Reuters is reporting that the Bertholf transited the Taiwan Strait in company with the destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur. This really should not be worth a mention. I am sure they were in international waters, but China has been getting their panties in a twist every time an American Warship passes through the Taiwan Strait. Don’t sweat it. If we were coming to do harm to China, we would bring more than a destroyer and cutter.

Norway is apparently in the middle of a potentially huge SAR case. Aljazeera reports,

The maritime rescue service on Saturday said the Viking Sky, which suffered an engine failure and has roughly 1,300 passengers and crew on board, had sent a mayday signal as it had been drifting towards land..

The ship has managed to restart one engine and is at anchor two kilometers off shore. Passengers are being hoisted by helicopter. Fishing vessels are assisting. More from the BBC here.

Below you will find a CCGD11 news release regarding the Commandant’s State of the Coast Guard speech delivered today quoted in full. It also includes a link to the text of the speech. I will make some additional observations at the end. 

Editors’ Note: Click on above image to download full-resolution photos and view the videos.

SAN PEDRO, Calif. — The Commandant of the United States Coast Guard delivered his first State of the Coast Guard address Thursday at Coast Guard Base Los Angeles-Long Beach in San Pedro.

Speaking from the largest port in the nation, Adm. Karl Schultz highlighted Coast Guard security and marine safety operations, which facilitate $4.6 trillion in annual economic activity.

Schultz also recognized the service and sacrifice of Coast Guard men and women deployed around the world ensuring global peace and prosperity, including servicemembers supporting U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and U.S. Central Command. He also honored servicemembers in San Pedro, who help ensure the safety and timely movement of vessels operating in the Ports of Los Angeles-Long Beach.

“We must make a difference today, for the Coast Guard of tomorrow,” said Schultz. “Our Coast Guard men and women are united by a shared commitment and eagerness to serve, to demonstrate skill and courage, so that America’s Coast Guard will remain Semper Paratus—Always Ready.”

Schultz also made multiple policy and acquisition announcements including:

• Increased presence in Southern California, including construction of a new air station at Ventura County Naval Station; the homeporting of the service’s first two new Offshore Patrol Cutters at Base Los Angeles-Long Beach in 2021; and four new Fast Response Cutters in Los Angeles.
• Confirmed the service was poised to release an update to its Arctic Strategic Outlook in the coming weeks.
• $675 million to fully fund the Polar Security Cutter and award the first construction contract for the cutter in the spring.
• Provided an update on Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf’s deployment to the Western Pacific in support of United States Indo-Pacific Command combating North Korea’s maritime sanctions evasion activity.
• Confirmed the service will accelerate delivery of unmanned aerial systems for National Security Cutters to enable operations that reduce violence and economic/political instability in the Western Hemisphere.

“As Congress makes tough fiscal decisions and looks at the best ways to spend the nation’s precious resources, there’s not a better return on investment in government than the United States Coast Guard,” said Schultz.

Download his full remarks at www.uscg.mil/AlwaysReady.

My Comments: 

The statement that the first two OPCs will go to Long Angeles/Long Beach is the first time I have heard this. Still don’t think I have heard where NSCs #9-11 are going.

The Commandant wants to double the rate at which we procure Scan Eagle for the  National Security Cutters and he wants to put them on OPCs as well.

He talked a lot about Port Security cyber. This is going to continue to grow.

He talked about making the service more inclusive, and a safe workplace. In this regard he referred to the Women’s retention taskforce. which is expected to report next week. He also indicated there will be an underrepresented minorities retention task force.

He reported that he was putting Coast Guard Reservists directly under vice Commandant for Operations.

These are inevitably feel good events, and watching it you could feel pride in the Coast Guard and in its people and accomplishments. I know I did. It is not good form to  complain too much about the administration or the Department or how Congress has treated the Coast Guard, but the Commandant did talk about how the Coast Guard had a backlog of deferred maintenance and a $1.7B shore infrastructure backlog, and that the operating accounts have been flatlined for the last eight years resulting in a 10% loss of purchasing power. He included a reminder in the third and forth paragraph from the end that we really need a steady budget increase. He did not say it, but that is not the case with the FY2020 budget, in fact it is smaller than the FY2019 budget. Congress could still fix that.

“To be the Coast Guard that America needs takes more than just recapitalization. It requires sufficient operating and support funding to maintain our platforms, to train and equip our crews, and to support our Coast Guardsmen and their families. We’re appreciative of the fiscal year 2019 enacted budget, which provided over $2.2 billion dollars for capital investments and ensured continued frontline operations. I am also thankful for the President’s fiscal year 2020 budget request, which will sustain our Service.

“However, to be an absolutely Ready, Relevant, and Responsive Coast Guard requires a 5% annual increase in operating and support funding. As Congress makes tough fiscal decisions and looks at the best ways to spend the Nation’s precious resources, there’s not a better return on investment in government than the United States Coast Guard.”

RFA Mounts Bay

Just wanted to highlight the fact that Drug Interdiction is an international effort with assistance from Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, the Netherlands, France, (probably some I have missed), and in this case the UK using a large ship with a crew smaller than that of 210 and an embarked Coast Guard Helo and boarding team.

Designated as T-ATS(X) by the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), the new class of vessels will be based on existing commercial towing offshore vessel designs . Gulf Island Shipyards rendering

Workboat reports on the Navy’s new towing and salvage ship. It is a brute capable of towing a nuclear powered carrier. The price is certainly right, $63.5M for a 263 foot vessel. It is on the slow side, but it might find some use in support of Coast Guard Law Enforcement operations.

“The 262.8’x59.06’x24.61′ vessel designated T-ATS, to be built at Gulf Island Shipyards, Houma, La., under a $63.5 million contract, will be based on an existing commercial offshore towing design, to replace the Navy’s current T-ATF and T-ARS 50 ships serving under the U.S. Military Sealift Command.

“The design by Gulf Island and Wärtsilä will have its main propulsion come from twin Wartsila 8L32 diesel engines, each producing 6,217 hp at 750 rpm. A pair of Wärtsilä 3700 mm (145″), controllable pitch, 4-bladed props and Wärtsilä marine gears will give the vessel a running speed of 13 knots.”

One of these might make a decent support vessel for Webber Class WPCs and Cyclone Class PCs operating in the drug transit zones.

Below you will find a CCGD11 news release quoted in its entirety. I find it significant that the address will take place in a Pacific port rather than in DC. Also note the bullet point, “Coast Guard deployments to the western Pacific Ocean in support of U.S. national security and foreign policy objectives.” It seems the Coast Guard is also “Pivoting” to the Pacific. Even the Arctic strategy and new icebreakers are PACAREA issues. Nice to see the Coast Guard recognizing the growing importance of the Pacific. As noted below, you can see the address live. (Presumably all times are Pacific Coast.) Once it shows up on YouTube I will post it here as well.

Top Coast Guard officer to outline future of service in San Pedro

Editors’ Note: Click on above image to download full-resolution version.

WHO: Adm. Karl Schultz, commandant of the United States Coast Guard

WHAT: The service chief is scheduled to give his first annual State of the Coast Guard address

WHEN: Thursday at 8:00 a.m.

WHERE: Coast Guard Base Los Angeles-Long Beach at 1001 S. Seaside Ave., San Pedro, CA 90731

HOW: Media may RSVP at (310) 781-0619 no later than Wednesday at 5 p.m. A government-issued identification and media credentials are required for access to Base Los Angeles-Long Beach. Media can access the event Wednesday at 7:30 a.m.

SAN PEDRO, Calif. — The Commandant of the United States Coast Guard will deliver his first State of the Coast Guard address Thursday at Coast Guard Base Los Angeles-Long Beach in San Pedro.

Speaking from the largest port in the nation, Adm. Karl Schultz will highlight Coast Guard security and marine safety operations, which facilitate $4.6 trillion in annual economic activity.

Adm. Schultz will also recognize the service and sacrifice of Coast Guard men and women deployed around the world ensuring global peace and prosperity, including servicemembers supporting U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and U.S. Central Command. He will also honor servicemembers in San Pedro, who help ensure the safety and timely movement of vessels operating in the Ports of Los Angeles-Long Beach.

Adm. Schultz is scheduled to make multiple policy and acquisition announcements:

• The expansion of the Coast Guard’s presence in the Los Angeles area with a new base, vessels and support personnel.
• An update to the Coast Guard’s Arctic Strategy and future Arctic operations.
• Full funding and plans to award the contract for the construction of the Coast Guard’s first Polar Security Cutter.
• Coast Guard deployments to the western Pacific Ocean in support of U.S. national security and foreign policy objectives.
• New acquisitions to enhance maritime operations combatting dangerous criminal organizations off of Central and South America. These operations reduce violence and economic/political instability driving illegal immigration toward the U.S. Southern Border.

Detailed Schedule of Events:

• 8:15 – 8:30 a.m.: Adm. Schultz will be available for media interviews
• 8:30 – 9:40 a.m.: Displays and tours of Coast Guard assets will be available. Local Coast Guard members will be available for interviews
• 9:50 – 10:45 a.m.: State of the Coast Guard address
• 10:45 – 11:15 a.m.: Demonstrations of search and rescue and non-compliant vessel/use-of-force capabilities
• 12:45 – 2:00 p.m.: Adm. Karl Schultz invites the media to get underway on a Coast Guard cutter. Adm. Schultz will be available for additional interviews aboard the vessel.

The event will also be live streamed at https://www.uscg.mil/alwaysready/ and www.dvidshub.net/webcast/19022.

A very interesting proposal from a very interesting young man.

There are no guarantees with this sort of proposal, but the cost is low, and the potential payoffs are huge.

Note the information on the author that was included in the US Naval Institute Proceedings Article I have included below.

Cadet Evan Twarog, U.S. Coast Guard

The US Naval Institute Proceedings has an article advocating a restructuring of the ME rating, written by Commander Doug Daniels, and Master Chiefs Ed Briganti and Todd Walters, U.S. Coast Guard. Worth a look.

Below is an ALCOAST discussing Coast Guard participation in the “Sea-Air-Space (SAS) Global Maritime Exposition” March 6-8. This is an activity under the auspices of the Navy League. More event information can be found here. This is a big event and we can expect to see news of some new developments presented at the show. The exhibitor list runs to ten pages.

R 051034 MAR 19
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-092//
TO ALCOAST

UNCLAS //N05700//
ALCOAST 071/19
COMDTNOTE 5700
SUBJ: 2019 SEA-AIR-SPACE (SAS) GLOBAL MARITIME EXPOSITION
A: Military Assignments and Authorized Absences, COMDTINST M1000.8 (series)
1. The annual Sea-Air-Space (SAS) Global Maritime Exposition will be held 6-8 May 2019 at the Gaylord National Resort and Conference Center, located in National Harbor, MD. SAS was founded in 1965 as a means to bring the U.S. defense industrial base, private-sector U.S. companies and key military decision makers together for an annual innovative, educational, professional, and maritime-based event located in the heart of Washington, D.C. Sea-Air-Space is now the largest maritime exposition in the U.S. and continues as an invaluable extension of the Navy League’s mission of maritime policy, education, and sea service support.
2. In accordance with REF (A) subject to command approval, attendance is allowed for local participants at no cost to the government. Supervisors should ensure attendance aligns with an employee’s primary duties. Employees who wish to attend for personal interests may use annual leave, accrued compensatory time off or earned credit hours (if available), or leave without pay. Commands outside the National Capital Region may submit no-cost permissive orders for military members who attend.
3. A shuttle will run from Coast Guard Headquarters to the SAS and back on a regular basis throughout the three-day exposition. The shuttle schedule is available at the SAS website: www.seaairspace.org.
4. Registration information is available on the SAS website. There is no charge to attend the SAS for U.S. Coast Guard military members and civilian employees.
5. Uniform is Tropical Blue for attendees. Uniform is Service Dress Bravo for panelists,
moderators, and other presenters.
6. In conjunction with Sea-Air-Space 2019, the annual STEM Expo will be held at the Gaylord on Sunday, May 5. Anyone attending SAS is also welcome to the STEM Expo with the same caveats listed above for the main convention.
7. The COMDT (CG-0923) POC is CAPT Sean Carroll, 202-372-4562, Sean.M.Carroll@uscg.mil.
8. RDML Melissa Bert, Director, Governmental and Public Affairs, sends.
9. Internet release is authorized.

Some photos of progress on the future USCGC Argus. They are building sections inverted. The 54 foot beam (same as the National Security Cutter), seen best in the last photo, is pretty impressive compared to the WMECs they will be replacing (38 feet for the 270s and 34 for the 210s)..