Boats designed to operate from icebreakers in Antarctic waters are a rare breed. Baird Maritime looks at a pair of landing barges that will operate from Australia’s new icebreaker/Antarctic resupply and research ship.
Photo: Not positive, but this seems to be the boat we are talking about.
The DOD recently announced a boat contract, awarded through the Navy, that involves boats for the Coast Guard (you have to look pretty far down to find it).
Silver Ships Inc.,* Theodore, Alabama, was awarded an $8,239,095 firm-fixed price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity single award contract (N00024-21-D-2205) for design and construction of up to 110 Navy 8-meter and 11-meter Surface Support Craft and Coast Guard Special Purpose Craft Law Enforcement Generation II (SPC-LE II). Work will be performed in Theodore, Alabama, and is expected to be completed in August 2023. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $51,663,787. Fiscal 2020 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $3,242,628 (39%); fiscal 2021 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $3,187,680 (39%); and fiscal 2021 other procurement (Coast Guard) funds in the amount of $1,808,787 (22%) will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract is a small business set-aside. This contract was competitively procured via the beta.sam.gov website, with four offers received. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. (Awarded Sept. 30, 2021)
This is Silver Ships’ announcement.
This appears to be the boat the Coast Guard will be getting. The Coast Guard will get the “Open Center Console (Open) variant.”
Each boat will use three outboards. These are the engines specified in the contract.
Thanks to Paul for bringing this to my attention. He also provided the following that gives more detail:
C-1 PART 1 – GENERAL STATEMENT OF WORK
This Statement of Work (SOW) defines the effort required for the, design, construction, testing, configuration control, documentation, and program management for the acquisition of the 8m variant,11m variant of the Naval Special Warfare (NSW) Surface Support Craft (SSC) and the United States Coast Guard (USCG) 11m variant (Special Purpose Craft Law Enforcement).
C-1.1 BACKGROUND
The 8m variant and 11m variant NSW SSC boats operate from inshore littorals to blue water, over the horizon locations, in and up to moderate sea states (NSW) in widely diverse climatic conditions (tropical to arctic). They provide over-watch and coverage for diverse NSW waterborne operations, such as: transit for at sea personnel, water parachute jump, diving, surface swimmer support, medical evacuation and command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence duties. The SSCs also provide support for all NSW garrison locations and allow NSW to certify units for deployment in support of Navy and COMNAVSPECWARCOM requirements.
The USCG will use the 11m SSC variant to conduct counter-smuggling, search and rescue (SAR), recreational boating safety (RBS), and ports and waterways coastal security (PWCS) missions and will operate in higher sea states than the USN variants.
All boat variants are desired to provide comparable to enhanced performance of current capabilities while focusing on commonality to maintain reduction in Total Ownership Costs (TOC).
The NSW SSC requires two configuration variants of the 8m and 11m, Open Center Console (Open) and Enclosed Cabin (Cabin), to support mission needs.
The USCG requires the 11m Open Center Console (Open) variant to support mission needs.
C-1.2 QUANTITIES
The resulting contract will be a 5-year Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract for an estimated one hundred and ten (110) total craft. The initial award is for an estimated fourteen (14) boats.
C-2.2.1 Boat – The Contractor shall provide the boat and trailer in accordance with the Specification
(Attachment 1).
C-2.2.2 UID – The Contractor shall provide UIDs for each boat in accordance with Attachment 6.
C-2.2.3 Boat Specific Technical Data Package (TDP) – The contractor shall provide for each boat one (1) hard copy and one (1) electronic copy (CD/DVD) of the Final 11m OPEN USCG Variant TDP developed under CLIN 1022 specific to each boat.
C-2.2.4 Mercury Verado Engines– The Contractor shall provide three (3) Mercury Verado engines per boat in accordance with the Specification (Attachment 1). The Contractor shall complete the engine break-in in accordance with the Specification (Attachment 1) as part of the boat CLIN.
C-2.14 CLIN 1014 AND IF EXERCISED, CLINs 2014, 3014, 4014 AND 5014 – SHIPPING – USCG
STATION SAN DIEGO, CA and also USCG STATION SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, TX; USCG STATION MIAMI, FL; USCG MARITIME LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY, CHARLESTON, SC.
The Contractor shall deliver the boat to the location specified in Section F (Deliveries or Performance) and in accordance with Section C, Part 3. Items not integrated into the boat shall be wrapped in protective packaging or container and shall be shipped to the same location either with the boat or via separate shipping.
C-2.18 CLIN 1018 AND IF EXERCISED CLIN 4018 – CREW FAMILIARIZATION (USCG) SAN DIEGO (and the locations listed above)
The Contractor shall provide crew familiarization and training for USCG personnel at San Diego, CA. Crew familiarization shall include craft operations, main equipment operations and maintenance. This shall include Contractor and/or OEM training and component change out for engines, electrical, and HM&E systems. At a minimum training shall be two (2) full days at End User‘s location for up to ten (10) students. The Contractor shall provide all training materials.
11-meter Navy Special Warfare Rigid Inflatable Boat. (Picture source USMI Boats)
The 11-meter Naval Special Warfare Rigid Inflatable Boats (11m NSW RIBs) are constructed of composites with an inflatable tube gunwale made of reinforced fabric. They can operate in heavy seas and winds of 45 knots. The 11m NSW RIB carries a crew of three and a SEAL element (eight passengers) in its Naval Special Warfare role and is used increasingly by Naval Expeditionary Warfare in a marine interdiction/visit board search and seizure (VBSS) role, organic to LPD 17-class ships, with a Navy crew of three and a Marine Corps boarding team. The Navy VBSS variant includes a lifting bail for launch and retrieval from LPD 17-class ships.
There was a bit of a surprise in report,
This contract combines purchases for the Coast Guard (23%) (Emphasis applied–Chuck) and foreign governments as assigned by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency in accordance with Building Partnership Capacity and Foreign Military Sales programs.
I am just guessing, but 23% of 35 boats would be eight. I might also point out that the Bertholf class National Security Cutters can launch 11 meter boats from their stern ramps. They could probably carry two.
Of course this does not mean SEAL teams will be operating from Coast Guard Cutters. We should not assume that. Its a boat, probably a good boat.
These could also be going to security teams
33-foot special purpose craft-law enforcement (SPC-LE) small boat crew from Coast Guard Station Key West, Fla., pulls alongside CGC Eagle in Atlantic April 13,2012.Several types of SPCs.SPC-LE ideal platform to interdict drug smugglers’ go-fast boats can plane in under 3seconds top speed 60mph+.Enclosed heated air-conditioned cabin has shock mitigating seats, reducing fatigue, capable of operating more than 30 miles from shore. U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Brandyn Hill
Defence Blog reports that the Navy will be buying some boats for the Coast Guard, as well as boats for Naval Special Warfare Command. The boats for the Coast Guard are of a type already in the Coast Guard inventory. They are typed, “Coast Guard (USCG) Special Purpose Craft – Law Enforcement II (SPC-LE II).”
I presume that since the Navy is paying for these, they will be used by the two Maritime Force Protection Units that escort Ballistic Missile submarines (SSBNs) during surface transit to and from bases in Kings Bay and Bangor.
The boats are described by the Acquisitions Directorate (CG-9) as follows:
A new, high-speed boat to interdict smugglers’ “go-fast” craft, the SPCLE is derived from the proven U.S. Department of Homeland Security 33-foot Defender-class boats. The SPCLE features three Mercury Verado 275hp outboard motors, a zero to plane time under three seconds, and a top speed of more than 60 miles per hour. The fully enclosed heated and air conditioned cabin, with as many as six shock mitigating seats, reduces crew fatigue and allows operations in heavier seas. With a forward gunner’s station and increased operational range, the 33-foot SPCLE is an ideal law enforcement platform.
Characteristics
Length: 35.4 feet
Beam: 10 feet
Draft: 30 inches
Displacement: 11,960 pounds
Maximum Speed: 60+ knots
Range: 250 nautical miles
Crew: six
The report talks about 110 boats total but does not provide a breakdown to indicate how many will be going to the Coast Guard. It is possible this will be a replacement for the boats described above, similar but perhaps not identical. The will be powered by three outboards. There is a listing here that provides information on how they will be outfitted.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Dale Veverka, a boatswains mate, Seaman George Degener, and Petty Officer 2nd Class Joshua Post, a machinery technician, conduct maneuvers on the Coast Guard Cutter Northland’s “over-the-horizon” small boat during transit to Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, April 9, 2008. UNITAS exercise, a multinational naval exercise the helps tests the interoperability of U.S. and foreign naval forces. U.S. Coast Guard photo by PA2 Nathan Henise.
The Acquisitions Directorate made a presentation at the 2019 International WorkBoat Show Dec. 6, 2019, discussing future acquisitions.
The 19 slides that accompanied the presentation provide a good overview of the Coast Guard’s current and planned future fleet of small boats, in addition to covering contracting procedures and considerations. They also offer expectations for the fifth generation Over the Horizon boat, the new trailable navigation boat, and the third generation Long Range Interceptor.
It appears the Coast Guard may not be entirely happy with the existing solutions to the interface between cutter boats and the “notch” in the stern of cutters. The 17th slide (labeled 16 in the lower right corner) is titled “Discussion Topics.” It appears the Coast Guard is seeking improvements including “Decrease failures from notch-impact” and “Notch-Friendly Propulsion, Alternatives to waterjets.”
US Capital West Side, by Martin Falbisoner
With a bit of help from a friend, the actual FY2019 budget documents were located: “The Joint Explanation” and “The Conference Report.”
I found the Joint Explanation easiest to wade through. The Budget breakdown is found on pages 65 to 69 of the 612 page pdf.
Note in some cases I have rounded to the nearest $0.1M
Our total Coast Guard FY2019 budget is $12,015,921,000. This is $91,803,000 less than last year, but $577,720,000 more than the budget request.
The Operations and Support allocation is $7,808.2M. That is $434.9M more than last year (a 5.6% increase), and $215.1M more than requested.
I have provided information on the PC&I budget below including a complete list of line items that I was unable to provide before.
PROCUREMENT, CONSTRUCTION, AND IMPROVEMENTS (PC&I) $2,248.26M
Vessels and Boats
—-Vessels Subtotal: $1,581.35M
Aircraft
—Aircraft Subtotal: $356M
Other Acquisition Programs:
—Other Acquisitions Programs Subtotal: $56M
Shore Facilities and Aids to Navigation:
—Shore Facilities and Aids to Navigation Subtotal: $254.91M
The PC&I total, $2,248.26M, was $446.48M less than FY2018, but it was $361.51M above the budget request.
—
R&D was cut by almost a third. This is probably a place to spend more not less.
Reserve Training disappeared as a separate line item, so I can’t tell what happened there.
Also included in the new budget is $5M for the National Coast Guard Museum
Incidentally, the total amount appropriated for the polar security program includes $359.6M (FY2018 and prior) + $675M (FY2019), or $1,034.6M, of which $20M is for Long Lead Time Material for the second ship, and the remainder is for the first ship and other program-related expenses.
With Operations and Support up more than 5% over 2018 and Procurement Construction &Improvement (PC&I) over $2B for the second year in a row, this is the kind of budget we can live with. It just needs to keep happening.
Marine Link has an excellent overview of the increasingly useful Nationwide Automated Identification System (NAIS) and the R&D Center’s role in its development.
As for the Coast Guard’s own use of the system, we have this press release from FLIR.
WILSONVILLE, Ore., October 16, 2018 – FLIR Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: FLIR) announced today that it has been awarded a contract from the United States (U.S.) Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in support of the U.S. Coast Guard’s (USCG) Second Generation Automatic Identification System (AIS-2) program. The indefinite delivery indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract has a ceiling value of $9.9 million to provide second generation Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders, associated peripherals, and spare parts for nearly 1,774 boats and 282 cutters in the USCG’s active fleet.
The government anticipates the purchase of vessel class-specific kits and spare parts to equip all USCG vessels with AIS-2 over the next five years.
“We are pleased to provide AIS hardware and software technology to support the US Coast Guard’s mission,” said Jim Cannon, President and CEO at FLIR. “Our technology will provide enhanced levels of secure communication and coordination between Coast Guard boats, cutters, and shore stations (emphasis applied–Chuck). This award further extends our technology partnership with the Coast Guard, providing next-generation communication capabilities to complement their Raymarine SINS-2 navigation systems.”
I was a little surprised to see reference to secure communications in conjunction with AIS because I don’t associate those two things, but it is apparent we are finding new uses for the system, including as a blue force locator.
It looks like we will be putting these systems on even our smallest boats. Ran across a study that may provide an indication (Note this is apparently a Russian URL) of where we are going with this.
The following is a quoted from the Acquisitions Directorate (CG-9) web site. The boats referred to here do not seem to be the same as the Over the Horizon Boats currently being used on Bertholf class NSCs and Webber class FRCs discussed on the linked page. An earlier release available here outlines the Request for Proposal, indicating an intent to replace an existing fleet of 36 boats, with total procurement of up to 46 boats over the next five years.
The Coast Guard awarded a firm-fixed price indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract Aug. 30, to MetalCraft Marine U.S. Incorporated of Cape Vincent, New York, for a fleet of cutter boats-large (CB-L).
The contract has a maximum value of $20 million and allows for the acquisition of more boats over an ordering period of five years. The initial delivery order for two CB-Ls, trailers, delivery, training and associated logistics documentation was placed for approximately $590,000.
The CB-L will replace the current fleet of 24-foot cutter boats in service onboard 210-foot medium endurance cutters, 225-foot seagoing buoy tenders, and Coast Guard Cutters Alex Haley and Mackinaw. The boats will support operations on the East, West, and Gulf Coasts, as well as in Hawaii, Guam and Alaska.
“We are very excited about getting this asset out to the fleet,” said Cmdr. David Obermeier, deputy program manager for boats acquisition. “A single boat class for multiple cutter classes will provide enhanced operational flexibility.”
For more information: Cutter Boats program page
Above is the video of the Senate Subcommittee hearing for which I provided the Commandant’s prepared remarks earlier.
Participating Senators I noted were:
You can also check out the original post from the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (Same video is available there, but the meeting does not actually start on that version of the video until minute 36.) There you can also find the written statements of the other three witness who constituted the second panel. The Commandant was the sole witness on the first panel.
This was something of a love fest for the Coast Guard with repeated praise for the people and actions of the Coast Guard.
This hearing was reputedly about how the Coast Guard had been impacted by the unusually severe Hurricane season. There is not a lot new here but there were some interesting remarks.
Polar Icebreaker Contracts
The intention is to Contract for the first Icebreaker and then employ block buy for the next two (28m). To me this seems to negate most of the advantage of a block buy. I don’t believe we will or should buy one and then wait until we have tried it out before contracting for the next two. That would necessitate a delay of at least five years during which we would still have the nightmare scenario of our only heavy icebreaker having no rescue if it should break down in the ice–certainly not an impossibility even with a new ship. If we are going to contract for the remaining two before testing the first, we might as well block buy all three.
First of class is always the most expensive. If the shipyard gets a block buy they know that initial improvements in productivity can be amortized over the entire block buy quantity. In some cases, in order to win the whole project, the shipyard will cut the price of the first ship substantially knowing they will make a profit over the entire project.
If we buy one and then block buy the second and third, we have paid for improvements to the winning yard with the first contract and minimized the chances for a competitive bid for numbers two and three.
Legislation has capped DOD participation in icebreaker procurement, so the bulk of icebreaker procurement costs will come out of the Coast Guard budget.
Authorization
There was a lot of discussion about the need to have the Coast Guard Authorization Bill signed into law, still not approved. You can see it here.
Other topics
There was a discussion of the high cost of the Coast Guard response to the recent series of Hurricanes.
Representative Sullivan spent a lot of time, discussing and advocating for an eleven mile road from King Cove (population estimate–989) to Cold Bay, Alaska (population estimate–122) which has an all-weather airport with two runways, one 10,180 feet and one 6285 feet in length. The Coast Guard connection is that the road would minimize or eliminate the necessity for the Coast Guard to Medivac emergencies from King Cove by helicopter, which is frequently hazardous. It is a Federal issue, because the road would run through a Federal reserve. The Commandant fully supported the desirability of completing the proposed single lane gravel road as a means of minimizing the requirement for helicopter medivac.
Video Breakdown
28m Domestic icebreakers–Design work on new domestic icebreakers is expected to start in 2030. That sounds a bit late to me. Mackinaw was commissioned in 2006 so if that is what he is really talking about, that makes sense, but the 140 foot icebreaking tugs are a different story. The first for of these will be 51 years old in 2030. More than half of them have already completed in-service which was expected to add 15 years to their service life. Morro Bay, at least, is expected to reach the end of her service life in 2030, and considering how long it takes us to build a ship we really need to start the process not later than 2025.
45m Western Pacific Fisheries Protection–They have not seen much risk of Illegal, Unregulated, or Unreported fishing.
51m Inland River Tenders
56m We may need to replace the 52 ft MLBs with something larger than the 47 foot MLB sometime in the future, but their end of life is not yet apparent
58m Coast Guard Museum in New London
60m Sexual Assault in the CG
1h02m Puerto Rico/Virgin Islands continuing commitment and its effects on drug seizures and alien migrant interdiction.
1h05m Vessel homeporting
1h08 CG center of expertise, particularly in regard to clean up spills in ice and fresh water
1h16m Army Corp of Engineers dredging backlog.
1h17m Second Panel begins.
1h19m Medivac from King Cove
1h31m Mr Smithson regarding Deepwater Horizon experience, unified approach, investment in mitigation.
“The US Coast Guard has entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with British diesel engine innovator, Cox Powertrain. The CRADA will evaluate and test the advantages, disadvantages, required technology enhancements, performance, costs and other issues associated with diesel outboard engine technology.–“There a been a big swell of interest in diesel outboards since NATO introduced its single fuel policy, with the military and naval forces of member countries keen to phase out petrol-fuelled outboards in favour of cleaner diesel alternatives.”
Chuck Hill's CG Blog 