By Calvin Biesecker
The Coast Guard’s National Security Cutter (NSC) program is already two years behind schedule and risks falling further behind if long-lead funding for the sixth vessel isn’t provided, the Senate Appropriations Committee says in a report accompanying its version of the FY ’12 budget for the Department of Homeland Security.
The committee funded the Coast Guard’s $538 million request to produce the fifth Northrop Grumman [NOC]-built NSC and added $110 million to purchase long-lead materials for the sixth vessel (Defense Daily, July 16).
“The committee disagrees with the [Obama] administration’s decision to delay funding for the 6th NSC,” the report says. “The NSC program, which is already 2 years behind schedule, will be further delayed without additional funds. The 12 legacy cutters the NSC will replace are frequently out of service due to unscheduled maintenance requirements.”
Moreover, providing the long-lead funds “avoids additional project costs and recapitalization delays associated with a break in NSC production,” the report says.
The Coast Guard is in the midst of acquiring eight NSCs to replace its legacy fleet of 12 High Endurance Cutters.
While the Coast Guard and Senate Appropriators would like to avoid a production break in the NSC program and ensure that one vessel is built annually until build out, the service is already experiencing delays in awarding the construction contract for the fourth vessel, the Hamilton. The Coast Guard had expected to award the contract for Hamilton late in 2009 or early 2009. Yet negotiations with Northrop Grumman are still ongoing and the Coast Guard said yesterday it expects the award to be made in FY ’10.
The third NSC, Stratton, is still in production. It was christened by first lady Michelle Obama on Friday. The first two vessels have already been delivered.