The US Naval Institute is reporting
The Coast Guard has also sortied East Coast ships and aircraft ahead of Florence’s anticipated landfall. In the last two days, the Coast Guard has sortied four helicopters, five HC-130s and 28 cutters to avoid Florence, a Coast Guard Atlantic Area spokesman told USNI News.
In hopes I have at least one cadet (academy or OCS) in the readership, I have duplicated the following from a US Naval Institute web site.
The Challenge:
This new Contest encourages Navy, Marine, and Coast Guard midshipmen, cadets, and officer candidates (Naval Academy, NROTC, Coast Guard Academy, Kings Point and State Maritime Academies, and Officer Candidate Schools) to think and write about the challenges that face the Sea Services today and in the coming decade. Some questions to consider include: What is the right mix of forces? How can the different services partner in new ways to enhance national security? How will peer competition with China and Russia impact your Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marine? What capabilities will tomorrow’s forces require that are not yet in the force? What could the Academies learn from NROTC or OCS and vice versa? Are naval commissioning sources preparing future officers well for what lies ahead? And what lessons from the past should guide your futures?
Prior Publication: Your essay must be original and not previously published (online or in print) or being considered for publication elsewhere.
Submission Guidelines:
Selection Process: The Proceedings staff members will evaluate every essay and screen the top essays to a special Essay Selection Committee of at least six members who will include two member’s of the Naval Institute’s Editorial Board and four subject experts. All essays will be judged in the blind — i.e., the Proceedings staff members and judges will not know the authors of the essays.
Announcement of the Winners: The top three winners will be published in Proceedings magazine.
About Naval Institute Essay Contests
Essay contests have been central to the work of the Naval Institute for more than 130 years. They directly fulfill the Institute’s educational mission by encouraging writing on issues of concern to the Sea Services. They provide thought-provoking articles that spur ongoing discussion of these same issues, not only in Naval Institute media, print and digital, but also in other leading defense and national security forums.
These are the Unified Combatant Commander’s Areas of Responsibility.
It starts like this:
“Congress and the Trump administration could do far worse than double or triple the size of the U.S. Coast Guard fleet. (Let’s hear no more about drastic cutbacks.) Last month Military Times reported that the Coast Guard leadership has entered talks with the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command to send a cutter to the region to help “temper” Chinese influence while “building partner capacity” with friendly African navies and coast guards. The troubling thing about the report is the definite article the reporter deploys: the coast guard will dispatch “a” ship if the talks with IndoPaCom bear fruit. A = 1.”
The US Naval Institute blog has a small post, ‘Brandish America’s ‘Small Stick’
The author of the piece is significant. James R. Holmes , currently professor of strategy at the Naval War College, one of the most prominent naval thinkers of the 21st century. It would be hard to find a more influential voice in support of a more international role for the Coast Guard.
If we really want to do something like this, I will insert a shameless plug for my idea of a “Combined Maritime Security Task Force Pacific.”
While we are building a Webber class replacements for the 110s assigned to PATFORSWA under CENTCOM perhaps we should be building a batch to be based in Guam or Singapore for INDO-PACOM. Maybe some for SOUTHCOM and maybe AFRICOM too.
Some previous articles along these lines:
This is a damaged 29-foot response boat small from Maritime Safety and Security Team Cape Cod located on Air Station Cape Cod on Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2018. Two tactical boat crews collided during training off Falmouth, Massachusetts. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)
We have a report four members of Martime Safety and Security Team Cape Cod were injured when two 29 foot boats collided during a training exercise, Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2018. Reportedly none of the injures are life threatening.
Close up view of the damage of a 29-foot response boat small after it collided with another 29-foot response boat during training off Falmouth, Massachusetts, Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2018. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)
This is a news release, quoted in full.
Sept. 5, 2018
DHS Science & Technology Press Office: John Verrico, (202) 254-2385
USCG RDC Press Representative: Loretta Haring (202) 475-5523
DHS, Coast Guard Launch $255K ‘Ready for Rescue Challenge’ to develop new boater safety solutions
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), in collaboration with the U.S. Coast Guard Research and Development Center (RDC), launched the U.S. Coast Guard Ready for Rescue Challenge, a $255,000 prize competition that seeks boater safety solutions that will help make it easier to find people in the water.
When a person is separated from their boat or other watercraft, they can be left isolated in open waters. A life jacket or personal flotation device (PFD) keeps a person afloat while they seek safety. However, a person in the water is a small, moving target, and even in a successful rescue mission, locating the person can take hours.
“Boater safety solutions that harness new designs and technologies can improve the chance of a successful rescue,” said William N. Bryan, DHS Senior Official Performing the Duties as Under Secretary for Science and Technology. “New, innovative solutions are critical. We are proud to support our nation’s maritime first responder with this important, life-saving effort.”
This call for concepts is the first phase of an anticipated three-phase prize competition. Phase I concepts could include a new or updated life jacket or PFD, an attachment to a life jacket or PFD, or an additional device for boaters. The best concepts will be effective, affordable, and hold the potential for wide adoption by recreational boaters.
Those interested in participating in the Challenge should submit their concept by 4:59 p.m., ET, Monday, Oct. 15, 2018. The judges will evaluate the submissions and will select up to five monetary prize winners and up to five non-monetary honorable mention award winners. A total of $25,000 will be distributed evenly among each of the Phase I monetary prize winners.
“The U.S. Coast Guard is devoted to helping boaters in distress,” said Bert Macesker, RDC Executive Director. “One critical challenge is finding people in the water. Partnering with DHS S&T allows us to increase the Coast Guard’s access to innovations that make people in the water more detectable. We hope to build off of the success of our previous prize competition partnership for environmentally friendly mooring.”
In Phase II, selected participants from Phase I will participate in a “Piranha Pool” to pitch their solution and compete for a total prize pool of $120,000. This prize will assist each monetary prize winner in developing their concept into a working prototype. In Phase III, the Coast Guard will field test prototypes alongside standard Coast Guard approved safety equipment. At the conclusion of Phase III, the judging panel may award a total $110,000 in additional monetary prizes.
For more information about the Coast Guard Ready for Rescue Challenge, visit readyforrescuechallenge.com.
Thetis-class ocean patrol vessel belonging to the Royal Danish Navy. (Similar in size to the OPC.) Source: konflikty.pl, Author: Łukasz Golowanow
The September 2018 issue of the Navy League’s Magazine, Seapower, has an article about ice strengthened Patrol Vessels. The entire issue is available on line. You will find the article on page 32.
P570 Knud Rasmussen. The first of three Danish navy Knud Rasmussen-class ocean patrol crafts. Commisioned in 2008. Photo from Flemming Sørensen
The article looks at the Danish Knud Rasmussen and Thetis classes, the Norwegian Coast Guard vessel Svalbard, and the Canadian HMCS Harry DeWolf class Arctic Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS). It talks about why the ships were designed the way they were, and the features that allow them to operate successfully in the Arctic.
These are not icebreakers, they are hybrids, offshore patrol vessels adapted to work in both Arctic and ice free environments. The Danish vessels thanks to the StanFlex mission modules system can fill the role of warships, mounting ASW torpedoes or Evolved Sea Sparrow AAW Missiles.
Norwegian Coast Guard Vessel Svalbard. Photo by Marcusroos
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White Beach, Okinawa (May 20, 2006) – The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Sherman (WHEC 720) leaves the White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa pier to begin its participation in exercise Southeast Asia Cooperation Against Terrorism (SEACAT) 2006. SEACAT is a weeklong at-sea exercise designed to highlight the value of information sharing and multi-national coordination with participating navies during practical maritime interception training opportunities. USCGS Sherman is homeported in Alameda, Calif. U.S. Navy photo by Senior Chief Journalist Melinda Larson (RELEASED)
Janes is reporting that the former USCGC Sherman was handed over to the Sri Lanka Navy on 27 August in a ceremony in Honolulu.
This is the second cutter Sri Lanka has received. They still operate the former the former USCGC Courageous (WMEC-622) decommissioned 19 Sept. 2001 and inducted in the Sri Lankan Navy as P-621 SLNS Samudura 19 Feb. 2005. (Anyone know why she was decommissioned?)
They also have a couple of new 2,200 ton Indian built OPVs, but the former USCGC Sherman will be the largest vessel in the Sri Lanka Navy.
The Naval Institute has a post, “First Impressions of the Navy’s Test Working Uniforms,” that looks at proposed uniforms.
It made me wonder if there were comments about the Coast Guard working uniform?
Representative Duncan Duane Hunter, Official Portrait
The Tuesday indictment of Rep. Duncan Hunter on corruption charges could have an impact on a number of defense-related pet projects for the Republican lawmaker, including the potential sale of military drones to Jordan.
The indictment charges that Hunter and his wife, Margaret, who served as a campaign consultant, stole more than $250,000 in campaign funds to pay for overseas vacations, bar tabs, dental work and other personal purchases, despite objections from staff.
Hunter, a 41-year-old California Republican, has repeatedly denied the charges, and indicated Wednesday he intends to continue to run for re-election in November.
But following his indictment, House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., announced that Hunter’s committee assignments would be revoked while the criminal case is pending (emphasis applied, Chuck) — including his seat on the House Armed Services Committee.
I hate to see this happen. As chair of the House Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee, Representative Hunter has been a strong advocate for the Coast Guard. With funding for the Icebreaker in the balance it is a bad time to weaken a strong pro-Coast Guard voice.
The Acquisitions Directorate (CG-9) is reporting a major milestone in improved Maritime Domain Awareness. Here is their press release quoted in full.
The Coast Guard’s Nationwide Automatic Identification System (NAIS) achieved full operational capacity (FOC) on May 24, 2018.
Jewuan Davis, program manager for the NAIS program (CG-9332), explained that FOC was achieved when the capability had been “deployed and accepted at the 58 critical ports and 11 waterways identified in the NAIS Operational Requirements document.” Currently, permanent transceiver systems are deployed and fully operational at 134 total regional sites, providing operational coverage of the 58 critical ports and 11 waterways. On a daily basis, NAIS receives an average of over 264 million vessel messages and provides data feeds to over 80 Coast Guard and other government agency systems worldwide.
The milestone was recognized during a ceremony at Coast Guard Headquarters on July 26, 2018. In attendance were Rear Adm. Michael Ryan (CG-7), Rear Adm. Michael Johnston (CG-93) and Rear Adm. Michael Haycock (CG-9). During the ceremony, the flag officers shared real stories of how NAIS was used to enhance maritime domain awareness (MDA) across the Coast Guard.
The NAIS acquisition stemmed from the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 which directed requirements to establish a system of effective maritime domain awareness and security for every port act of 2006. MDA is defined as the effective understanding of anything associated with the maritime domain that could impact the security, safety, economy or environment. “The Coast Guard is the lead federal agency for maritime security, maritime safety, maritime mobility, national defense in U.S. coastal waters and protection of natural resources in U.S. coastal waters,” said Davis, “NAIS is critical to the Coast Guard’s ability to fulfill its responsibilities in those areas.”
NAIS enables the Coast Guard to maintain MDA by providing a comprehensive view of the nation’s waters. As a result, decision makers are better positioned to respond to safety and security risks; improve the safety of vessels and ports through collision avoidance; and strengthen national security through the detection, identification, and classification of potential threats from offshore.
The NAIS program started in 2004. Reflecting on the process 14 years later, Davis said, “A lot of detailed planning, interagency coordination, and hard work was invested into the successful completion of this milestone and full delivery of this capability to the Coast Guard’s operational users.” There are many contributors to thank for the success including the entire NAIS Program Management Office team and previous program managers and team members who put hard work and diligence into the early stages of developing NAIS. Davis extends a special thanks to the Office of Command, Control, Communications, Computer and Sensors Capabilities (CG-761); Sustainment Manager (CG-681); NAIS product line team at Command, Control, and Communications Engineering Center and all operational users for “helping us continually improve and refine the tool into the critical asset it is today.”
The next major milestone for the NAIS acquisition program will be the completion of acquisition decision event 4, acquisition gate review and transition of management responsibility for NAIS from acquisitions to the sustainment community, scheduled to occur in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2018. After that point, the sustainment community will assume responsibility for the continued maintenance of NAIS and managing technical refreshes of the capability to keep the system up to date.
For more information: Nationwide Automatic Identification System program page
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