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Integrated Coast Guard Systems News

18 Aug 2011

U.S. Files Lawsuit Against Shipyards for Material False Statements Made to the Coast Guard

WASHINGTON - The United States has filed suit in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., against Bollinger Shipyards Inc., Bollinger Shipyards Lockport LLC and Halter Bollinger Joint Venture LLC, the Justice Department announced. The suit alleges that Bollinger, which is headquartered in Lockport, La., made material false statements to the Coast Guard under the Deepwater Program. The government’s complaint alleges that Bollinger proposed to convert existing 110-Ft Patrol Boats (WPBs) into 123-Ft WPBs by extending the hulls 13 feet and making additional improvements. As a result of Bollinger’s misrepresentations about the hull strength of the converted vessels, the Coast Guard awarded a contract to convert eight Coast Guard 110 foot cutters to 123 foot cutters.

19 Aug 2009

2nd National Security Cutter Builder's Trials

751) completed successful Builder's Trials on August 17 after undergoing rigorous testing in the Gulf of Mexico. The ship's return to Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding's Gulf Coast facility here following trials marks the latest milestone for Waesche, which is nearing completion. Waesche is the second ship in the new class of highly capable, technologically advanced multi-mission cutters. The NSC was built under contract from Integrated Coast Guard Systems, a joint venture of Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin. "The effort put in by everyone to get the ship here is astounding," said U.S.

25 Mar 2009

CG Acquisition Improvements

On March 24, Congressman Elijah E. “The first hearing I convened during my tenure as the Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation two years ago examined the mismanagement of the Coast Guard’s $24 billion Deepwater program intended to modernize the service’s surface and air assets. As confirmed at this morning’s hearing, the Coast Guard has taken significant steps since 2007 to improve the oversight and management of its acquisition programs and to position itself to effectively manage contractors and protect taxpayers’ investments in Coast Guard assets. “I was very pleased to learn of the agreement…

28 Jul 2008

Coast Guard Cutter Christened

Marilla Waesche Pivonka (right), ship's sponsor, breaks a traditional bottle spraying the bow and platform guests at the christening of the Northrop Grumman-built U.S. Coast Guard National Security Cutter Waesche (WMSL 751). The ship is named for her grandfather, Adm. Russell Randolph Waesche, who served as the commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard from 1936 until 1946. Also on the platform are (left to right) U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Thad Allen; Mike Petters, vice president and president o

More than 1,000 guests attended the christening of the Northrop Grumman Corporation-built U.S. Coast Guard National Security Cutter Waesche (WMSL 751) on July 26. Waesche is named for Adm. Russell R. Waesche, who was the first Coast Guard commandant to achieve the rank of admiral. He led the Coast Guard from 1936 to 1946, which is the longest tenure of any USCG commandant. Adm. Waesche's granddaughter Marilla Waesche Pivonka broke a bottle across the ship's bow to a rousing ovation, and also performed a song to honor the ship and her grandfather.

14 Feb 2008

NSC Returns From Builder's Trial

Mexico. nearing completion. Ship Systems and Newport News shipbuilding entities. technologically advanced, multi-mission cutters. Guard Systems, a joint venture of Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin. damage control, and combat systems was conducted. standarization trials as well as 57 mm gun and close-in weapon systems. completed machinery trials in December 2007. Pascagoula facility in November 2006. trials later this spring before delivery to the Coast Guard. plant driving twin screws with a maximum speed of 28 knots. control systems.

08 Jan 2008

Lockheed, Northrop Asked to Pay For Bad Boats

The U.S. Coast Guard has asked a joint venture of Lockheed Martin Corp and Northrop Grumman Corp to pay $96.1 million for eight patrol boats that it modified, but that cannot be used. In the latest exchange between the Coast Guard and the venture, Integrated Coast Guard Systems (ICGS), the government said it concluded after reviewing thousands of documents that its revocation of acceptance of the patrol boats, was "not only timely, but was also technically and legally justified. Lockheed and Northrop, which began work in 2002 to lengthen the eight 110-foot patrol boats to 123 feet, had challenged the legality of the Coast Guard's decision to reject the boats this past summer, since the service initially accepted the boats.

05 Dec 2007

Coast Guard Takes Delivery of High Tech Facility

The U.S. Coast Guard, Integrated Coast Guard Systems, and Lockheed Martin completed the final phase of the $20m Command, Control, Computers, Communications Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) simulator at Training Center Petaluma in Petaluma, Calif. The completion of this state-of-the-art training suite represents a milestone in the Coast Guard's $24b, 25-year modernization and recapitalization plan known as Deepwater. As a result of commonality between Coast Guard and Navy C4ISR equipment, the training simulator provides both Coast Guard and Navy crews a safe, high fidelity environment to develop the skills and expertise needed to sail the military's newest, most capable ships into the 21st Century.

03 Nov 2003

Deepwater Team Delivers First Cutter-Based Communications System Upgrade to U.S. Coast Guard

The Coast Guard Cutter Northland is at sea with the first phase of communications systems upgrades for 270-foot medium endurance cutters as part of the Integrated Deepwater System (IDS). Northland is the first cutter to receive this upgrade, which immediately provides improved performance within existing communications systems and allows additional access to a variety of intelligence and data sources, previously unavailable to these cutters. Among its enhanced capabilities, Northland will have access to classified and unclassified data communications through international maritime Satellite B services connectivity to the U.S. Department of Defense's Secret Internet Protocol Network (SIPRNET).

05 Mar 2004

First 123-ft Deepwater System Cutter Delivered

During a celebration to commemorate the delivery of the first Deepwater surface asset under the Integrated Deepwater System, the Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Thomas H. Collins accepted delivery of the vessel and returned the CG Ensign to the USCG Cutter Matagorda today, Friday, March 5, 2004, at Bollinger Shipyards, in Lockport, La. The ceremony celebrated the delivery, which officially occurred on Monday, March 1, of the first newly completed 123-ft. patrol boat, USCGC Matagorda, manufactured by HBJV, a joint venture of Bollinger Shipyards LLC and VT Halter Marine, Inc of Gulfport, Miss.

06 Apr 2004

News: Vessels

On March 30, 2004, the parbuckling of MV Rocknes in Agotnes, Norway, was completed by SMIT Salvage. After two months of preparations, a two-day-long unique operation ensued as the vessel was pulled upright from its upside-down position. The salvors used the Dive Support/Salvage Vessel SMIT Orca, two immersion and salvage pontoons mounted on a semi-submersible flattop barge which together supported the pulling winches, and a supporting barge. On March 28, after pulling the vessel into this 130-degree gradient, salvors pumped water out and air into the vessel in order for it to reach its original draft depth. A team then proceeded with the conservation of onboard instruments and machinery, while the salvors sprayed parts of the vessel with anti-corrosion material. The Rocknes is a 544.6 ft.

08 Jun 2004

Storm Warnings Raised over Readiness Concerns

By Capt. Gordon I. This June's two-year anniversary of the Coast Guard's award of contract for the Integrated Deepwater System reflects steady progress in efforts to modernize the nation's maritime guardians, but heightened concerns over falling readiness have led some congressional lawmakers to renew calls to accelerate the comprehensive 20-plus-year recapitalization program. Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Thomas H. Collins described his concern over current readiness trends in early March during congressional testimony on the Bush administration's proposed fiscal year 2005 budget. "Our greatest threat to mission performance continues to be that our aircraft…

24 Jun 2004

Offshore Patrol Craft Program Advanced

The U.S. Coast Guard and Integrated Coast Guard Systems (ICGS) announced that preliminary design and final requirements work will commence immediately on the new Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) program. This effort will lead to a new type of highly capable, cutting-edge, medium-endurance cutter. This accelerates the effort to launch the OPC by a full three years, compared to the Deepwater program's originally proposed schedule. This initial OPC contract assigned to ICGS establishes the critical first-step engineering efforts that will occur over the next 12 months. design and system integration.

24 Jun 2004

USCG Deepwater Contract Accelerates OPC Program

The U.S. Coast Guard and Integrated Coast Guard Systems (ICGS) announced that preliminary design and final requirements work will commence immediately on the new Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) program. This effort will lead to a new type of highly capable, cutting-edge, medium-endurance cutter. This accelerates the effort to launch the OPC by a full three years, compared to the Deepwater program's originally proposed schedule. This initial OPC contract assigned to ICGS establishes the critical first-step engineering efforts that will occur over the next 12 months. design and system integration.

25 Jun 2002

USCG Launches $11B Plan To Upgrade Fleet

U. S. Deputy Secretary of Transportation, Michael P. Jackson, joined by U. S. Coast Guard Commandant Thomas H. Collins, today announced the award of a landmark contract valued at $11.04 billion for a fleet of new ships and aircraft, plus improved command and control systems, to meet the service’s homeland security and other mission needs. In addition, the contract includes $5.91 billion for operating, maintenance, and sustainment costs for a value of $16.95 billion. The contract was awarded to Integrated Coast Guard Systems (ICGS), a joint venture established by Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman. “The Deepwater Program will ensure that the Coast Guard continues to guarantee the nation’s maritime security,” said Deputy Secretary Jackson.

09 Jul 2002

Historic $17 Billion Order Placed

The marine industry, which traditionally hits a lull during the summer months, has been boiling over with new projects and business prospects, mainly centered on the business of keeping U.S. shores secure from further terrorist incursion. The Coast Guard Deepwater project, which was well in the works years before the date September 11 came to signify much of anything, after five years of planning has finally come to fruition in the form of a nearly 30-year, $17 billion plan to essentially re-shape the U.S. Coast Guard. Yet even upon the awarding of the historic contract, there were rumblings from inside Washington, D.C., from Congressional powers.

01 Aug 2002

USCG Awards Record $17B Deal

The marine industry, which traditionally hits a lull during the summer months, has been boiling over with new projects and business prospects, mainly centered on the business of keeping U.S. shores secure from further terrorist incursion. The Coast Guard Deepwater project, which was well in the works years before the date September 11 came to signify much of anything, after five years of planning has finally come to fruition in the form of a nearly 30-year, $17 billion plan to essentially re-shape the U.S. Coast Guard. Yet even upon the awarding of the historic contract, there were rumblings from inside Washington, D.C., from Congressional powers.

04 Jan 2005

USCG Awards $144M Deepwater Contract

The U.S. Coast Guard awarded a contract totaling $144 million to Integrated Coast Guard Systems for production and deployment of the Coast Guard’s second Maritime Security Cutter Large. The WMSL is the largest of three new cutter classes -- and the first under construction -- within the Coast Guard’s Integrated Deepwater System acquisition program. The Deepwater program will improve the Coast Guard’s counter terrorism, maritime homeland security and overall mission performance capabilities. “The Deepwater program is vital to transforming the Coast Guard and ensuring the delivery of required capabilities needed for the performance of homeland security and other missions,” said Adm. Thomas H. Collins, commandant of the Coast Guard.

09 Feb 2005

USCG Deepwater: Centerpiece of Coast Guard Transformation

By Gordon I. Throughout the Cold War, the need to maintain strong military forces to deter war with the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact was a mainstay of U.S. national security policy. During today's global war on terrorism, similar linkages exist between a more capable U.S. Coast Guard, improved homeland security, and the deterrence or defeat of a terrorist attack in the maritime domain. The 9/11 Commission Report clearly describes this nexus. "Our report shows that the terrorists analyze defenses," the Commission wrote. "They plan accordingly. Defenses cannot achieve perfect safety. They make targets harder to attack successfully, and they deter attacks by making capture more likely.

26 Jul 2007

Coast Guard Awards Deepwater Contract Under New Management

According to reports, the Coast Guard has awarded the first contract under its new management structure for the Deepwater program. The Coast Guard said in June that it would assume overall management duties for the troubled project, which includes a wide range of ships, aircraft and other systems. Lockheed Martin Corp. (LMT) and Northrop Grumman Corp. (NOC), the program's prime contractors through their Integrated Coast Guard Systems joint venture, were stripped of their lead systems integrator role. But the two contractors remain on deck to continue program work, through an extension of their umbrella contract. Now the Northrop-Lockheed team has finalized details on a $53m contract for a range of systems engineering and design work.

30 Jul 2007

House to Vote on Bill to Reform Deepwater Program

The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote on the Integrated Deepwater Program Reform Act, H.R. 2722. The legislation, authored by Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, would strengthen the management of the Coast Guard's Deepwater procurement program-which has been marred by failures in contractor performance and Coast Guard management. Management of the Deepwater Program, a $24b, 25-year program through which the Coast Guard will replace or rehabilitate all of its cutters and aircraft, was awarded in 2002 through a performance-based contract to a private sector team comprised of Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, now known as the Integrated Coast Guard Systems (ICGS).

09 Aug 2007

Cummings Urges Coast Guard to Follow Requirements of H.R. 2722

Following the announcement that the Coast Guard has awarded funds to Integrated Coast Guard Systems (ICGS) for construction of the third national security cutter (NSC) under the Deepwater Procurement Program, Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, urged the Service to follow the requirements set by the recently-passed Integrated Deepwater Reform Act, H.R. 2722, to prevent past failures of the program from being repeated. "The errors we have witnessed thus far in the Deepwater program are unacceptable and simply cannot be repeated," Congressman Cummings said.

10 Jun 2005

Deepwater Cutter Achieves Milestone

The U.S. Coast Guard's 140-ft. requirements milestone resulting in the ship being one step closer to construction commencement. The fast-response cutter is being built by Integrated Coast Guard Systems (ICGS), a joint venture between Northrop Grumman Corporation and Lockheed Martin, under the Integrated Deepwater System Program. The purpose of the systems requirements review was to present the ship concept to the Coast Guard and to confirm the customer requirements have been sufficiently developed, so the ICGS team can proceed to design development. The new cutter has been developed to meet post-Sept. 11 mission requirements. The new composite-hulled craft, to be manufactured at Northrop Grumman's Gulfport, Miss., composites center, will have a 40-year hull-life.

24 May 2005

Deepwater Fast-Response Cutter Reaches Milestone

The U.S. Coast Guard's, 140-ft. construction commencement. Integrated Deepwater System Program. proceed to design development. The new cutter has been developed to meet post-Sept. requirements. 40-year hull-life. reaction capability. patrols in areas of concern. program manager. originally proposed at the time of contract award in June 2002. Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) suite and logistics support. plans as an asset in the Integrated Deepwater System. phase, with the customer review scheduled for this August.