of the service’s legacy cutter fleet.
    Sycamore, which started undergoing the MMA work in March 2019, is the seventh of 16 225-foot seagoing buoy tenders to undergo this process through the ISVS Program. The work will keep the tenders in service another 15 years and includes topside preservation and updates to the machinery control system, HVAC systems, propellers, deck equipment and weight handling gear. The 225-foot Juniper-class seagoing buoy tenders were commissioned between 1996 and 2004; Sycamore entered service in 2002. Sycamore will be stationed in Newport, Rhode Island. U.S. Coast Guard photo.
    For more information: In-Service Vessel Sustainment program page

  4. Pingback: Tidbits from the FY2021 Budget | Chuck Hill's CG Blog

  5. From CG-9. I would note that this MMA took about 14 months, and that apparently the Yard works on two at a time, with them arriving about six months apart.

    Juniper may have taken a bit longer than usual to bring up to the new standard because she was first of class.

    The “30 year life” was apparently before the MMA, which is intended to extend their life for an additional 15 years, so new life expectancy 45 years. Sounds likely to be at least that.

    https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/Assistant-Commandant-for-Acquisitions-CG-9/Newsroom/Latest-Acquisition-News/Article/2424180/seagoing-buoy-tender-completes-major-maintenance-availability/

    Seagoing buoy tender completes major maintenance availability

    Nov. 23, 2020 —
    Coast Guard Cutter Juniper departed the Coast Guard Yard in Curtis Bay, Maryland, Nov. 14 after the completion of its major maintenance availability (MMA). Juniper arrived from Newport, Rhode Island, and its new homeport will be Honolulu. Juniper is transiting to its new homeport of Honolulu, providing a strategic operational advantage and contributing to the overall sustainment of the cutter class. Through the MMA, the ship received major structural repairs and upgrades to systems in order for the asset to meet its intended service life.

    Juniper was the first hull of the 225-foot Juniper-class seagoing buoy tenders, and thus, received substantial structural repairs. Several engineering changes were also installed, which became the standard configuration for the remainder of the fleet.

    The Coast Guard’s 225-foot Juniper-class seagoing buoy tenders were commissioned between 1996 and 2004 and have a service life expectancy of 30 years. The MMA is one of several projects that comprise the In-Service Vessel Sustainment program to restore mission readiness, improve reliability and reduce maintenance costs of the service’s legacy cutter fleet. Photo by First Class Petty Officer Theresa Heller, Project Resident Office Baltimore.

    For more information: In-Service Vessel Sustainment program page

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