The Acquisitions Directorate has released the following:

Coast Guard Releases Request For Proposal For New Cutter Boats
Jan. 24, 2018

The Coast Guard released a request for proposal (RFP) Jan. 16 for design, construction and support of a new fleet of cutter boats-large (CB-L). The CB-Ls will replace the current fleet of 36 cutter boats that currently operate aboard the Service’s 210-foot medium endurance cutters, 225-foot seagoing buoy tenders, and Coast Guard cutters Alex Haley and Mackinaw.

The Coast Guard plans to award one firm fixed-price indefinite delivery, indefinite contract that includes a minimum initial delivery order of two CB-Ls and associated outfit, parts and logistics information. The contract allows for the acquisition of up to 46 boats over five years, including potential foreign military sales, and is worth a total maximum value of $20 million. The RFP is available here.

Proposals are due March 2 at noon Eastern time, with boat delivery required within one year from the date of the delivery order.

Prior to releasing the RFP, the Coast Guard conducted extensive market research, including inviting potential offerors to make presentations on their ability to compete for the CB-L award.  “The existing boats on these four classes of cutters are no longer sustainable, since the manufacturer went out of business. The new CB-L will meet this operational need,” said Cmdr. David Obermeier, deputy program manager for boats acquisition.

For more information: Cutter Boats program page

NSC 5 James on builders trials in the Gulf of Mexico March 30, 2015.

BreakingDefense reports, 

“WASHINGTON: A Lockheed Martin engineer risked much claiming his company knew the radio system it was building for the Coast Guard didn’t work as advertised. The company settled the suit, agreeing to pay $2.2 million in fines and to fix the radios on the National Security Cutters, which should cost another $2.2 million.

“The whistleblower, Stu Rabinowitz, may not be able to work for Lockheed anymore, but he is receiving a $990,000 payment. The statement by the US Attorney’s Office in Northern California says he’s a former employee.

The defect affected the cutters ability to communicate simultaneously on more than one frequency.

For some reason this comment did not show up on the Comments list as it should have, but it really deserves more attention anyway.

This was asked in response to an earlier post, “MEDICAL DOCUMENTATION OF ASBESTOS AND LEAD EXPOSURES ON COAST GUARD CUTTERS CONSTRUCTED PRIOR TO 1991.” I hope someone can help with this.

I was able to find 2 of the ships I was stationed on which were listed in HSWLSCTD 2017-009 where can I find the ships Prior to 1988. I was on stationed on the CGC Leguare W144 a 125 ft vessel and the CGC Rockaway W377 a 311. I have asbestosis in both lungs which is terminal . I received the major exposure to asbestos on the Rockaway on the clean up crew from the fires on board. We were covered in Asbestos fiber and dust . Can you help me find the for those ships listing . Thank You, Glenn A Mushett USCG RMC RET

A boat crew from Coast Guard Station St. Petersburg, Florida, conducts training near the station on a new 29-foot response boat-small II Aug. 25, 2014. The Coast Guard placed a delivery order for 20 additional boats Jan. 12, 2018. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Seaman Meredith Manning.

CG-9 reports that a contract has been let for 20 more 29 foot Response Boat, Small II.

Coast Guard Orders 20 Response Boats

January 18, 2018

The Coast Guard placed a delivery order for 20 response boats-small II (RB-S IIs), worth approximately $8 million, with Metal Shark Aluminum Boats of Jeanerette, Louisiana, Jan. 12. The RB-S IIs will be delivered to Sector Buffalo, New York, this spring and summer.

The 29-foot RB-S IIs can reach a top speed of over 40 knots and are used for a range of missions, including search and rescue, vessel boarding team deployment and law enforcement missions, port security, drug and migrant interdiction, and environmental response operations.

This brings the total of RB-S IIs ordered to 322; 280 RB-S IIs have been delivered.

For more information: Response Boat-Small II program page

That equates to $400,000 per boat. The initial 2011 contract was for 38 boats at a cost of $13M or approximately $342,105 each. That is about a 17% increase over 9 years. That’s probably not out of line.

Federal News Radio reports on an interview with the Commandant that the Coast Guard cannot deal with more than one more month operating under a continuing resolution.

Military.Com has a post reviewing the Coast Guard’s last year, including how the CG has been viewed and funded. It is a great read. It will make you proud of the service and its leadership.

NSC 5 James on builders trials in the Gulf of Mexico March 30, 2015.

The 2017 “Hopley Yeaton Cutter Excellence and Superior Cutterman” awards have been announced. 

R 211106 DEC 17

FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-7//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS //N01650//
ALCOAST 360/17
COMDTNOTE 1650
SUBJ:  WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT – 2017 HOPLEY YEATON CUTTER EXCELLENCE AND SUPERIOR CUTTERMAN AWARDS
1. The Douglas Munro Chapter of the Surface Navy Association is honored to announce and congratulate the recipients of the 2017 Hopley Yeaton Cutter
Excellence and Superior Cutterman Awards. Each of the winners was selected from amongst a superb group of highly deserving candidates by a diverse panel of officer and enlisted Cuttermen. The winners selected for this year are:
A. Cutter Excellence Award (Large Cutter): CGC JAMES (WMSL 754)
B. Cutter Excellence Award (Small Cutter): CGC JOHN MCCORMICK (WPC 1121)
C. Superior Cutterman Award (Officer): LTJG Anna Ruth – CGC HAMILTON
D. Superior Cutterman Award (Enlisted): MK2 Jason Tribeck – CGC DILIGENCE
2. Hopley Yeaton Cutter Excellence Award (Large):
A. CGC JAMES (WMSL 754) led 22 successful drug interdictions, spearheaded hurricane relief and recovery efforts as Command Task Unit (CTU) Maria,
aggressively pursued opportunities for community involvement, and exemplified dedication to their crewmembers’ personal well-being. On their first patrol, the JAMES made an unprecedented AUF interdiction of three go-fast vessels, over 40 NM apart within a two hour window. When JIATF-S was forced to evacuate ahead of Hurricane Irma, JAMES assumed Alpha Victor (AV), taking TACON of all assets in the Eastern Pacific for a week. As AV, JAMES facilitated 61 cases through 11 partner nations, five interagency entities, 12 surface assets, and over 24 flight missions. This resulted in the interdiction of 10,881 kgs of cocaine and 747 kgs of marijuana, and set a new benchmark for WMSL capabilities.
B. Honorable Mentions for the Large Cutter Award were:
CGC ALEX HALEY
CGC CYPRESS
CGC NORTHLAND
3. Hopley Yeaton Cutter Excellence Award (Small):
A. As the first Fast Response Cutter (FRC) assigned to District 17, CGC JOHN MCCORMICK (WPC 1121) set lofty standards in crew readiness and training. This ensured JOHN MCCORMICK’s safe and timely transit of more than 6,000 NM from Key West to homeport of Ketchikan, and the crew’s rapid response to engineering and damage control casualties along the way. Upon arrival at homeport, JOHN MCCORMICK was an immediate asset to D17 where the crew conducted 77 fisheries boardings, saved 10 lives, and developed close bonds with the community.
B. Honorable Mentions for the Small Cutter Award were:
CGC BISCAYNE BAY
CGC JOSEPH TEZANOS
CGC WASHINGTON
4. Hopley Yeaton Superior Cutterman Award (Officer):
A. While serving as Combat Systems Officer aboard CGC HAMILTON, LTJG Anna Ruth led her cutter’s pursuit and boarding teams on all 19 of HAMILTON’s drug interdictions, netting over $500 million worth of cocaine in 2017. Shortly after reporting aboard, LTJG Ruth set about correcting 38 mission critical electronics casualties, ensuring the cutter’s full suite of sensors was available for its first patrol. Additionally, LTJG Ruth helped re-establish Naval Weapons Station Charleston, SC for use in ammunition onloads. LTJG Ruth served as a sought-after mentor and role-model for junior shipmates, streamlined the onboard qualification process, and promoted the afloat career path to others.
B. Honorable Mentions for the Superior Cutterman Award (Officer) were:
LCDR Amy Lockwood – CGC WAESCHE
LT Daniel Halsig – CGC CONFIDENCE
LT Paul Ledbetter – CGC SHERMAN
5. Hopley Yeaton Superior Cutterman Award (Enlisted):
A. MK2 Jason Tribeck epitomized dogged perseverance and showcased his ingenuity on numerous troubleshooting and repair efforts. MK2 Tribeck meticulously prepared DILIGENCE for AVSTAN, which earned high praise by Aviation Training Center Ship-Helo Branch throughout the inspection. His attention to detail played a critical role in his success as a government quality assurance inspector for $545K in dockside availability work. Additionally, MK2 Tribeck’s dedication and drive were on full display when he earned his Underway Engineer of the Watch (EOW) qualification, helping his shipmates through a heavy transfer season by improving the watch rotation.
B. Honorable Mentions for the Superior Cutterman Award (Enlisted) were:
MK1 Michael Hilbert – CGC HAMILTON
EM1 Shaun Ryan – CGC LIBERTY
ME1 Daniel Brooks – CGC SHERMAN
6. Awards will be presented in Washington, DC in conjunction with the January 2018 Surface Navy Association National Symposium. If a unit representative is not available to receive the Cutter Excellence Award at the symposium, the award will be sent to the winning cutter’s OPCON for presentation. The Surface Navy Association (SNA) will contact award winners to discuss and coordinate their travel and symposium arrangements. Please contact SNA at navysna@aol.com with any questions or concerns.
7. We applaud all of the deserving nominees for their phenomenal performance. There were an especially large number of nominations this year, all of which represented highly deserving candidates and made the selection of a single winner in any category especially challenging. We also thank the commanding officers and supervisors who took the time to submit high quality nominations for their deserving units and personnel, as well as ADCON units for reviewing and screening nominations.
8. RDML Michael P. Ryan, Assistant Commandant for Capability, sends.
9. Internet release authorized.

“Coast Guard Cutter John F. McCormick (WPC 1121), March 4, 2017. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Loumania Stewart”

Reuters is reporting that a collision between a loaded Iranian owned tanker and a Chinese freighter has resulted in a fire and possibly the loss of all 32 aboard the Iranian vessel. The tanker was carrying 136,000 tons of condensate, an ultra-light crude.

There was relatively minor damage to the Chinese freighter, and apparently no serious injuries. .

Statistically 2017 was the best year yet for this blog. We had 215,180 views and 54,412 visits. Both represent a least modest increases over previous years. I have wondered occasionally, if I was running out of things to say, but there is always seems to be something new. Fortunately, I get a lot of help from readers who share their expertise and experience in the comments.

There were 259 posts this year, growing the total archive for this blog to 1,935 posts.

We continue to have an international readership. The US Is of course the largest with 158,165 views but, aside from the US, 15 countries had more than 1,000 views and 40 had more than 200. Aside from the US, the top 10 were the UK (8,807), Philippines, Canada, Japan, Australia, Spain, Netherlands, Ireland, Chile, and Germany (1,976). We even had a few readers from Russia (#16 with 968 views) and China (#30.Hong Kong SAR China with 294 views and #33 China with 282).

The next statistic (top posts of 2017) is a bit deceptive in that, because of the way the blog is structured, most of the time, posts are read on the homepage. The figures below are for the times a post has been accessed directly.

1. What Does It Take to Sink a Ship (March 2011)(4,086 views)
2. If They Ditch the LCS, Perhaps the OPC as Frigate (April 2017)
3. Three Nations Share German OPV Design (April 2014)
4. Administration Considers Cancelling NSC#9 (March 2017)
5. Case for the Five Inch Gun (November 2012)
6. ALaMO–Making the 57mm Round Smart (April 2016)
7. Battle of the Paracel Islands, 16 January 1974 (September 2017)
8. New 40 mm Gun (October 2016)
9. What Might Coast Guard Cutters Do in Wartime, Part 2, Coast Guard Roles (February 2012)
10. National Security Cutter as Navy Patrol Frigate (August 2010)(759 views)

I would also like to particularly thank Center for International Maritime Security (CIMSEC) “Next War Blog”, Eaglespeak, and Thinkdefence, for linking to this website and bringing more readers here.

Thanks for the interest.

I wish you all a happy New Year with just the right blend of adventure, excitement,  romance, and a sense of belonging.

Chuck