Surface Forces Logistics Center News

The U.S. Coast Guard said its In-Service Vessel Sustainment (ISVS) Program has passed the halfway point in its effort to upgrade the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems on the service’s 140-foot bay-class icebreaking tugs.The HVAC upgrade on Coast Guard Cutter Katmai Bay was completed on June 1—20 days ahead of schedule—in Cheboygan, Mich., near the tug’s homeport of Sault Sainte Marie, Mich.Meanwhile, Coast Guard Cutter Morro Bay arrived at Coast Guard Yard…

For the average person, tracking down a spare part is often merely an annoyance. But for the crew of a Coast Guard cutter, the availability of spare parts can be important to mission completion or greatly affect their work environment. The Coast Guard Research and Development Center in New London, Conn., is currently studying how the use of 3-D printing technology might improve mission readiness through logistical support. Now in the evaluation phase, 3-D printers are available…

U.S. Coast Guard Captain Matthew Lake assumed command of the U.S. Coast Guard Yard on July 1, 2016. He is the 42nd Commanding Officer in the 117-year history of the yard, the only shipbuilding and major ship repair facility of the U.S. Coast Guard. Captain Lake took charge from Captain George Lesher who served as Yard Commanding Officer from June 2013 to July 2016. Captain Lesher departed the yard to assume duties as the Ship Design Manager at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Although much of the country is welcoming spring and the warm weather that comes with it, many of the Great Lakes waterways are still laden with ice. Coast Guard icebreaking tugs continue to work on the lakes to keep critical shipping lanes clear for merchant vessels, remove hazardous obstructions to navigation and free ships stuck in ice. Their mission sustains a bi-national economy and keeps maritime crews safe. This year’s icebreaking season has been a busy one filled with successful missions and a few unexpected challenges.

The third National Security Cutter, Stratton, successfully completed builder’s trials in Pascagoula, Miss., Friday marking a significant step in preparing Stratton for delivery to the U.S. Coast Guard. Builder’s trials are the shipbuilder’s first opportunity to operate the cutter at sea and survey the current status of shipboard systems. Teams from Huntington Ingalls Shipbuilding and Lockheed Martin Maritime Systems and Sensors operated propulsion, communications, damage control…

Admiral Thad Allen, Commandant of the Coast Guard, spoke with MarineNews about the merchant mariner credentialing process, TWIC, the new Centers of Expertise and the modernization of the Coast Guard's internal organization. Visit the Commandant's blog at www.uscg.mil/comdt/blog for more of his perspectives on the workings of the Coast Guard. What's the Coast Guard doing to simplify the merchant mariner credentialing process? Merchant mariner credentialing has been the subject of a lot of concern and reforms going back 10 or 15 years, to when I was a field commander.

ASNE Day 2009 takes place April 8-9, at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, MD. The event will explore how the 21st century cooperative strategy and related maritime efforts are impacting naval engineering while answering the questions—what technical areas must be emphasized to enable and support this strategy, what are the implications for the way future naval engineers are educated and developed, and what improvements are needed in naval engineering tools and processes? •    U.S. •    U.S. What is Our Goal? •    RDML Robert L. •    RDML Joseph R. •    BGen Andrew W. Moderator: Mr. Asst. Moderator: Ms. •    Mr. Asst. Moderator: Mr. •    General Dynamics—Mr. •    Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding—Mr. •    Lockheed Martin—Mr. •    Boeing—RADM John V. Asst.