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USNI News polled its writers, naval analysts and service members on what they consider the most important military and maritime stories in 2017.
The following is part of a series. Please also see Top Stories 2017: Navy Acquisition, International Acquisition, Navy Operations, Marine Corps Operations, International Operations and New Administration. Read More
U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Venturous (VMEC-625) (USCG Photo)
U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Venturous (WMEC-625) returned to its homeport in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Monday following a 69-day patrol providing hurricane relief in the Caribbean Sea. Read More
The Coast Guard needs to present a 20-year fleet modernization plan that identifies what it intends to buy and what they project the costs to be, particularly in light of current plans to buy heavy icebreakers and offshore patrol cutters at about the same time, the Government Accountability Office reported Tuesday. Read More
The 420-foot Coast Guard Cutter Healy breaks ice in the Bering Sea to assist the tanker Renda on Jan. 8, 2012. US Coast Guard Photo
The U.S. Coast Guard has begun work to design and buy three heavy and three medium polar icebreakers, but the service reserves the right to increase the size of the program or even add offensive weapons to them if needed to respond to a rapidly changing Arctic environment, the commandant said. Read More
Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Paul Zukunft delivers the 2017 State of the Coast Guard address on March 16, 2017. US Coast Guard photo.
The commandant is looking to increase the Coast Guard active-duty force by 5,000 over the next five years, restore 1,100 billets in its reserves that were cut by sequestration, and modernize its “geriatric class of cutters” working inland waterways. Read More
The U. S. Coast Guard’s first national security cutter took to the sea on Friday, operating in concert with the service’s new maritime patrol aircraft, the Ocean Sentry HC-144A, and a newly re-engined MH-65C helicopter. US Coast Guard photo.
The Coast Guard’s current success in its drug and human trafficking missions, as well as future success in its heavy icebreaker program, rest in a whole-of-government approach, the commandant said earlier this week. Read More
Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Paul Zukunft and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Steven Cantrell testify on the Coast Guard’s Fiscal Year 2016 in February budget request. US Coast Guard Photo
The Coast Guard’s Fiscal Year 2016 budget request falls $69 million short of fully funding the Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) and instead relies on a funding transfer authority that would let Department of Homeland Security leadership provide the additional funding if the program is deemed affordable and on track, Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Paul Zukunft told the House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday. Read More
USCGC STRATTON
The following is from the April, 9 2014 Congressional Research Service report, Coast Guard Cutter Procurement. Read More
Coast Guard Icebreakers Polar Star (WAGB-10) and Polar Sea (WAGB-11) moored in an undated photo.
The Coast Guard will likely need help from other government agencies to fund its proposed new $1 billion heavy icebreaker the service says it needs to operate in the Arctic and Antarctic, outgoing USCG commandant Adm. Robert Papp told reporters Wednesday following his final State of the Coast Guard address in Washington, D.C. Read More
The following is from the July, 3 2013 Congressional Research Service report, Coast Guard Cutter Procurement: Background and Issues for Congress.
This report provides background information and potential oversight issues for Congress on the Coast Guard’s programs for procuring 8 National Security Cutters (NSCs), 25 Offshore Patrol Cutters (OPCs), and 58 Fast Response Cutters (FRCs). These 91 planned cutters are intended as replacements for 90 aging Coast Guard cutters and patrol craft. The Coast Guard began procuring NSCs and FRCs a few years ago, and the first few NSCs and FRCs are now in service. Read More
