Below is an Atlantic Area news release. More photos here. You will recognize the Georgian Coast Guard cutters as former USCG 110 foot Island class cutters (Jefferson Island and Staten Island). I am a bit surprised they are not better Armed. The 25mm Mk 38 was presumably removed before transfer. In its place is a 12.7 or 14.5mm machine gun. I don’t see anything else.

Wish they would stop calling this a “routine” deployment. If you haven’t done it for 13 years, its not routine. Think I would have mentioned the two Georgian cutters are former USCG.

Two additional 110s were transferred to Ukraine, maybe we will see Hamilton exercise with them as well.

News Release U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area USCGC Hamilton conducts exercises with Georgian coast guard   BLACK SEA — The Legend-class national security cutter USCGC Hamilton (WMSL 753) crew conducted a series of operational exercises with the Georgian coast guard, May 2 to 3, 2021, in the Black Sea. Hamilton crew conducted search and rescue patterns, simulated survivor rescue training, helicopter hoisting evolutions, approaches for towing, and ship communications with the crews of Georgian coast guard vessels Dioskuria (P 25) and Ochamchire (P 23). These maneuvers and operations enhanced the proficiency in specific mission areas familiar to both coast guards. “The U.S. Coast Guard, along with the U.S. Navy, work closely with the Georgian coast guard on the maritime component of our robust security and defense partnership,” said Kelly Degnan, U.S. Ambassador to Georgia. “We welcome Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton to train with their counterparts in the Georgian coast guard, engage with community leaders, and above all, reaffirm the United States’ commitment to Georgia’s territorial integrity.” The U.S. Coast Guard has been a consistent partner with European nations, strengthening and enforcing robust maritime governance. These exercises are designed to strengthen partnerships through interoperable capabilities and combined operations. We continue our substantial military training cooperation, ship visits, and joint military exercises that aim to help Georgia improve its self-defense capabilities and interoperability with allied and partner forces. “Hamilton was honored to conduct combined at-sea operations with the Georgian coast guard,” said Capt. Timothy Cronin, commanding officer of USCGC Hamilton (WMSL 753). “The U.S. Coast Guard values this partnership as we look to protect our shared interests by ensuring safe and lawful activity in the Black Sea.” The U.S. Coast Guard has a deep partnership with Georgia and the Georgian coast guard, dating back to its initial establishment in the late 1990s. Through the interagency partnership with the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of State, the U.S. Coast Guard guided and developed the Georgian coast guard into a fully operational and successful maritime force. A resilient network of alliances and partnerships is the fabric of the free and open order. We build trust and interoperability with our allies and partners through combined exercises, operations, theater security cooperation, global health engagement, foreign internal defense, and capacity-building efforts. Hamilton is the first U.S. Coast Guard cutter to visit the Black Sea since 2008. The last U.S. Coast Guard cutter to visit the Black Sea, USCGC Dallas (WHEC 716), sailed to the Black Sea twice, in 2008 and 1995. Hamilton is the fourth national security cutter and is the fifth cutter named for the father of the U.S. Coast Guard – Alexander Hamilton, the first Secretary of the Treasury and advocate for the creation of the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service. The U.S. Coast Guard remains operational during COVID-19, following all COVID-19 safety precautions and regulations. The U.S. Coast Guard is conducting a routine deployment in the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations, working alongside allies, building maritime domain awareness, and sharing best practices with partner nation navies and coast guards. U.S. Sixth Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied and interagency partners, to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.

The Acquisitions Directorate (CG-9) reports,

May 3, 2021 —

The Coast Guard waterways commerce cutter (WCC) program released a request for proposal (RFP) on April 30 for the design and construction of its new river buoy and inland construction tenders. The RFP is available here. The river buoy and inland construction tender acquisition will be a small business set-aside in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 19.5.

The RFP encompasses designing the river buoy tender and inland construction tender (designs which share 95% commonality), constructing an initial river buoy tender and inland construction tender based on those completed designs, and producing additional cutters. The deadline to submit responses to the RFP is July 30, 2021, at 10 a.m. Eastern standard time. Contract award is anticipated in early 2022.

On March 24, the DHS Acquisition Review Board approved the WCC program to proceed from the analyze/select phase to the obtain phase. This achievement was the culmination of several years of design analysis, industry engagement, operator input, scale-model testing and other analyses that provided valuable information on requirements, design and production schedules. The WCC acquisition program will replace the legacy inland tender fleet, which has an average vessel age of over 55 years. The current fleet is approaching obsolescence and many of the legacy cutters do not support mixed-gender crews due to original design constraints. The WCC program has accelerated the acquisition by approximately a year to ensure the Coast Guard continues to meet its vital missions throughout the Marine Transportation System.

The current inland tender fleet plays a critical role in the Coast Guard’s support of the national Marine Transportation System, which facilitates $5.4 trillion in commerce annually and sustains over 30 million jobs. The new WCCs will have greater endurance, speed and deck load capacity than their predecessors. The ships will also feature improved habitability and will accommodate mixed-gender crews.

For more information: Waterways Commerce Cutter program page

This is a story about an alien migrant smuggling attempt, but that they were not interdicted earlier, says something about our Maritime Domain Awareness.

Why did they get all the way to the Cabrillo National Monument at the tip of Point Loma without being interdicted?

San Diego is something of a special case in terms of Maritime Domain Awareness, in that the distance from the entrance to San Diego harbor, with its cruise ships and Major US Navy bases, where there are aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines, to the Mexican territorial sea is less than ten nautical miles.

Reportedly the law enforcement is beefing up its resources to interdict migrants, but let us not forget that terrorists can also make this trip in less than an hour, so we really need constant vigilance and a ready response.

Below is a story from the Acquisitions Directorate (CG-9) web site.

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April 29, 2021 —

The Coast Guard modified its contract with Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG) today to begin construction of the third offshore patrol cutter (OPC) and to acquire long lead-time material (LLTM) for the fourth OPC. Contract delivery of the third OPC, to be named Ingham, is scheduled to occur in 2024. Total value of this contracting action is $356.5 million.

In addition to ordering the construction and supporting deliverables for the third OPC, this contracting action also covers the initial order of long lead-time components and materials necessary to support the future construction of the fourth OPC by acquiring propeller and steering components, marine diesel engines, the ship integrated control system, switchboards and generators.

The lead and second OPCs are currently in production at ESG’s shipyard in Panama City, Florida. Contract delivery of the lead OPC, Argus, is scheduled for 2022. Contract delivery of the second OPC, Chase, is scheduled for 2023.

The OPC meets the service’s long-term need for cutters capable of deploying independently or as part of task groups and is essential to stopping smugglers at sea, interdicting undocumented migrants, rescuing mariners, enforcing fisheries laws, responding to disasters and protecting our ports. The acquisition of up to 25 OPCs will complement the capabilities of the service’s national security cutters, fast response cutters and polar security cutters as an essential element of the Department of Homeland Security’s layered maritime security strategy. In accordance with direction from the Department of Homeland Security, the Coast Guard previously modified the contract to limit ESG’s current production to a maximum of four OPCs. The service is pursuing a full and open competition for Stage 2 design and construction of up to 11 OPCs and anticipates awarding a follow-on contract in early 2022.

For more information: Offshore Patrol Cutter program page

gCaptain reports on aspects of the Coast Guard I don’t usually discuss here, but they is no denying their importance to the health of the nation’s economy. These include renewable energy sources, alternative fuels, unmanned vessels and aircraft, and cyber security.

An Academy news release. Sounds like two cruises, a long almost 11 week cruise, probably 1st and 3rd class, followed by a short cruise of less than three week for the incoming 4th class and the 2nd class.

News Release, U.S. Coast Guard Academy Coast Guard Cutter Eagle to depart New London for summer training NEW LONDON, Conn. — The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Eagle is scheduled to depart New London to begin summer training for more than 130 U.S. Coast Guard Academy cadets on Saturday, May 8. At 295 feet in length, the Eagle, known as “America’s Tall Ship,” is the largest tall ship flying the stars and stripes and the only active square-rigger in U.S. government service. “We are extremely excited to be getting back underway for a full summer training season,” said Capt. Michael Turdo, Eagle’s commanding officer. “The opportunity to sail abroad allows us to represent the Coast Guard and the United States to the public and international community.” Specific port call dates this summer are: May 25–28: Azores, Portugal June 11–16: Reykjavik, Iceland July 7–10: Hamilton, Bermuda July 23–26: New London, Conn. July 30–August 2: Newport, R.I. August 6–9: Portland, Maine August 13–14: New London, Conn. Constructed in 1936 by the Blohm and Voss Shipyard in Hamburg, Germany, and originally commissioned as the Horst Wessel by the German Navy, the Eagle was taken by the United States as a war reparation following World War II. With more than 23,500 square feet of sail and six miles of rigging, the Eagle has served as a classroom at sea to future Coast Guard officers since 1946, offering an at-sea leadership and professional development experience. A permanent crew of nine officers and 49 enlisted personnel maintain the ship and guide the trainees through an underway and in-port training schedule, dedicated to learning the skills of navigation, damage control, watchstanding, engineering and deck seamanship. To follow the Eagle’s summer cruise, visit the ship’s Facebook page here.

Below is an Atlantic Are News Release. The Cutters making this transit seem to be trying to maximize their impact.

Might want to be on their toes when they transit the Bab el Mandeb Straits at the South end of the Red Sea, near Yemen. There are people there that do not like us.

More photos here.

News Release, U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area U.S. Coast Guard visits partners in Athens, Greece   ATHENS, Greece — The Sentinel-class fast response cutters USCGC Charles Moulthrope (WPC 1141) and USCGC Robert Goldman (WPC 1142) arrived in Athens for a routine logistics visit and key leader engagements, April 29, 2021. “A common theme discussed throughout our engagements with the Hellenic Coast Guard, government, and industry leaders is the long-standing history of cooperation between the United States and Greece, particularly in the maritime sector. The exercises and exchanges between our crews and the Hellenic Coast Guard continued this tradition of partnership between both nations,” said Lt. Cmdr. Steve Hulse, commanding officer of Charles Moulthrope. This port visit marks the cutters’ third stop while conducting operations in the U.S. Sixth Fleet region en route to their new homeport of Manama, Bahrain. “It was a pleasure working alongside our Greek partners, celebrating the 200th anniversary of their independence, and gaining an understanding of the similarities in our services’ missions and responsibilities,” said Lt. Cmdr. Samuel Blase, commanding officer of Robert Goldman. The Moulthrope and Goldman Athens stop highlights the enduring partnership between the United States and Greece. It also provided exchanges between U.S. Coast Guard members and the Hellenic Coast Guard and Greek ministries before a planned underway exercise. The joint effort enhances the collective ability to respond to any number of maritime threats and challenges and builds familiarization across services. “I’m very happy to welcome the U.S. Coast Guard fast response cutters Robert Goldman and Charles Moulthrope to the port of Piraeus following their historic transatlantic voyage in support of Operation Trailblazer,” said U.S. Ambassador to Greece Geoffrey R. Pyatt. “For 200 years, the United States and Greece have stood shoulder-to-shoulder to uphold our shared democratic values and promote peace and stability in the region. Maritime ties have been at the heart of that relationship, starting with the relief ships that sailed from New England to Greece in the 1820s and continuing to the global partnership today between the U.S. Coast Guard and Greek shipping.” The U.S. Coast Guard worked with the Greek navy earlier this year in the Arabian Gulf under U.S. Naval Forces Central Command. The Greek ship HS Hydra joined cutters and patrol boats of the U.S. Coast Guard Patrol Forces Southwest Asia to operate alongside the two NATO partners. The U.S.-Greece relationship dates back more than 200 years, emphasizing democracy, partnership, and shared values. “The Coast Guard compliments efforts from the Navy and Marine Corps by providing critical security expertise in shallow water environments, specializing in law enforcement missions and techniques,” said Rear Adm. Wayne Baze, director, Maritime Headquarters, U.S. Sixth Fleet. “Moulthrope and Goldman’s operations follow the aircraft carrier USS Eisenhower’s (CVN 69) visit to Souda Bay and work with the Hellenic Navy and Air Force. This dedicated, steady partnership demonstrates our shared commitment to security and stability across the entire maritime operations spectrum.” Moulthrope and Goldman are en route to their new homeport in Bahrain to support the Navy’s U.S. Fifth Fleet and U.S. Coast Guard Patrol Forces Southwest Asia. While in the U.S. Navy’s Sixth Fleet area of responsibility, the crews will support engagements with partner countries strengthening relationships and demonstrating our continued commitment to global maritime security and stability. Moulthrope and Goldman are the first two of six Sentinel-class ships headed to U.S. Patrol Forces Southwest Asia (PATFORSWA). Established in 2002 to support Operation Iraqi Freedom, PATFORSWA played a critical role in maritime security and maritime infrastructure protection operations. It is the U.S. Coast Guard’s largest unit outside of the United States. The U.S. Coast Guard remains operational during COVID-19, following all COVID-19 safety precautions and regulations. U.S. Sixth Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied and interagency partners, to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.

Like many South East Asian countries, Taiwan is rapidly expanding its Coast Guard fleet. Naval News reports progress on their ambitious program. The same day the first of this new class of cutters was delivered, the second of the planned class of four was named and launched.

The class is nominally 4000 tons, but as is frequently the case in Asia, the displacement is understated. These ships are over 5000 tons full load and consequently larger than the Bertholf class National Security Cutters.

The use of a rocket launcher as main armament is unusual. They also have provision for mounting anti-ship cruise missiles. I have more information on these ships in an earlier post.

Forbes provides strong justification for including modernization of the Coast Guard Yard in the proposed $25B Shipyard act.

“As Navy backers in Congress introduce the “SHIPYARD” Act, legislation to fully fund a 20-year, $21 billion plan that recapitalizes the Navy’s four public shipyards, America’s fifth taxpayer-owned shipyard, the low-profile Coast Guard Yard, risks being left out in the cold, with no extra funding. Operated by the Department of Homeland Security in Maryland’s 2^nd Congressional District, the shipyard supports the U.S. Navy fleet, consistently completing high quality repair work, and, unlike the four Navy yards, the Coast Guard Yard is getting their repair projects done on time and on budget.”

I think their next major refit project will be the service life extension program for six 270s.

The CG Yard has done construction work in the past including five of the 210 foot WMECs. Would be nice to see them building Offshore Patrol Cutters in parallel with the private yard chosen for the second phase of the OPC program. We really need to build this class faster than currently planned.