Integrated Deepwater System News

1914-Pursuant to the Convention for Safety at Sea in London, President Woodrow Wilson directed that the Revenue Cutter Service undertake the task of manning the International Ice Patrol. Henceforth, the Revenue Cutter Service and then the Coast Guard, with brief respites during both World Wars, served in this capacity. 1942- Presidential order created the War Shipping Administration which assumed control over all phases of merchant marine activities. 1943-During a fierce convoy battle near Greenland, USS Ingham, CG, rescued 33 survivors from the torpedoed troopship SS Henry Mallory while USS Bibb, CG, rescued 202. Bibb then rescued 33 from the torpedoed SS Kalliopi.

1936-"The act of June 25, 1936 was in reality an amendment to the Seamen’s Act of 1915, and had been called the Merchant Marine Act of 1936. This law provided for (1) "qualifications, examinations, and issuance of certificates of service or efficiency to unlicensed personnel; (2) the issuance of continuous discharge books to all seagoing personnel," a three-watch eight-hour day, and certain citizenship requirements. The act greatly increased the workload of the shipping commissioners, particularly in providing for the issuance of discharge books and various certificates. 2002- U.S. Deputy Secretary of Transportation Michael Jackson, joined by U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Thomas H. Collins, announced the award of the Integrated Deepwater System (IDS) contract.

The U.S. Coast Guard named its new Assistant Commandant for Acquisition and its Chief Acquisition Officer June 15 and promoted that flag officer to rear admiral upper half. The Coast Guard's newest two-star admiral is Rear Adm. Ronald J. Rábago, a 1978 graduate of the Coast Guard Academy. Rábago previously served as the Coast Guard Program Executive Officer and Director of Acquisition Programs since the establishment of the Acquisition Directorate July 13, 2007. Rábago's new duties include direction of all Coast Guard acquisition programs and related procurement management…

"Deepwater One Team" has delivered a $2.3-billion proposal to the U.S. Coast Guard for the design and development of an Integrated Deepwater System (IDS) that will help the Coast Guard meet vital offshore operational requirements into the 21st century. Construcciones Aeronauticas S.A. (CASA) of Madrid, Spain; Eurocopter, an EADS Company, of Marignane, France; John J. McMullen Associates Inc. (JJMA) of Alexandria, Va.; and Northrop Grumman Ship Systems Avondale Operations, a subsidiary of Northrop Grumman Corporation, located in New Orleans, La. The transatlantic team's proven capability in large-scale systems integration and demonstrated successes in partnering with customers is aimed at providing a best-value system solution to the Coast Guard for its planned multibillion-dollar…

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).

Northrop Grumman received the 2003 Frost & Sullivan Technology Leadership Award for Homeland Security and Homeland Defense in recognition of its roles in the Integrated Deepwater System program, and in the Immigration and Naturalization Service's (INS) Technology Enterprise Automation Management Support (TEAMS) program. Northrop Grumman was cited by Frost & Sullivan, based on their role in the Deepwater program, on its deep understanding of vertical technologies required by maritime vessels involved in military missions as well as its broad integration skills supporting the U.S. Coast Guard's acquisition of three classes of new cutters and their associated small boats.

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.

Legislation to authorize more than $7.9 billion for the Coast Guard for Fiscal Year 2005, including $1.1 billion for the Deepwater project, was unanimously approved by the U.S. House Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee today. Deepwater is the Coast Guard’s program to replace and modernize its operational capital assets. The Coast Guard’s fleet is rapidly deteriorating, leading to higher safety risks and maintenance costs, and a lower state of readiness. At a Subcommittee hearing last week, the Commandant of the Coast Guard expressed concern that assets are wearing out faster than anticipated. The Coast Guard Authorization Act for FY 2005 (H.R. * U.S. Rep. * U.S. Rep. * U.S. Rep. * U.S. Rep. H.R.

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.

Bipartisan legislation that authorizes approximately $8 billion for the U.S. Coast Guard in Fiscal Year 2005, including $1.1 billion for the agency’s efforts to modernize its operational assets (Deepwater Project), was approved today by the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The Coast Guard Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (H.R. * Rep. * Rep. * Rep. * Rep. * Rep. The bill was unanimously approved without amendment. The Senate recently passed H.R. 2443, the Committee’s FY 2004 Coast Guard Authorization legislation which the House passed last November. The Senate amended H.R. 2443 to include an FY 2005 authorization. Committee Members expect a conference on H.R. 2443 to begin soon and will work to include today’s legislation in the final Coast Guard package.

The U.S. Coast Guard's ongoing effort to update its fleet of cutters and air vehicles over 20 years will not equip the service to perform both its traditional missions and responsibilities that have emerged since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, so claimed a recently issued RAND Corporation study. To obtain adequate assets, the Coast Guard needs to accelerate its planned purchases of cutters and air vehicles, and explore new platform options, emerging technologies and operational changes that would leverage the capabilities of its surface and air fleets, according to the RAND report. Such a two-pronged strategy may satisfy demand more quickly and at less cost than just expanding the Coast Guard's original modernization plan…

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…

“Amid extraordinary challenges, our determination, our courage, and our common purpose remain steadfast.” The new appropriations bill provides $6.3 billion for the Coast Guard for FY 2005, an 8.6 percent ($500 million) increase over 2004, and a 66 percent ($2.5 billion) increase over 2001 levels. As part of funding for Coast Guard programs, the appropriations bill includes $724 million for the Deepwater multi year acquisition to modernize and recapitalize the Coast Guard’s inventory of cutters, aircraft, and supporting systems. The $724 million congressional appropriation for the Deepwater Program comes to $46 million more than the president’s request of $678 million. President Bush signed the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2005 into law on Oct.

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.

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.

Legislation that authorizes $8.1 billion in Fiscal Year 2006 for the U.S. Coast Guard’s maritime strategy for homeland security, core mission performance and operational assets was approved today by the U.S. House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation. “The Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2005” (H.R. 889) was unanimously approved by a voice vote. H.R. H.R. 889 was introduced by Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Don Young (R-Alaska), and is cosponsored by Subcommittee Chairman Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ), Transportation Committee Ranking Democratic Member James Oberstar (D-MN), and Coast Guard Subcommittee Ranking Democratic Member Bob Filner (D-CA). H.R.

Implementation of the U.S. Coast Guard’s program to replace and modernize over 90 ships and 200 aircraft used in its offshore missions - including drug and migrant interdiction, homeland security and fisheries law enforcement - will be the topic of a Congressional oversight hearing on Wednesday. The hearing by the U.S. House Subcommittee on the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, chaired by U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ), is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 20th in 2167 Rayburn House Office Building. - Admiral Thomas A. Accompanied by Rear Admiral Patrick M. The Coast Guard began planning a recapitalization program to replace existing deepwater-capable assets in 1996.

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.

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.

WASHINGTON - The Commandant of the Coast Guard, Adm. Thomas H. Collins, testified on July 21, 2005, before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security regarding the Coast Guard's revised plan to replace its aging fleet of deepwater assets. Collins's written statement follows. "Good morning, Mr. Chairman and distinguished Members of the Subcommittee. Thank you for taking the time to meet again to discuss the Integrated Deepwater System’s revised implementation plan. It is the number one Coast Guard priority and the cornerstone of our maritime capabilities now and in the future. As such, I appreciate very much the continued time and deliberation you have been willing to spend to examine all aspects of the acquisition.

The Coast Guard Cutter Bear is scheduled to return home August 15 following an historic 90-day deployment to Africa. As part of a Theater Security Cooperation (TSC) mission with the U.S. Navy's Sixth Fleet, the Bear visited eight countries in North Africa and the Gulf of Guinea region, some of which had never hosted a Coast Guard vessel before. While there, the cutter and its 100-person crew worked with and trained the naval and law enforcement forces of these nations to enhance multinational interoperability and to cultivate relationships for possible future training opportunities. These goals are critical elements to the United States growing commitment to help establish regional stability in Africa.

Northrop Grumman Corporation has been awarded $285.5 million for construction of the third National Security Cutter (WMSL 752), the newest and most capable multi-mission cutter in the United States Coast Guard fleet. The contract is being funded under the Integrated Deepwater System program. "This cutter is the third in the class of new, high performance cutters that will significantly enhance the maritime security capabilities and mission execution of the United States Coast Guard," said Philip Teel, president of Northrop Grumman’s Ship Systems sector. operating environment. robust aviation installations, among others. Northrop Grumman is leading the construction effort, and the ship will be manufactured at the company's Pascagoula facility. twin screws with a maximum speed of 28 knots.

Infrastructure. ongoing progress throughout the program. mission performance and a safer working environment," said Mackay. "As Adm. Deepwater program of today," he said. productive impact throughout the Coast Guard. Anton highlighted progress in National Security Cutter construction. quality and efficiency that routinely outperform other programs," he said. across the board. built," he added. patrol boats which the Coast Guard plans to decommission. that have been experienced by the eight 123' vessels," said Anton. to meet the service's post-9/11 missions. requirements," said Mackay. to meet changing requirements. analysis and proven design standards, to the customer," said Anton.