“The Japanese government’s National Institute for Polar Research (NIPR) released four reports so far this month (July 2021) outlining Tokyo’s view that Japan should be among the countries allowed to exploit the oil and natural gas resources lying below the surface in Antarctica and to make territorial claims there once the current treaty regime expires or is modified (Nipr.ac.jp cited by Rambler, July 24). That has sparked outrage in Moscow. Russian commentaries have characterized the NIPR proposals as a threat to Russian rights in the Antarctic; as a challenge to the 1959 international accord that governs the activities of countries there; as a new move on the geopolitical chessboard intended to put pressure on Moscow to sign a peace treaty with Tokyo and return the Kurile Islands; and even as a trial balloon to test out analogous plans the United States may try to employ against Russia in the Arctic in the immediate future (Izvestia, Politros.com, iReactor, Ren.tv, July 24; Expert.ru, July 25).”
The entire article is kind of intriguing in that it discusses how the Russians seem to see the U.S. conspiring against them in the actions of our allies, but for me, this is more evidence that we will see an attempt to open Antarctica to economic exploitation well before the expiration of the current treaty system in 2048.
“The Air Force spends around $6 billion a year on systems and priorities focused on the Arctic, a number that is expected to grow as the region’s importance rises and the Department of the Air Force’s first-ever Arctic Strategy(It is a quick and easy read–Chuck) hits its one-year anniversary.”
It seems likely this will have impact on the Coast Guard in several ways.
“That number will grow as the Air Force does things such as modernizing the North Warning System of radar sites, which has been “put off for too long.”
If they are going to do construction in the Arctic, there is a good possibility they will need icebreaker support to allow access.
“Arctic nations are collectively seeing the importance of the region militarily and working together on ways to increase these indications and warnings. The U.S. and Norway, for example, are collaborating on launching new polar-orbit satellites to improve space surveillance of the region.”
That has the capability of improving our Maritime Domain Awareness for law enforcement, marine environmental protection, and SAR.
Along with increased surveillance, hopefully we will also see improved command, control, and communications facilities and improved infrastructure.
As reported in Marine Link, observer Craig Hooper sees a bust then boom cycle ahead for the shipbuilding industry.
As he frequently does, he has some kind words for the Coast Guard, lauding its success in capacity building with our partner maritime security organizations.
“… the U.S. Coast Guard embraced international collaboration. America’s underfunded and overtaxed maritime law enforcers focused on really working with partners, making significant investments in communications and coordination capabilities. Today, as more and more countries build up their maritime capabilities, those partners are getting to the point where their vessels, if cued to a target by the U.S. Coast Guard, can manage vessel interdictions on their own. The stats are impressive; the Coast Guard Commandant, Admiral Karl Schultz, suggested that, in 2020, 50-60 percent of narcotics interdictions now involve some contribution from partner nations, and that a partner nation handles the interdiction “end game” somewhere between 20-40 percent of the time. The idea, of course, is that as other countries develop their own shipbuilding capabilities, those countries would then assume responsibility for larger portions of the maritime security portfolio, freeing the United States to focus on developing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms, coordination-oriented assets and tools for heavy strike.”
There are a couple of paragraphs that the Coast Guard should really take to heart.
“Should China avoid war while continuing to employ their vast national fleet in a controlled but provocative fashion, American shipbuilders can expect rising demand for coastal defense, patrol and other presence-oriented tools necessary for maintaining positive control of America’s vast, 4.3 million square mile Exclusive Economic Zone. The Coast Guard’s 25-ship Heritage class Offshore Patrol Cutter and 64-hull Sentinel class Fast Response Cutter program offer a good start, but more investment will be needed. By and large, new patrol-oriented vessels will primarily engage grey zone intruders via small-boat boarding teams, but they may also require the longer-term flexibility to accept sensors, missiles and other tools necessary to support antisubmarine warfare or other higher-end warfighting requirements (emphasis applied–Chuck).
“As China continues to explore the Arctic, Antarctica and consider other opportunities to either seize unclaimed global real-estate or take lightly-held areas, high latitude operations will continue to grow in importance. Unless America can help like-minded partners muster sufficient numbers of battle-ready polar-ready icebreakers, logistic ships and Coast Guard vessels, the vast Antarctic continent risks becoming China’s next target for territorial expansion.”
The ability to add weapons and sensors is sensible insurance against an uncertain future, and the cautionary note about China’s designs on Antarctica is one I fully endorse.
Covert Shores ((included in my list of recommended blogs) has provided an eleven minute video explaining various types of submarines and providing examples and lists of users. Most of it is pretty basic, but there are some less common types listed. If at all interested, I think you will find it worth your time.
mlive has a nice photo essay of USCGC Alder’s voyage from their homeport, Duluth, to the Coast Guard yard in Baltimore, where the ship will go through a year long major maintenance availability before being reassigned to San Francisco. The crew will return to Duluth and ultimately take over a different WLB.
Below is another report of shore side infrastructure improvements from District 11 PA Detachment LA/LB. The ground breaking for this facility, which will support the first pair of Offshore Patrol Cutters, coming only one day after the planned ground breaking of construction of the new Air Station Ventura.
Having spent a lot of time in PACAREA, its nice to see Pacific Area, which includes about 85% of the US EEZ, getting some upgrades.
This does seem to follow the pattern seen with the homeports for the National Security Cutters. Improved shoreside facilities were included in the budgeting for the ships as they came on line.
Coast Guard to break ground on new cutter support facility at Base Los Angeles/Long Beach
WHO: Vice Adm. Michael McAllister, the Coast Guard Pacific Area commander; Rear Adm. Carola List, the Assistant Commandant for Engineering and Logistics along with other Coast Guard members
WHAT: Senior leaders from the Coast Guard are scheduled to discuss the Coast Guard’s new facility at Base Los Angeles/Long Beach in San Pedro that will house the Coast Guard’s newest offshore patrol cutters
WHEN: Wednesday at 10 a.m.
WHERE: 1001 S. Seaside Avenue, San Pedro, CA 90731
SAN PEDRO, Calif. — The Coast Guard is scheduled to break ground Wednesday on a new facility at Base Los Angeles/Long Beach in San Pedro that will be home to the service’s newest additions to its fleet.
Located at 1001 S. Seaside Avenue, the new $35 million, 11,500-square-foot Naval Engineering Department facility is scheduled to be an extension to the existing Maintenance Augmentation Team (MAT) building that will support the Coast Guard’s first two offshore patrol cutters.
The 360-foot Coast Guard Cutter Argus (WMSM 915) and Coast Guard Cutter Chase (WMSM 916) are under construction and expected to arrive in late 2022/early 2023. The offshore patrol cutters will join the four 154-foot fast response cutters – Forrest Rednour, Robert Ward, Terrell Horne and Benjamin Bottoms – and the 175-foot buoy tender, the Coast Guard Cutter George Cobb (WLM 564), currently stationed at Base LA/LB.
Once completed in October 2022, the facility will accommodate approximately 60 personnel who will provide maintenance, weapon and naval engineering support for the fast response and offshore patrol cutters. In addition to the building, a new 257-foot pier extension is scheduled to be built to make room for the Chase. Improvements are also slated for the existing Electronics Support Detachment and warehouse on the base.
With the addition of the two new offshore patrol cutters, the base will require more space and staff to support the growing fleet. Personnel at Base LA/LB nearly doubled since 2018.
The offshore patrol cutters are the newest vessels in the Coast Guard’s fleet. The state-of-the-art ships are scheduled to replace the service’s 270-foot and 210-foot medium endurance cutters, and will be used to patrol the open ocean in the most demanding maritime environments.
Below is a July 26 U.S. Coast Guard 11th District PA Detachment LA/LB news release. Information on Naval Base Ventura County here.
Coast Guard to break ground on new air station in Ventura
WHO: Vice Adm. Michael McAllister, the Coast Guard Pacific Area commander; Rear Adm. Carola List, the Coast Guard Assistant Commandant for Engineering and Logistics; Armando Gonzalez (representing Congresswoman Brownley); Sam Abutaleb (Whiting Turner Construction); and Capt. Thomas Cooper, the Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco commander; along with other Coast Guard members
WHAT: Senior leaders from the Coast Guard are scheduled to discuss the Coast Guard’s new air station in Ventura
WHEN: Tuesday at 11 a.m.
WHERE: Naval Base Ventura County
SAN PEDRO, Calif. — The Coast Guard is scheduled to break ground for a new facility Tuesday, at naval base Point Mugu for helicopter crews that have been flying out of rented space.
The $53 million Coast Guard Air Station Ventura is scheduled to include a 48,000-square-foot hangar and a 12,200-square-foot administration and berthing facility at Naval Base Ventura County in Point Mugu.
Four MH-65 Dolphin helicopters and 82 personnel are slated to be stationed at the air station when it opens for operations in August 2023. The hangar can also accommodate four MH-60 Jayhawk helicopters should additional capacity be needed in the future.
Previously, the Coast Guard operated Air Station Los Angeles out of the Los Angeles International Airport for more than five decades until it lost its lease in May 2016. The Coast Guard officially closed the air station and shifted aviation operations to a Forward Operating Base (FOB) located at Naval Base Ventura County supported by Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco. The Point Mugu FOB operates out of a leased hangar facility and leased berthing space from the Navy. Currently, 13 permanent service members and approximately 11 rotating crewmembers from San Francisco fly two MH-65 Dolphin helicopters out of Point Mugu.
Coast Guard operations are scheduled to shift from the FOB to the new facilities of Air Station Ventura upon the facility’s completion.
The air station’s area of responsibility covers 350 nautical miles and stretches from Dana Point to Morro Bay, including the Channel Islands. Missions include 24/7 emergency response, search and rescue, drug and migrant interdiction, law enforcement and marine and waterways conservation and protection.
MarineLog reports that the Offshore Marine Services Association has launched a program to monitor compliance with the Jones Act.
The Offshore Marine Services Association (OMSA) is to use a vessel that it has named the JonesAct Enforcer to gather video and photographic evidence of Jones Act violations. Evidence of violations will be submitted to authorities, made public and shared with the media.
Sounds like the result of a long history of frustration. Otherwise they probably would not be resorting to this sort of action.
Thanks to Hoffman for bringing this to my attention.
Baird Maritime reports delivery of an interesting, perhaps unique, patrol vessel. At just over 110 feet long, it combines the size and speed of the Island class with the self righting capability of a 47 foot MLB.
Natale De Grazia is powered by two MTU 16V2000 M96 main diesel engines that each produce 1,790 kW at 2,450 rpm. The engines drive a pair of Kongsberg Kamewa S71-4 steerable waterjets via ZF 5000 gearboxes to deliver a maximum speed in excess of 30 knots, or a range of more than 1,000 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 28 knots. The waterjets have also proven capable of bringing the 33-metre vessel to a complete “crash stop” within just one and a half boat lengths even from a speed of 30 knots.
A 1000 mile range may not sound like much for a vessel of this size, but that is at 28 knots. At a lower speed, range would be much greater. At 16 knots that should translate into a range of about 4,500 nautical miles.
Screenshot from ATLA Youtube channel ‘TAKUMI, Craftsmen for Defense Equipment’ video.
Japan has started marketing some of its military equipment for export. A recent video featured on Naval News includes information on their planned Offshore Patrol Vessel. The portion of the video about OPV is from time 4:00 to 4:30.
The design emphasizes automation, adaptability, modularity, and sustainability. The crew is only 30 and there is space under the flight deck for containers.
We had an earlier report on this, with a proposal by one of the shipbuilders (link in caption of the illustration below). The illustration above appears more developed. It is similar but not the same. Specifications from the earlier report included a length of 100 meters (328 feet), a 2000 ton displacement and a speed of 25+ knots. As I noted earlier, this design with it 360 degree vision bridge, integrated mast, and two boats launched from stern ramps looks very much like a larger, faster and better armed version of the the French L’Adroit, and her sisters that are being built for the Argentine Navy.
Chuck Hill's CG Blog 