CG Seeks Alternatives for FRC Construction

Posted on September 12, 2011 by Chuck Hill

Coulton Company’s Maritime Memos brought to my attention that the Coast Guard is looking at the possibility of constructing future FRCs at yards other than Bollinger. They have issued an Request For Information (RFI).

“Background: The Fast Response Cutter (FRC)/SENTINEL Class Phase I contract was awarded in September 2008 to Bollinger Shipyards Incorporated for a lead ship and up to 33 additional hulls. The U.S. Coast Guard is currently conducting market research for the FRC/SENTINEL Class re-procurement. The FRC/SENTINEL Class Phase II acquisition will complete the fleet of 58 cutters by acquiring additional hulls.

“Objective: The U.S. Coast Guard invites U.S. shipyards to participate in one-on-one meetings with the FRC Project Manager and staff (FAR 15.201(c)(4)). At this time, the U.S. Coast Guard is interested in meeting only with U.S. shipyards that have the organic capability to design and construct cutters of the FRC’s complexity as described in the U.S. Coast Guard’s 2007 Request for Proposal (RFP): (http://www.uscg.mil/acquisition/sentinel/pdf/frcbrfp.pdf).

“These meetings will be held in the Washington, DC area and are tentatively planned to begin on October 11, 2011. The U.S. Coast Guard will brief all potential offerors on the current status of the reprocurement, to include the FRC’s existing operational requirements and the potential acquisition strategies under consideration for the Phase II reprocurement.”

This could go in at least two different directions.

The Coast Guard has options with Bollinger for additional cutters up to a total of 34, but they are not contractually committed to continue exclusively with Bollinger. Since Bollinger is under contract to provide the design package for the Webber Class, the Coast Guard could invite yards to bid competitively to build additional Webber Class.

On the other hand the RFI specifically states, “…the U.S. Coast Guard is interested in meeting only with U.S. shipyards that have the organic capability to design and construct cutters of the FRC’s complexity as described in the U.S. Coast Guard’s 2007 Request for Proposal (RFP).” So it appears that they may also consider other designs that meet the original design requirements.

There is also the very slim possibility that the Coast Guard could build a high-low mix of two different designs in different yards at a rate of more than six vessels a year if it could be sold as a stimulus program.

9/11

Posted on September 11, 2011 by Chuck Hill

There have been lots of accounts of impressions from the day of the attack. My own feeling was that our enemies had made a serious miscalculation. Despite comparisons to Pearl Harbor, they had done no damage to our military potential, but this was sure going to piss us off.

The Coast Guard Compass has a whole series including a special issue of the Coast Guard Magazine and comments by both the Commandant and then Commandant James Loy.

I particularly liked this tribute to the mariners, both professional and amateur who aided in the evacuation of people from lower Manhattan.

Fish Laundering

Posted on September 10, 2011 by Chuck Hill

When you sit down to add that much need Omega-3 to your diet, do you ask where the fish came from. The US and the EU have signed an agreement that is intended to track the origin of fish brought to market in an attempt to combat a form of “piracy,” taking fish illegally form poorly protected stocks.

I suspect one of the poorly protected stocks is in the US western Pacific EEZ and the Federated States of Micronesia.

Contract for NSC#5 Awarded

Posted on September 9, 2011 by Chuck Hill

The contract for NSC#5 has been awarded.

The ship will be named for Joshua James who at age 15, began a lifetime of public service, reportedly saving over 600 lives. He joined the US Life-Saving Service at age 62, and continued in the service until his death upon completing a drill at age 75.

Turkey/Israel face-off

Posted on September 9, 2011 by Chuck Hill

Something interesting is happening between Israel and Turkey with maritime international law at the heart of the dispute. Informationdissemination has the story and additional commentary.

This goes back to the Gaza aid convoy that attempted to break an Israeli blockade, resulting in the death of nine Turks. Turkey is now threatening to escort the next attempt to break the blockade. Israel has been doing their best to make sure there is not another attempt.

Link 16 info

Posted on September 9, 2011 by Chuck Hill

Since data-linked interoperability is still an unresolved issue in the “Deepwater” program, thought there might be some interest in the Link 16 program here and an update here.

How Much Oil from the Well Blow-out?

Posted on September 9, 2011 by Chuck Hill

Lack of accurate estimates of the amounts of oil from the Deepwater Horizon blow out was a frequent criticism, so perhaps this method is good news.

Daunting Question–CG as a Foreign Policy Instument

Posted on September 7, 2011 by Chuck Hill

Cdr. Edward Westfall, former CO of Escanaba, and now at the National War College, has managed to get his head above water long enough to pose a question over at Informationdissemination.

“So now to my rhetorical question, followed by a challenge to us all:

“In the foreign policy context, How is the Coast Guard an instrument of national power?

“The challenge question to all of you who believe you have an answer to the first (including me): What can we do to better pass that word to the broader public?”

Perhaps you would like to join the discussion.

USNI Blog–CG6505 Video and CG HQ Flicker Page

Posted on September 5, 2011 by Chuck Hill

Ryan Erickson has been busy over at the Naval Institute Blog, posting both a remembrance video to CG 6505, lost this day in 2008, and linking to the flicker page for the new CG HQ construction project.

Helping Build and Maintain Narco-subs.

Posted on September 5, 2011 by Chuck Hill

Recent news, a group arrested for helping narco traffickers build their “subs” included former members of the Colombian Navy and at least one serving officer. Not really surprising that with the temptation of big money they have a few “bad apples,” but a cautionary tale.