“Storm causes damage at beloved Portland Head Light in Maine” –WCVB5, Boston

Posted on December 23, 2022 by Chuck Hill

The Wave -“After reviewing my images, I determined that I captured the wave that took out the door and window at Portland Head Lighthouse. I’m not happy about it, but I am in awe of the power of nature. I believe this is a historic capture.”
#mewx #maine #winterstorm #elliott
12:00 PM · Dec 23, 2022 Benjamin Williamson @photographmaine

A Boston television station reports damage to Portland Head Light in Portland, Maine. I pulled the photo above off Facebook earlier today.

I have a personal attachment to the light, since I sailed out of Portland for two years as XO of cutter Duane. The light was always first sight of home and visited the light several times.

Fortunately, it all looks repairable.

Thanks to Paul for bringing the TV report to my attention.

Damen 5009 for Falklands Fisheries Protection

Posted on December 23, 2022 by Chuck Hill

New Fishery Patrol Vessel (FPV) for the Falkland Islands provided under a 15-year contract by Seagull Maritime Ltd to begin patrols next year.@damen

There is not a lot here, just a bit on Twitter and a photo you can click on at the bottom of the page here. I have quoted the Twitter below.

Navy Lookout@NavyLookout

New Fishery Patrol Vessel (FPV) for the Falkland Islands provided under a 15-year contract by Seagull Maritime Ltd to begin patrols next year.

@damen

Stan 5009 Axe-Bow vessel built in Vietnam. To be named ‘Lilibet’ in honour of the late Queen.

The Brits do things differently. They have different fisheries protection agencies in different areas and in some cases, it is done by the Royal Navy. A Royal Navy River Class Batch II Offshore Patrol Vessel, HMS Forth, also patrols the Falklands, South Georgia, and South Sandwich Islands.

The Damen Stan Patrol 5009 basically replaced their Stan Patrol 4708 that was the basis of the Webber class WPCs in their product portfolio. (The number represents nominal length and beam in meters.) The 5009 is 50.1 meters in length and 9.4 meters of beam, so slightly larger than the Webber class. (More info here.)

Weather around the Falklands is not unlike that on Alaska Patrol, typically nasty. The “axe bow” would reduce pitch, but the bow might tend to be wetter.

We saw this class in an earlier post that may give some insight into how these little ships might be equipped.

“Of a titan, winds and power: Transnational development of the icebreaker, 1890-1954” –Sage Journals

Posted on December 23, 2022 by Chuck Hill

A concept drawing of the development and angle of the icebreaker bow.
Source: KA, HR, 21. The drawing dates from the 1940s during the design of icebreaker Voima. It was digitized, digitally rearranged and enhanced by Aaro Sahari.

The International Journal of Maritime History has a scholarly explanation of the evolution of icebreaker design. There is also an accompanying podcast from CIMSEC, if you prefer that format, but you would miss a lot.

“China Accused of Building on Unoccupied Reefs in South China Sea” –gCaptain

Posted on December 21, 2022 by Chuck Hill

Satellite images obtained by Bloomberg News depict physical changes to a layered land feature at Sandy Cay between 2009 and 2021. Credit: Bloomberg

gCaptain reports,

China is building up several unoccupied land features in the South China Sea, according to Western officials, which they said was part of Beijing’s long-running effort to strengthen claims to disputed territory and potentially bolster its military presence in a region critical to global trade.

Apparently, China is not satisfied with the military outposts they have created in the South China Sea and are in the process of creating more. These actions may be taken by the Chinese both in support their systematic theft of EEZ resources from other nations and as support for a future blockade of Taiwan.

Certainly, these will be upgraded to military installations just as has been done with other artificial islands.

The nations whose EEZs are being violated by these activities have an opportunity to put a stop to it, while they are being done by fishing vessels, before there is a Chinese military presence, if they act quickly and aggressively to stop this illegal activity.

“Sea Machines and USCG partner on computer vision domain awareness” –Marine Link

Posted on December 20, 2022 by Chuck Hill

Photo from Sea Machines website, https://sea-machines.com/ai-ris/

Marine Link reports that a 270 foot WMEC has been fitted with an artificial intelligence recognition and identification system (AI-ris) computer vision product by Sea Machines.

“AI-ris uses artificial intelligence to identify and track visual targets of interest. Installation on the cutter was made possible under an ongoing Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) between Sea Machines Robotics and the USCG Research and Development Center in an effort to evaluate how computer vision systems can be utilized for autonomous navigation, collision avoidance, and target detection. The deployment of AI-ris provides the USCG a new tool for maritime domain awareness and allows Sea Machines to refine its computer vision technology with feedback from the USCG across a range of environmental conditions and operational scenarios.”

No idea why the report did not name the cutter that got the system. Even the photo that accompanied the report has no hull number.

Sea Machines and the Coast Guard Research and Development Center (RDC) do have some history, having used their SM300 Autonomous Command & Control system.

“USCGC Hamilton to return home following historic transatlantic deployment to Baltic Sea” –LANTAREA

Posted on December 20, 2022 by Chuck Hill

USCGC Hamilton and Ukraine CG during a previous European deployment, May, 2021

Below is an Atlantic Area news release reporting a very non-traditional deployment, but it is not the first time Hamilton has been deployed in support of 6th Fleet.

If you click on each of the photos below, each will allow you to see other photos from the deployment. Altogether, there are 26 photos.

Media Advisory

U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area

USCGC Hamilton to return home following historic transatlantic deployment to Baltic Sea

Editors’ Note: To view more or download high-resolution imagery, click on the photos above.

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. — The crew of the USCGC Hamilton (WMSL 753) is scheduled to return to their homeport in North Charleston Wednesday following a 94-day deployment in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe – Africa area of operations in support of U.S. Sixth Fleet.

WHO: Capt. Matthew Brown, commanding officer of Hamilton, and members of the crew

WHAT: Hamilton’s commanding officer and crew members will be available for interviews with interested media after they return home following 94-day Baltic Sea deployment in support of U.S. Sixth Fleet

WHEN: 2 p.m. Wednesday

WHERE: Federal Law Enforcement Center, 2000 Bainbridge Ave., North Charleston, South Carolina, 29405

Editors’ Note: Interested media are requested to RSVP by emailing a list of members’ names to ensure base access at D05-SMB-LANT-092P@uscg.mil or call PA2 Brandon Hillard at (757)-614-9755 no later than 2 p.m. Tuesday. Credentialed media are asked to arrive no later than 1 p.m. Wednesday with a driver’s license and proof of insurance in order to be processed through security.

While deployed, Hamilton conducted at-sea exchanges with naval, coast guard and border guard forces of multiple Baltic Sea Allies and partners, including Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Each engagement was oriented to support either traditional Coast Guard missions, or in combination with defense readiness exercises, used to enhance interoperability between the U.S. and NATO partners.

Hamilton’s deployment demonstrated the strategic value of conducing meaningful at-sea engagements, subject matter exchanges and port visits with Allies and partners in the high northern latitudes and Baltic Sea region. The U.S. maritime services regularly operate with partner nations to cultivate a cohesive force to maintain freedom of the seas, ensure free economic exchange and maintain maritime security.

Hamilton is a 418-foot, Legend-class national security cutter. With its robust command, control, communication, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance equipment, the NSC is the most technologically advanced ship in the Coast Guard’s fleet. NSCs are a worldwide deployable asset that supports the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense and national objectives to include drug interdiction, migrant interdiction, national defense, search and rescue, fisheries enforcement and national intelligence collection.

“Indian Navy inducts new containerized missile systems” –Navy Recognition

Posted on December 19, 2022 by Chuck Hill

“Artist rendering of containerized missile system for the Indian Navy. (Picture source: Defence Decode)” Note this same illustration was used to portray a Russian system and later a Chinese system.

NavyRecognition reports,

“According to information published by the Indian MoD on December 17, 2022, containerised missile systems are being inducted by the Indian Navy to enhance operational capability and augment flexibility in operations.”

We have seen reports of similar containerized weapon systems before from China and Russia. We have seen artist concepts (and here) of containerized missile systems on Russia’s new Navy and Coast Guard icebreaker class (below), but we have not actually seen them mounted.

Project 23550, Ivan Papanin class icebreaking patrol vessel with towing capability and containerized cruise missiles.

This is the first time I have actually seen a Navy actually state explicitly that such a system was being procured.

Why should this be of interest to the Coast Guard?

Terrorist might use a similar system.
We have to worry that in the opening round of a near peer conflict, cruise missiles might be launched from apparently innocent looking container ships.
Containerized weapon systems might be a way to quickly improve the weapons capability of Coast Guard cutters should the need arise.

India has already demonstrated a willingness to mount missiles on their offshore patrol vessels, although it was essentially only a test.

Dhanush missile launching from INS Subhadra patrol vessel
(Picture: DRDO)

A Dhanush missile launching from a ship.

Some Posts of Interest

Posted on December 18, 2022 by Chuck Hill

Bell’s V-280 prototype

There have been some posts that may be of interest published recently that I will point to below, with only brief comments.

“The New Coast Guard Funding Bill Is Really Good For The USCG” –Forbes There is a lot here, but you should recognize that this is the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), not an actual budget. It is not uncommon to have items in the authorization that are not included in the corresponding budget, so we have to wait a little longer to see what is actually funded.

The Coast Guard is directed to complete a number of studies. I hope they will be completed and delivered to Congress, but they may not be and if they are, we may never know. I have been told, a lot of reports get delivered late, because there is little penalty, and the committees don’t need to inform anyone else of whether they have received a report they requested.

“Some Fun Coast Guard Reads In Forbes” –Next Navy: This talks about the post above and a second post that suggests that the Coast Guard replace the C-27 with the Army’s recently selected V-280. I think the production version of the V-280 has a good chance of finding a place in the Coast Guard. Ultimately it might even replace all our land-based helicopters and all the fixed wing aircraft except the C-130, but that is many years in the future. It’s premature to consider replacing the C-27. (Thanks to Walter for bringing this to my attention.)

“Expand Seattle Coast Guard base without impacting working waterfront”: The local longshoremen’s union takes issue with the three proposals for expansion of Base Seattle. (Thanks to Mike for bringing this to my attention.)

“MOAA Interview: Coast Guard Commandant Charts the Path Forward” Admiral Zukunft emphasized the Cutter recapitalization. Admiral Schultz spent a lot of time talking about shoreside infrastructure. Admiral Fagan’s emphasis is on personnel issues, e.g., recruiting, incentives for afloat billets, afloat billets for women, and women the Coast Guard in general. There is also a nod to the Arctic.

“Document: Office of Naval Intelligence’s Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy, Coast Guard, Ship Identification Guide” –USNI

Posted on December 16, 2022 by Chuck Hill

The US Naval Institute’s News Service reports the availability of a new document, “Office of Naval Intelligence’s Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy, Coast Guard. and Government Maritime Forces 2022-2023 Recognition and Identification Guide.

You cannot actually read much of it on the USNI site, but you can download a copy here. You’ll need to expand it to read much of the information.

From a Coast Guard perspective, there are a couple things to note.

First is the sheer number of China Coast Guard cutters. China’s internationally recognized EEZ is less than 8.5% that of the US. Even if their expansive unrecognized claims were included, their total EEZ would be less than 20% that of the US. But according to the guide, they have over 200 cutters of 60 meters (197 feet) in length or greater (225 by my quick count). The US Coast Guard by comparison has 57: 37 patrol cutters, three icebreakers, 16 buoy tenders, and the barque Eagle.

Second, China has other agencies that apparently do coast guard work, that also have their own ships including the Sansha City Patrol, China, and the Maritime Safety Agency which, alone, has over 40 ships 60 meters or greater in length.

“Video of USNS Comfort Utility Boat Accident Involving 19 Personnel off Haiti – December 12, 2022” –What’s Going On With Shipping?

Posted on December 15, 2022 by Chuck Hill

The Coast Guard had only a minor role in this incident, but it does concern deck seamanship.

It also seems, the Navy is not holding itself to Coast Guard established industry standards and consequently may be putting the passengers, staff, and crew in unnecessary danger.

The commentator on the video is well qualified so his comments should be taken seriously.

This class is now very old. It is probably time for it to be replaced with ships that are better thought out.