U.S. Coast Guard

Pentagon Balancing Military Needs in the Arctic, Future Infrastructure

Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Hampton (SSN-757) during Ice Exercise (ICEX) 2016. US Navy Photo

U.S. submarines are in the Arctic to deny a bastion to Russia to attack the United States, but the probability of adding surface warships to the region in the near future as another maritime deterrent is slim, a Navy policy official said Tuesday.

Logistics is the limiting factor of operating surface ships in the Arctic, said Jeffrey Barker, deputy branch head for policy and posture on the...

https://news.usni.org/2018/12/05/pentagon-balancing-military-needs-arctic-future-infrastructure

Report to Congress U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Procurement

The following is the Oct. 26, 2018 Congressional Research Service report, Coast Guard Cutter Procurement: Background and Issues for Congress.

The Coast Guard’s acquisition program of record (POR) calls for procuring 8 National Security Cutters (NSCs), 25 Offshore Patrol Cutters (OPCs), and 58 Fast Response Cutters (FRCs) as replacements for 90 aging Coast Guard high-endurance cutters, medium-endurance cutters, and patrol craft. The Coast Guard’s proposed FY2019 budget requests a total of $705...

https://news.usni.org/2018/11/06/report-congress-u-s-coast-guard-cutter-procurement-5

Report to Congress on Changes in the Arctic

The following is the Oct. 25, 2018 Congressional Research Service report, Changes in the Arctic: Background and Issues for Congress.

The diminishment of Arctic sea ice has led to increased human activities in the Arctic, and has heightened interest in, and concerns about, the region’s future. The United States, by virtue of Alaska, is an Arctic country and has substantial interests in the region.

Record low extents of Arctic sea ice over the past decade have focused scientific and policy...

https://news.usni.org/2018/11/02/report-congress-changes-arctic-2

Eastern Shipbuilding Resumes Coast Guard Cutter Work As Hurricane Michael Recovery Continues

The Florida shipyard building the Coast Guard’s first Offshore Patrol Cutter has gotten back to work as it continues to recover from the damage inflicted by Hurricane Michael last month.

In a Thursday statement, Eastern Shipbuilding Group announced the yard was back in operation after the Oct. 10 landfall of the category 4 hurricane that devastated the Florida panhandle.

“Immediately following the storm, ESG set out on an aggressive initiative to locate all of its employees and help get them back...

https://news.usni.org/2018/11/02/eastern-shipbuilding-resumes-coast-guard-cutter-work-hurricane-michael-recovery-continues

In Budget Squeeze, Coast Guard Set to Extend Life of Dolphin Helicopter Fleet

Coast Guard members offload MH-65 Dolphin helicopters from an Air Force C-17 aircraft at Coast Guard Air Station Miami in Opa Locka, Fla., Sept. 11, 2017. Two of the Coast Guard Air Station Miami helicopters were partially disassembled and transported from Mobile, Ala., following Hurricane Irma. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Coast Guard hopes to keep its aging fleet of short-range search and rescue helicopters flying for another dozen years while evaluating the potential of...

https://news.usni.org/2018/10/29/squeezing-another-decade-out-of-dolphin-helicopters

Coast Guard, Shipbuilder Assessing Hurricane Damage to Yard Building Offshore Patrol Cutter

Eastern Shipbuilding Florida shipyard. Google Image

U.S. Coast Guard officials and Eastern Shipbuilding Group are still assessing the damage caused by deadly category 4 Hurricane Michael to the Panama City, Fla.-based yard contracted to build the new class of Offshore Patrol Cutters.

On September 28, the Coast Guard awarded Eastern Shipbuilding a contract to build the future USCGC Argus (WMSM-915), the first offshore patrol cutter (OPC). The yard was also set to build a second OPC, the future...

https://news.usni.org/2018/10/22/coast-guard-and-manufacturer-accessing-damage-to-yard-building-offshore-patrol-cutter

MetalCraft, Brunswick deliver ninth LRI to USCG

The Long Range Interceptor II must operate in extreme conditions at times. Bryan Goff USCG photo courtesy of MetalCraft Marine US

MetalCraft Marine US, Cape Vincent, N.Y., and Brunswick Commercial Government Products (BCGP), Edgewater, Fla., recently delivered the ninth Long Range Interceptor II (LCI) to the U.S. Coast Guard for its National Security Cutter program. MetalCraft US and BCGP have operated a strategic partnership for the past six years where MetalCraft produces hull cabin packages at its Cape Vincent plant and ships them to BCGP for final finishing and testing. (BCGP also markets an aluminum model line based...

https://www.workboat.com/news/shipbuilding/metalcraft-brunswick-deliver-ninth-lri-uscg/

USCG rescues four from crewboat in Louisiana’s Chandeleur Sound

Four people were rescued from a 120'x25' crew/supply vessel Monday in Louisiana's Chandeleur Sound. USCG photo

The U.S. Coast Guard rescued four people from a vessel that caught fire in Chandeleur Sound, Louisiana, early Monday morning.

Watchstanders at the Eighth Coast Guard District in New Orleans received a report at 2:36 a.m. that the 120’x25′ aluminum crew/supply vessel Grand Sun was on fire near the Chandeleur Islands. Y&S Marine, Belle Chasse, La., owns the Grand Sun.

A USCG aircrew arrived on scene at 3:52 a.m. and recovered the four people from the boat.

Coast Guard Sector New Orleans...

https://www.workboat.com/news/coastal-inland-waterways/uscg-rescues-four-from-crewboat-in-louisianas-chandeleur-sound/

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