Scrapped vessels haunt Coast Guard

The Washington Times ^ | 5-6-08 | Jen Haberkorn

[Centurion2000]

So sell them off to people that will USE them.

[river rat]

Are these vessels unsuited for ANY Coast Guard, Military or Police use in the interdiction of drugs, illegal aliens, poachers, smugglers or any other purpose other than in Deep/Heavy Seas?

Seems a stupid decision and awful waste...
If the vessels must be scrapped, new and unused — everyone involved in the decision to build them should also be scrapped. Without pension.

[Tallguy]

A friend of mine’s son was exec on one of those 110’s while they were undergoing refit in Baltimore. They did know pretty quick that the whole program was a failure & that the integrity of the vessels was compromised. 8 cutters that could have been of some use were essentially trashed.

[El Gato]

The Coast Guard hopes to finally put the problems with its much maligned "Deepwater" program behind it, taking ownership this month of a brand new 418-foot national security cutter that was built from scratch after contractors bungled the modernization of the earlier eight ships.

So will the Program Manager for the modernization find himself assigned to Pt. Barrow? Will the Contractor(s) be put on a "banned from competing on the next contract" list?

Don't hold your breath. Heck the latter is against the rules, unless what they did was commit some transgression, such as bribing the Contracting Officer, not related to their ability to successfully do what they are contracted to do.

[devane617]

I posted the original story about the eight ships last year. I remember the debate well....Glad to see the CG getting the equipment they need to do the job.

[El Gato]

That's alot of expensive junk.

Couldn't they use them in calmer waters, say the Gulf of Mexico. Or put 'em on a transporter, and use them in the Persian Gulf. Maybe transfer them to the fledgling Iraqi Navy?

[Freedom_Is_Not_Free]

China will be more than happy to add these to their scrap-metal stockpiles.