Now that there are three National Security Cutters commissioned and homeported in Alameda, we will soon see the first attempts at using multiple crews to man them, the “Crew Rotation Concept.” Four crews will man three ships. Additional facilities for the fourth crew are being built on Coast Guard Island.
There is a discussion of the Navy’s current plans for doing something similar here, along with comments on their previous experience with the concept.
Photo Credit: U.S. Coast Guard photo ID: 100228-G-2129M-004, Petty Officer 3rd Class Kevin Metcalf
We have had previous posts on the concept and they always prompted a lively discussion:
- Multiple Crewing for Fast Response Cutters
- Manning Ships-Navy Acknowledges Mistake Will the Coast Guard?
- Multiple Crewing of National Security Cutters
The Navy’s reason for wanting to “swap” crews centers on a desire to avoid the dead time inherent in the long transit to their operating areas. In the Coast Guard case it is more a desire to reduce AC&I costs. Providing more op-days per hull even if the day to day operating cost per op-day are almost certain to be higher.
Chuck Hill's CG Blog 