Military.Com reports that,

“The Coast Guard’s short-range search-and-rescue helicopters are flying at 70% of their potential scheduled hours due to a parts shortage, a situation that could worsen as hurricane season approaches, the service’s top officer told Congress on Wednesday.

“Six Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopters are currently grounded, with four more expected to be out of circulation by June. That’s roughly 10% of the fleet, Commandant Adm. Karl Schultz told the House Appropriations Committee’s homeland security subcommittee April 28.”

The H-65s entered service with the Coast Guard 36 years ago. The Coast Guard is concurrently conducting both service life extension and electronic upgrades on the entire H-65 fleet. I had heard that a couple of airstations would transition from H-65s to H-60s, and that we would begin flying H-60s from cutters, but I was very surprised to see this,

“Schultz said the service must “take immediate action” to transition its entire rotary wing force over to MH-60 Jayhawk helicopters.”

While moving from H-65s to H-60s is something of an upgrade, a complete transition from H-65s to H-60s will be challenging and operating H-60s from 210s may be impossible.

There lots of Airbus 365 derived helicopters out there. Over a 1000 were sold to over 60 different customers. They are used by militaries and civilians all over the world. In 2015 it was announced that Korean Aerospace Industries would begin building new version with an upgraded gearbox. That program apparently resulted in their Light Civil Helicopter and Light Armed Helicopter.

I find it hard to believe we cannot find a source for replacement parts.

Thanks to Walter for bringing this to my attention.

Below is another LantArea news release describing what our cutters are doing, far from the US coast. More photos here.

Found some information on the vessel they were exercising with. Jugurtha (P 610) is a 72 meter (236′) Offshore Patrol Vessel, one of four built by Dutch firm Damen in their Romanian shipyard. Damen also provided the preliminary designs of the Coast Guard’s 87 foot WPBs and the Webber class WPCs.

According to Defence.pk,

Tunisia’s Damen MSOPV 1400 vessels have a length of 72 m, a 12.7 m beam, and a 3.75 m draft. The vessels have a standard displacement of 1,284 tonnes or up to 1,877 tonnes fully loaded.

Tunisia’s OPVs are built with Damen’s “Axe Bow,” designed to reduce pitching, but more conventional bows are also an option.

Of the four OPVs, apparently only the first two have helicopter decks.

News Release U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area U.S. Coast Guard builds ties with partners in Tunisia   TUNIS, Tunisia — The Sentinel-class fast response cutters USCGC Charles Moulthrope (WPC 1141) and USCGC Robert Goldman (WPC 1142) departed Tunis after a routine logistics visit and key leader engagements, April 25, 2021. This port visit marks the cutters’ second stop while conducting operations in the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of responsibility en route to their new homeport of Manama, Bahrain. The Moulthrope and Goldman work in Tunis builds on previous military operations with Tunisian forces such as the USCGC Bear (WMEC 901) deployment conducting military-to-military operations with the Tunisian navy and royal Moroccan navy in 1999, and USCGC Dallas (WHEC 716) work with Tunisian navy counterparts to share best practices for responding to maritime issues and at-sea emergencies in 1995 as well as ongoing international training efforts. This visit is a continuation of our commitment to our Tunisian partners, further enhancing cooperation between U.S. and Tunisian forces in support of shared security goals. In January 2021, Military Sealift Command Spearhead-class Expeditionary Fast Transport USNS Trenton (T EPF 5) and Tunisian navy partners conducted joint maritime operations to enhance maritime security, critical lifesaving capabilities, and Tunisia’s ability to protect its maritime borders. “The exercises showcased both the Tunisian naval forces and U.S. Coast Guard’s ability to operate as multi-mission partners through a variety of exercises ranging from defense operations to search and rescue and illegal fisheries enforcement — all of which highlighted our services’ similarities in both missions and responsibilities,” said Lt. Cmdr. Samuel Blase, commanding officer, Robert Goldman. During their stop in Tunis, Moulthrope and Goldman engaged with navy leadership, local dignitaries and conducted military-to-military exercises with the Tunisian navy for interoperability and familiarization. “It was an honor to help lead the first U.S. Coast Guard visit to Tunisia in over 25 years and strengthen our partnership with the Tunisian naval force. The engagements and maritime exercises highlighted service capabilities, promoted interoperability between both nations, and enhanced stability throughout the Mediterranean Sea,” said Lt. Cmdr. Steven Hulse, commanding officer of Charles Moulthrope. Charles Moulthrope and Robert Goldman are en route to their new homeport in Bahrain in support of the Navy’s U.S. Fifth Fleet and U.S. Coast Guard Patrol Forces Southwest Asia. While in the U.S. Navy’s Sixth Fleet area of responsibility, the crews will support engagements with partner countries strengthening relationships and demonstrating our continued commitment to global maritime security and stability. Charles Moulthrope and Robert Goldman are the first two of six Sentinel-class ships headed to U.S. Patrol Forces Southwest Asia. Established in 2002 to support Operation Iraqi Freedom, PATFORSWA played a critical role in maritime security and maritime infrastructure protection operations. It is the U.S. Coast Guard’s largest unit outside of the United States. The U.S. Coast Guard remains operational during COVID-19, following all COVID-19 safety precautions and regulations. U.S. Sixth Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied and interagency partners, to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.

Below is a D17 press release (more photos here). I have to wonder, why we did not take this opportunity to do a sink-ex? Would have loved to see what a 57mm would have done to this little ship. Was it because the last time we attempted a derelict destruction, it was all too embarrassing?

Photo Release U.S. Coast Guard 17th District Alaska Chronic nuisance vessel scuttled at sea off Southeast Alaska  JUNEAU, Alaska –The City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ) Docks and Harbors and Global Diving and Salvage, assisted by Coast Guard Sector Juneau, scuttled the derelict tugboat Lumberman offshore Southeast Alaska Sunday. The Coast Guard Cutter John McCormick, a 154-foot Sentinel–class vessel, towed the Lumberman, a 107-ft steel hulled tugboat to a position 54 miles west of Cross Sound where it was sunk in over 8,400 feet of water. Sector Juneau accessed the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund in 2017 to remove petroleum product and again in 2020 to secure the vessel when it became adrift in Gastineau Channel. Prior to the scuttling, CBJ hired Global Diving and Salvage to remove hazardous material and approximately 250 cubic yards of debris, conducted a stability assessment and prepped the Lumberman for sinking. Following environmental consultation with key stakeholders CBJ obtained an EPA General Permit for vessel disposal at sea. The decision to dispose of the Lumberman at sea, which had been abandoned in the Gastineau channel in 2016, was made after it was determined to be derelict and posed a significant public safety risk.  “Nuisance vessels are a challenge to address. In this case we were able to coordinate the appropriate resources to safely remove the threat Lumberman posed to navigation, the local environment and the community of Juneau,” said Cmdr. Byron Hayes, Sector Juneau response chief.

Below is an Atlantic Area news release. More photos here. You will recognize the Georgian Coast Guard cutters as former USCG 110 foot Island class cutters (Jefferson Island and Staten Island). I am a bit surprised they are not better Armed. The 25mm Mk 38 was presumably removed before transfer. In its place is a 12.7 or 14.5mm machine gun. I don’t see anything else.

Wish they would stop calling this a “routine” deployment. If you haven’t done it for 13 years, its not routine. Think I would have mentioned the two Georgian cutters are former USCG.

Two additional 110s were transferred to Ukraine, maybe we will see Hamilton exercise with them as well.

News Release U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area USCGC Hamilton conducts exercises with Georgian coast guard   BLACK SEA — The Legend-class national security cutter USCGC Hamilton (WMSL 753) crew conducted a series of operational exercises with the Georgian coast guard, May 2 to 3, 2021, in the Black Sea. Hamilton crew conducted search and rescue patterns, simulated survivor rescue training, helicopter hoisting evolutions, approaches for towing, and ship communications with the crews of Georgian coast guard vessels Dioskuria (P 25) and Ochamchire (P 23). These maneuvers and operations enhanced the proficiency in specific mission areas familiar to both coast guards. “The U.S. Coast Guard, along with the U.S. Navy, work closely with the Georgian coast guard on the maritime component of our robust security and defense partnership,” said Kelly Degnan, U.S. Ambassador to Georgia. “We welcome Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton to train with their counterparts in the Georgian coast guard, engage with community leaders, and above all, reaffirm the United States’ commitment to Georgia’s territorial integrity.” The U.S. Coast Guard has been a consistent partner with European nations, strengthening and enforcing robust maritime governance. These exercises are designed to strengthen partnerships through interoperable capabilities and combined operations. We continue our substantial military training cooperation, ship visits, and joint military exercises that aim to help Georgia improve its self-defense capabilities and interoperability with allied and partner forces. “Hamilton was honored to conduct combined at-sea operations with the Georgian coast guard,” said Capt. Timothy Cronin, commanding officer of USCGC Hamilton (WMSL 753). “The U.S. Coast Guard values this partnership as we look to protect our shared interests by ensuring safe and lawful activity in the Black Sea.” The U.S. Coast Guard has a deep partnership with Georgia and the Georgian coast guard, dating back to its initial establishment in the late 1990s. Through the interagency partnership with the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of State, the U.S. Coast Guard guided and developed the Georgian coast guard into a fully operational and successful maritime force. A resilient network of alliances and partnerships is the fabric of the free and open order. We build trust and interoperability with our allies and partners through combined exercises, operations, theater security cooperation, global health engagement, foreign internal defense, and capacity-building efforts. Hamilton is the first U.S. Coast Guard cutter to visit the Black Sea since 2008. The last U.S. Coast Guard cutter to visit the Black Sea, USCGC Dallas (WHEC 716), sailed to the Black Sea twice, in 2008 and 1995. Hamilton is the fourth national security cutter and is the fifth cutter named for the father of the U.S. Coast Guard – Alexander Hamilton, the first Secretary of the Treasury and advocate for the creation of the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service. The U.S. Coast Guard remains operational during COVID-19, following all COVID-19 safety precautions and regulations. The U.S. Coast Guard is conducting a routine deployment in the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations, working alongside allies, building maritime domain awareness, and sharing best practices with partner nation navies and coast guards. U.S. Sixth Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied and interagency partners, to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.

The Acquisitions Directorate (CG-9) reports,

May 3, 2021 —

The Coast Guard waterways commerce cutter (WCC) program released a request for proposal (RFP) on April 30 for the design and construction of its new river buoy and inland construction tenders. The RFP is available here. The river buoy and inland construction tender acquisition will be a small business set-aside in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 19.5.

The RFP encompasses designing the river buoy tender and inland construction tender (designs which share 95% commonality), constructing an initial river buoy tender and inland construction tender based on those completed designs, and producing additional cutters. The deadline to submit responses to the RFP is July 30, 2021, at 10 a.m. Eastern standard time. Contract award is anticipated in early 2022.

On March 24, the DHS Acquisition Review Board approved the WCC program to proceed from the analyze/select phase to the obtain phase. This achievement was the culmination of several years of design analysis, industry engagement, operator input, scale-model testing and other analyses that provided valuable information on requirements, design and production schedules. The WCC acquisition program will replace the legacy inland tender fleet, which has an average vessel age of over 55 years. The current fleet is approaching obsolescence and many of the legacy cutters do not support mixed-gender crews due to original design constraints. The WCC program has accelerated the acquisition by approximately a year to ensure the Coast Guard continues to meet its vital missions throughout the Marine Transportation System.

The current inland tender fleet plays a critical role in the Coast Guard’s support of the national Marine Transportation System, which facilitates $5.4 trillion in commerce annually and sustains over 30 million jobs. The new WCCs will have greater endurance, speed and deck load capacity than their predecessors. The ships will also feature improved habitability and will accommodate mixed-gender crews.

For more information: Waterways Commerce Cutter program page

This is a story about an alien migrant smuggling attempt, but that they were not interdicted earlier, says something about our Maritime Domain Awareness.

Why did they get all the way to the Cabrillo National Monument at the tip of Point Loma without being interdicted?

San Diego is something of a special case in terms of Maritime Domain Awareness, in that the distance from the entrance to San Diego harbor, with its cruise ships and Major US Navy bases, where there are aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines, to the Mexican territorial sea is less than ten nautical miles.

Reportedly the law enforcement is beefing up its resources to interdict migrants, but let us not forget that terrorists can also make this trip in less than an hour, so we really need constant vigilance and a ready response.

Below is a story from the Acquisitions Directorate (CG-9) web site.

—-

April 29, 2021 —

The Coast Guard modified its contract with Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG) today to begin construction of the third offshore patrol cutter (OPC) and to acquire long lead-time material (LLTM) for the fourth OPC. Contract delivery of the third OPC, to be named Ingham, is scheduled to occur in 2024. Total value of this contracting action is $356.5 million.

In addition to ordering the construction and supporting deliverables for the third OPC, this contracting action also covers the initial order of long lead-time components and materials necessary to support the future construction of the fourth OPC by acquiring propeller and steering components, marine diesel engines, the ship integrated control system, switchboards and generators.

The lead and second OPCs are currently in production at ESG’s shipyard in Panama City, Florida. Contract delivery of the lead OPC, Argus, is scheduled for 2022. Contract delivery of the second OPC, Chase, is scheduled for 2023.

The OPC meets the service’s long-term need for cutters capable of deploying independently or as part of task groups and is essential to stopping smugglers at sea, interdicting undocumented migrants, rescuing mariners, enforcing fisheries laws, responding to disasters and protecting our ports. The acquisition of up to 25 OPCs will complement the capabilities of the service’s national security cutters, fast response cutters and polar security cutters as an essential element of the Department of Homeland Security’s layered maritime security strategy. In accordance with direction from the Department of Homeland Security, the Coast Guard previously modified the contract to limit ESG’s current production to a maximum of four OPCs. The service is pursuing a full and open competition for Stage 2 design and construction of up to 11 OPCs and anticipates awarding a follow-on contract in early 2022.

For more information: Offshore Patrol Cutter program page