Category Archives: Operations

Narco Sub Photos and Video re Evolution of Semi-Submersibles.

Posted on by
2

More photos of the narco-sub and the “shipyard” where it was built here.

This article has a bit more information but the most interesting part is an almost 30 minute video (in Spanish with English subtitles) about development of semi-submersibles and towed submersible cargo containers. It includes comments by both the Captain commanding the Colombian Coast Guard in the Pacific and a “retired” drug smuggler. Be aware there are commercials, but I recommend it highly. (Ex-WMEC-628  Durable, transferred in 2003, is visible in many of the scenes from the Colombian base.)

A True Narco Submarine–Counter Measures?

Posted on by
16

The reports of the Ecuadorian Police and DEA finding a true submarine, that is one capable of submerging, about 100 feet long, built to smuggle six to ten metric tons of Cocaine, appeared over the 4th of July weekend. If you missed the reports, they are here and here.

The existence of such a sub raises some interesting operational questions.

First of course, they are more difficult to find than even the semi-submersibles that have been used in the past, and the Coast Guard has essentially no capability to detect a fully submerged submarine.

But even if the submarine is detected, first you have to be sure it is a Narco sub and not one of the hundreds of other subs out there that belong to the over forty countries that operate subs. Then how do you stop it? How do you even signal it? Do you sink it? In international waters? You might not be able to maintain contact for very long, so it better not take too long to get a decision on use of force?

Would be very interesting to find out what the true capabilities of the sub would have been.

Time to stock up on percussion grenades?

Anti-Piracy Changes Coming to the Indian Ocean?

Posted on by
19

There have been some interesting developments in the suppression of piracy off Somalia.

China has been remarkably active, and successful, and now they are following the example of the Dutch in sending a well deck equipped amphibious warfare ship (an LPD, in fact the largest surface combatant in their Navy), along with a strong aviation contingent as part of their seventh deployment to the area. In the well deck of the LPD are two boats that look to be comparable in capability to our Long Range Interceptors.

The Dutch are sending a submarine that is recognized as being especially adept at intelligence gathering.

The US is sending a Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) that has been specially trained to deal with pirates.

Canadian Icebreaker/Offshore Patrol Vessel Procurement

Posted on by
25

The Canadians are currently contemplating new ship procurements that include icebreakers and off shore patrol vessels (OPVs) not unlike the choices facing the USCG. Here is one unofficial view.

Related posts:

Arctic Patrol Vessel

WMEC 270 to OPC

Guns for the Offshore Patrol Cutters

“Design” and Offshore Patrol Cutter Today

A Challenge to Maritime Domain Awareness

Posted on by
2

Here is an interesting article discussing how the Iranians are using shell corporations and changes of name and ownership to disguise their control of ships being used to circumvent sanctions.  This would seem to have important implications for any attempt to maintain Maritime Domain Awareness, and identify potentially hostile ships attempting to enter US ports. As we attempt to do this, let’s make sure it is more effective than the TSA’s “no fly list.”

Trust But Verify

Posted on by
7

“Trust But Verify.” It was a phrase from the Cold War, but it is still good advice. The Deepwater Horizon disaster has shown that the federal government may have put too much trust in the oil companies and certainly had little or no ability to verify. The regulators are in a position of having to depend on the organizations they are regulating for the information needed to regulate.

The regulators apparently need a lot more in house information about best practices for deepwater drilling. If the government intends to effectively regulate deep ocean drilling, it needs the ability to go there and see for themselves. They need to be able to test equipment like blowout preventers in the actual environment where they are supposed to work. They need to have responses to equipment failure prepared and tested before there is an actual failure. They need a place where whistle blowers will be heard and their honest concerns addressed.

Whether the capability is invested in Coast Guard, MMS, or some other entity, the government needs the capability to take action, independent of the oil companies. The next question would be, who pays for it? The oil companies of course. They should pay to be policed.

Memorial Service for Pt Welcome hero and survivor, BMC Patterson

Posted on by
3

The Coast Guard Compass reports a memorial service for Chief Boatswains Mate Richard Patterson on June 16.

Frequent Contributor Bill Welles has a good article recounting the incident if you would like to know a bit more.

Sounds like BMC Patterson might be a good namesake for a Webber class cutter.