There has been a recent demonstration of a new harbor surveillance system that claims to pick up both surface and subsurface targets using fiber-optics. This has possible implications both for the Coast Guard’s own Maritime Domain Awareness program and for the Navy’s Mobile Inshore Underwater Warfare (MIUW) units that the Coast Guard frequently works with.
Wonder if it might also work as a tripwire to detect North bound drug subs?
The Philippines is looking at acquiring a second 378 and apparently expects to receive a third in 2013. They are also talking about fitting some of their ships with missiles, although the type is still not clear.
110727-N-WP746-089 Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (July 27, 2011) – The Philippine Navy’s newest ship, BRP Gregorio del Pilar (PF-15), arrives at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam during a scheduled port visit. The ship, a former U.S. Coast Guard cutter, is on its maiden voyage to the Republic of the Philippines to join the Philippine Navy Fleet. As a multi-mission surface combatant ship, Gregorio del Pilar becomes the first gas-turbine jet engine-powered vessel in the Philippine Navy fleet. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Mark Logico/Released)
“The third Hamilton-class cutter is projected to be acquired by the Philippine Navy in 2013.
“Pama (Vice Adm. Alexander Pama, Navy Flag Officer-in-Command (FOIC)) also revealed that they are now preparing to acquire some missile technology. The Philippine military is the only one in Southeast Asia that still does not have missiles. “It’s in the drawing board. I can’t say when but if things turn out as planned, it will be more sooner than later,” he told ABS-CBN News.
“Despite recent irritants over the Spratly Island dispute, Pama said he was convinced that competing countries were committed to a peaceful resolution of their overlapping claims. “I wouldn’t say it’s getting more dangerous; there are just issues and challenges confronting everybody. I can say the neighborhood has states that are responsible enough. No nation, at least within ASEAN, is out there to make trouble.”
Perhaps significantly china is not a member of ASEAN.
There is growing realization in Congress that something needs to be done to provide additional presence in the American Arctic. Unfortunately this realization coincides with strong pressure to cut spending and the need to begin replacing the entire Medium Endurance Cutter (WMEC) fleet with the Offshore Patrol Cutters (OPC).
The Navy Times reports (“CG must balance cuts with Arctic Mission”) while there is increasing presure to bring a second icebreaker on line, “The Senate’s Coast Guard authorization bill, S 1665, requires the service to operate at least two heavy polar icebreakers at any one times..” and the Coast Guard recognizes a need for more capability, ” The Coast Guard estimates it will need at least three heavy and three medium icebreakers to meet minimum mission requirements as the polar ice cap melts.” There is also a belief that, “…we also have to respond to demand from the administration and the public to cut spending.”
Apparently in response to budget uncertainties, and in an effort to bolster the Coast Guard’s support, on Oct 12 the Coast Guard briefed the media on recapitalization efforts. MarineLink.com reports, “The briefing…revealed little in terms of new developments but at the same time, underscored the increasing concerns amongst Coast Guard senior leaders that budget woes may soon force a scaling back of one or more aspects of their ambitious, multi-billion dollar recapitalization plans.”
“He (Adm. Papp) conceded that this might involve reducing operational capabilities of these new hulls if the funding wasn’t there…the availability of funding may eventually force DHS to sacrifice requirements by changing the fleet mix, sacrificing operational capabilities, or both.”
Reporting on apparently the same meeting fiercehomelandsecurity.com said, “The Coast Guard is looking for ways to reduce the cost of its Offshore Patrol Cutter procurement, even considering the possibility of trading OPCs for increased capability elsewhere, Coast Guard officials said during an Oct. 12 press availability.”
“The service already has taken steps to contain OPC cost, Atkins said (Rear Adm. Vincent Atkins, assistant commandant for capability). Apart from the hull specification, ‘everything else is on the table,’ he said.”
“For example, OPCs will not have a stern ramp for launching small boats. ‘It would have added a lot of length to the ship that would otherwise be used for something else and make it larger and more expensive,’ Atkins said.”
Adm. Papp estimates that the Coast Guard actually needs $2.5B annually in Acquisition, Construction, and Improvements funding, but it appears the FY 2012 appropriations will be about $1.4B.
Related:
Second Line of Defense has published an excellent interview with Vice Admiral Parker, Atlantic Area Commander.
They also had an earlier interview with Vice Admiral Brown, Pacific Area Commander. This post also contains links to several significant Coast Guard related posts.
Some interesting info about Chinese interest in the polar regions from the Voice of America.
The Weather Channel will premiere, their series, “Coast Guard Alaska” on November 9. The web site for the show, including an trailer is here.
New Zealand is contending with what, for them, is their worst ecological disaster ever, as a result of a container ship running aground on the East Coast of their North Island in the vicinity of some of the vacation beaches. gCaptain updates the story:
Much of the damage has been done. At least 350 tons of oil has already leaked from the boat and 88 containers which have fallen off the ship are now washing ashore.
An earlier report expressed concern regarding, “four containers of ferrosilicon, a solid matter that can give off hydrogen and cause a fire risk if it comes into contact with water.”
There is some Video here, and more here.
Today is the anniversary of the founding of the US Naval Institute in 1873. Reading Naval Institute Proceedings, beginning with used copies found while still in elementary school, was what originally set me on the path to a career in the Coast Guard, so I have a real affection for the institution. I highly recommend it.
This month they have a special Homeland Security Issue. Some of the content is available on line, including,
Unfortunately some of the most relevant content is available only to members:
Apparently the fisherman of Somalia have a fear of being mistaken for pirates so the “To remedy this, Puntland officers have initiated a program to identify legitimate fishermen by issuing uniforms and ID cards.” I have some doubt about how long uniforms and ID cards will remain a credible discriminator.
There is a new website that provides some perspective on the pirates themselves written by Jay Bahadur, author of several books and articles on the subject.
The chairman of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), Spyros M. Polemis, a “trade association and employers’ organization for ship operators, representing all sectors and trades and about 80% of the world merchant fleet,” has issued a rather inflammatory press release that states that, “Governments have ceded control of the Indian Ocean to pirates and the small deployment of naval forces to the region is like putting a band-aid on a gaping wound.” He goes on to suggest a callousness on the part of Western nations rooted in racism. Eaglespeak discusses the news release in full, as well as outlining the convoy protection offered by the Japanese, South Korean, Thai, and Russian Navies.
The reality appears a bit different. In fact it looks like the pirates days of easy pickings have ended, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to make a dishonest living.
September 29th was “World Maritime Day” and Coast Guard Compass marked the day with a discussion of piracy, “World Maritime Day, Orchestrating the Response to Piracy”. Among the specifics, was a quote from Robert Gauvin, the Coast Guard’s executive director of piracy policy, “Where a year ago the Somali pirates were seeing a 55 percent success rate, in the first several months of 2011 they have seen only a 17 percent success rate.”
It appears their success rate may be going even lower. Looking at the NATO database, despite improving weather, that was expected to increase the incidence of attacks, the last successful attack in the Somali pirates’ operating area was a sailing yacht taken almost a month ago on Sept. 8. There have been ten unsuccessful attacks since then.
This report of pirate activity for the week of 29 September looks at the last week in more detail. There were six attacks in the Somali area reported, but no vessels were seized, mostly thanks to armed security teams. In another post, looking at substantially the same period, Eaglespeak looks at pirate tactics, specifically where they are positioning their assets.
In the ICS press release, Mr. Polemis states,
“I do wish to stress that, despite acknowledging their use, private armed guards do not represent a long term solution. Rather, their use actually signifies a failure on the part of the international community – and those governments with significant military forces – to ensure the security of maritime trade on which the whole world depends.”
When a company in the US puts a fence around its property, installs a security system, and hires security guards, it does not signify a failure of the police departments It is a cost of doing business. Would be nice if human nature were different, but cutting corners and leaving your crews vulnerable to save a few bucks has consequences. If there is callousness here, it might be well for ship owners to look in the mirror.
Chuck Hill's CG Blog 