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By Geoff Fein
The Coast Guard will permanently decommission its eight 123-foot patrol boats that have been plagued with structural problems and the service will take over as lead system integrator for the Deepwater program, according to the Commandant of the Coast Guard.
"Multiple extensive studies and analyses by both Coast Guard engineers and third-party naval architects and marine engineers over many months have described the failures in these vessels. They have been unable to determine a single definitive root cause for the 123- foot patrol boat structural problems," Adm. Thad Allen, commandant told reporters during a briefing yesterday in Washington.
The Coast Guard has observed structural failures in the 123-foot patrol boats since 2004.
Last fall, the Coast Guard removed the 123-foot patrol boats from service because of continued problems with the hulls.
The Coast Guard spent about $100 million on the conversion effort, which included the 13-foot lengthening to improve crew accommodations and create a stern launch and recovery small boat ramp, new C4ISR systems, and structural enhancements. However, both the 110-foot vessels and their upgraded 123-footers have been beset with hull integrity issues that have prompted one fix after another without ever seeming to solve the problem (Defense Daily, Dec. 1)
Despite multiple studies by leading experts, the Coast Guard was unable to identify a single definitive root cause for the structural problems, Allen said.
"However, we do believe that a loss of cross section structural support between the previous 110 design and the 123 design, appears to be a significant contributing factor," he noted. "Further complicating the issue with these boats has been the permanent deformation of the hulls that has required us to do increasing...alignments, and has not allowed us to keep the shaft in alignment and the boats operating."
Unfortunately, there is no simple, quick or inexpensive fix, Allen said. The estimated total cost for repair and modification for all eight cutters will be over $50 million, he added.
"Permanently removing these cutters from service while recouping any residual value and redirecting the funds to other programs would be in the best interest of the government," Allen said.
The Coast Guard will recoup a number...