This morning I read something disturbing on the MSNBC web site.
In 2004 the U.S. Coast Guard patrol boat Matagorda was fleeing Hurricane Ivan off the coast of Florida. The Island-class ship had just undergone an $11 million upgrade that included extending its hull from 110 feet to 123 feet. Not long after the Coast Guard discovered a six-inch crack in the deck and also discovered the entire hull was buckling.
The Coast Guard then decided to abandon plans to rebuild its entire fleet of 49 110-foot Island-class boats. The eight boats already "upgraded" were put on severely restricted duty. They were not permitted to venture out into the ocean if the seas were likely to be greater than eight feet. Today, by example, here in San Francisco, there is a high surf warning. Seas have increased to the 14 to 17 feet range and are expected to continue through Sunday. If anyone was in trouble in the surf or in a small boat, and needed to be rescued by the Coast Guard ... if we had any "upgraded" Island-class USCG boats assigned to our station, they would be unable to help. They are not sea worthy.
Last month, the Coast Guard found new structural problems beneath the main engines of some of their ships. All eight of those vessels were pulled out of commission.
The multibillion-dollar effort to modernize the Coast Guard's fleet has suffered delays, cost increases, design flaws and, most recently, the idling of eight 123-foot patrol boats that were found to be not seaworthy after an $88 million refurbishment. Congressional critics warn that early mistakes in the 25-year modernization program, called Deepwater -- the Coast Guard's largest contract ever -- are hobbling the service's transformation into a front-line homeland security force.
"Deepwater is a mess. Over the last five years the Coast Guard procurement has been riddled with problems," said Rep. David W. Obey (D-Wis.), incoming chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. "The Coast Guard needs to put in place a plan to fix this problem immediately."
Deepwater, awarded in 2002 and modified in 2005, lays out an ambitious plan to modernize and greatly expand the Coast Guard's aging fleet of ships, planes and helicopters, equipping the fleet with more modern technology in the process. The aim is to carry out expanded homeland security missions, including offshore patrols, port protection, and vessel boarding and escorting duties, which the Coast Guard said will consume 68,500 operational hours a year for its Island cutters. In that time, Deepwater's cost grew from $17 billion to $24 billion.
The condition of US Coast Guard equipment is extremely important to the safety and well-being of absolutely everybody in the San Francisco Bay Area. The Coast Guard's 11th District is headquartered here. We need decisive action to correct this growing problem and we need it quickly. The support given by Speaker Pelosi to the immediate and full and properly done upgrading, overhaul and new construction of US Coast Guard vessels must be a top priority. Our lives depend upon it!
To read the full report from MSNBC News please follow this link. It is a riveting story.
Following is a US Coast Guard report of completed Deepwater upgrades and additions to Coast Guard inventory here in the 11th District, headquartered here in San Francisco Bay at Coast Guard Island, off Alameda.
(Note: The 11th District includes a large area of the Pacific West. Not all cutters are stationed in San Francisco Bay.)
HH65C
Air Station San Francisco - 4 HH65C Delivered
Air Station Los Angeles - 4 HH65C Delivered
C4ISR Upgrades
CAMPSPAC Point Reyes, CA - Upgrade Complete
CGC MUNRO - Alameda, CA - Upgrade Complete
CGC MORGENTHAU - Alameda, CA - Upgrade Complete
CGC SHERMAN - Alameda, CA - Upgrade Complete
CGC BOUTWELL - Alameda, CA - Upgrade Complete
CGC CHASE - San Diego, CA - Upgrade Complete
CGC HAMILTON - San Diego, CA - Upgrade Complete
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