The first of a new series of patrol boats being built for the Coast Guard is not expected to be delivered until December, about nine months later than expected due to “first of class” issues as well as structural shortfalls that are being corrected in the two vessels, a service official said yesterday.
The structural issues in the design of the Fast Response Cutter (FRC) require adding additional structure to the main and first decks, which requires some rework on the first two cutters, Rear Adm. John Korn, assistant commandant for Acquisition, told reporters on a teleconference yesterday to provide a status update on the service’s recapitalization efforts. The design changes are being incorporated into future FRCs, he said.
The Coast Guard had expected to take delivery of the first FRC in April but that has been pushed out to December due in part to the structural issues, which require the service to make sure the fixes are fully functional, and also to typical issues associated with the first cutter of a new class, Korn said.
So far, two 154-foot Sentinel-class FRCs have been launched. The boats are being built by Bollinger Shipyards, under a potential $1.5 billion contract to deliver 34 of the vessels. The Coast Guard has awarded the company task orders to build and deliver 12 FRCs.
Korn said the first FRC does meet contract standards, but that in some sea states at certain speeds the vessel could be in danger without the crew knowing it.
The Coast Guard, ultimately, requires 58 FRCs. The service would like to contract for six of the cutters annually and in FY ’12 has asked Congress to fund six. However, House Appropriators have recommended only funding four vessels in FY ’12 until it knows that the structural issues have been solved and the cutter completes an operational test and evaluation (OT&E) phase. Senate Appropriators have agreed to fund all six.
The Coast Guard plans to award a contract for the next batch of FRCs with FY ’12 funding before OT&E occurring, Korn said. To reduce program risk before award, he said a series of tests will occur such as engine and generator system testing, builder’s and acceptance trials, and an independent assessment by a Navy test agency, he said.
The FRC program is one of the new surface assets the Coast Guard is either acquiring, or planning to acquire, to replace its aging assets. The service is still in the design phase for a new medium-endurance vessel called the Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC). Korn said the service is still evaluating industry comments regarding a draft solicitation, but declined to even estimate when a draft Request for Proposals will be issued to industry.
Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Bob Papp said last week that affordability is the top driving issue for the OPC and that the service is already looking to adjust requirements to meet emerging cost constraints. The goal is to continue to still meet threshold objectives and fulfill mission requirements.
Korn said that one example of modifying the requirements has been to eliminate the stern launch ramp on the OPC for a small rigid hull inflatable boat. The ramps exist on the FRC and the new high-endurance cutters, the National Security Cutter. The stern launch ramp would have added length to the OPC, which adds cost, Korn said.
One issue that arose this year with the OPC is the program cost, which the Government Accountability Office has said will be higher than a program baseline set in 2007. Korn said that the service has developed a new cost estimate for the program that is still being vetted by the Department of Homeland Security.
The Coast Guard plans to acquire 25 OPCs.