Water Dogs In the News
Yes, they drive orange boats and fly orange choppers.
The Coast Guard has a new contract out to get the Water Dogs a new icebreaker fleet.
The Navy and Coast Guard have awarded a Mississippi shipbuilder a contract that could be worth as much as $1.9 billion to build a new fleet of icebreakers.
Naval Sea Systems Command is the lead contracting authority and the deal was issued through an Integrated Program Office joining both seagoing services.
The initial fixed price incentive (firm) contract with VT Halter Marine Inc. of Pascagoula, Mississippi, is valued at $745.9 million, enough to fund non-recurring engineering and detail design of the Coast Guard’s lead Polar Security Cutter, buy long lead-time materials and construct the first icebreaker, according to a prepared statement from NAVSEA emailed to Navy Times.
Options to build two additional Polar Security Cutters could bring the total contract to $1.9 billion, officials said. – Article
The Puddle Pounders are supposed to represent our interests and provide security in the Great Lakes and in the polar regions. The local TV stations always make a note of when the icebreakers are out on Lakes Gichigumi and Michigamu. They are what keep the Seaway transit lanes clear for shipping. They also provide coastal services, including S&R, in the Great Lakes and in coastal waters.
However, in February, a USCG heavy Icebreaker the Polar Star, fought a fire that was finally put out after two hours, 650 miles north of McMurdo Sound near Antarctica. Polar Star is, in fact, the last remaining heavy icebreaker, which prompted Pres. Trump to sign into law a bill for funding new Polar Security icebreakers. Considering that Polar Star was commissioned in 1976 and is the last of her kind, this probably should have been started much earlier, maybe 8 years earlier. But other things got in the way.
Category: Coast Guard
Those icebreakers are awesome ships. I wouldn’t want to be on one, but they are impressive. The Russkies even have a nuclear powered one.
When someone says, “Water Dogs”, I think 92W, Water Treatment Specialist.
Great to see the USCG break the ice and decide to upgrade to a new fleet of ice breakers.
I had no idea that the ships were so old. Mostly what we hear about is what’s going on on the Great Lakes and inland waterways.
Why do we need icebreakers. The whole global warming thing is causing all the ice to melt. Be better to invest in a bunch of small dinghies to patrol what is going to become New Amsterdam…again. /s/
“….should have started 8 years earlier. But other things got in the way.” I saw what you didn’t say there Ex.
Coasties…from what I know of them, personally, buncha ballsy troops…Especially and including some of the girls.
Let’s just say that the puddle pounders occasionally need attention, too. There’s a USCG station not too far from me. They do a lot of water rescue drills because there are very stupid people who think the Great Lakes are just another fishing pond, not realizing that there’s a drop-off ledge for all of them.
Good deal for the Puddle Pirates.
Orange Ship Good!
A bit off topic, but there is an all services retiree seminar scheduled for this Saturday, 0800-1200 on Coast Guard Island in Alameda CA. Retirees and spouses from all services are invited. There will be presentations on Tricare, Legal assistance, Space “A” travel, Veterans legislation, and numerous information tables will be provided by various organizations. At 1300, I will be leading a tour of the USCGC Waesche, one of the new large cutters for anyone interested.
If you have a link, please post it. Thanks!!
Full seminar info is available at http://www.nccgrc.com
Correct my last!! http://www.nccgrc.org
Sorry…
Sounds like a great time for you CDR.
Thanks for posting it and a link would be really cool too.