Hearing to Examine Coast Guard Plan to Replace Aging Vessels & Aircraft

A Congressional hearing on Wednesday will examine the status and sustainability of the U.S. Coast Guard’s acquisition program and plans for recapitalizing its aging vessels and aircraft, formerly known as the Deepwater program.

According to the Coast Guard’s 2007 baseline, completion of major acquisitions under this program was estimated to take 20 to 25 years and require over $24 billion. However, the Government Accountability Office has determined this baseline is no longer valid, and an additional 10 years and $5 billion may be necessary to replace these critical assets.

Since the Subcommittee’s last hearing on the Coast Guard’s acquisition program, there have been several significant developments, including the discovery of leaks and cracks in the service’s newest National Security Cutter, an insufficiency of spare parts for the Coast Guard to maintain full operational readiness of its HC-144A Maritime Patrol Aircraft fleet this fall, release of phase II of the Coast Guard’s Fleet Mix Analysis and assessment of current asset requirements, and release of the Department of Homeland Security’s Major Cutter Study.

For more information on Wednesday’s hearing, click here.

WHAT: Hearing of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ), Chairman: “Creating American Jobs and Assuring the Safety and Security of America's Waterways: A Review of the Coast Guard's 5-Year Capital Improvement Plan”

WHEN: 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, May 16, 2012

WHERE: 2167 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515

A live webcast of this hearing will be available at http://transportation.house.gov.

WITNESS: Vice Admiral John Currier, Deputy Commandant for Mission Support, United States Coast Guard