ALCOAST 186/08
COMDTNOTE 3100
SUBJ: BERTHOLF COMPLETES ACCEPTANCE TRIALS
1. THE FIRST NATIONAL SECURITY CUTTER, BERTHOLF, COMPLETED
ACCEPTANCE TRIALS ON FRIDAY, 11 APRIL 2008 AT PASCAGOULA, MISS.,
THE LAST MAJOR AT-SEA TESTING EVENT BEFORE THE CUTTER IS DELIVERED
TO THE GOVERNMENT. DURING THE TRIALS (CONDUCTED BOTH AT THE DOCK
AND AT SEA), THE U.S. NAVY BOARD OF INSPECTION AND SURVEY (INSURV)
ASSESSED THE QUALITY OF CUTTER CONSTRUCTION, TESTED SHIPBOARD
EQUIPMENT, AND ITS COMPLIANCE WITH COAST GUARD SPECIFICATIONS AND
REQUIREMENTS.
2. THE COAST GUARD REQUESTED THE SERVICES OF INSURV TO OVERSEE
BERTHOLF ACCEPTANCE TRIALS DUE TO THEIR MORE THAN 125 YEARS OF
EXPERIENCE AND TECHNICAL EXPERTISE IN ASSESSING LARGE GOVERNMENT
SHIPS. INSURV WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE PROGRAM MANAGER RESIDENT
OFFICE (PMRO) GULF COAST, NAVY SUPERVISOR OF SHIPBUILDING
(SUPSHIPS), COAST GUARD TECHNICAL AUTHORITIES, AND WITH INDUSTRY TO
CONDUCT A COMPLETE PHYSICAL EXAMINATION OF BERTHOLF, HER SPACES AND
HER INSTALLED EQUIPMENT.
3. AS IS TYPICAL FOR A COMPLEX, FIRST IN CLASS NAVAL COMBATANT, THE
TRIALS RESULTED IN A NUMBER OF TRIAL CARDS, WHICH THE GOVERNMENT
USES TO DOCUMENT TECHNICAL AND PERFORMANCE DISCREPANCIES THAT
REQUIRE CORRECTION BEFORE THE SHIP BECOMES OPERATIONAL. TO HELP
GUIDE SHIPBUILDER WORK, THE COAST GUARD HAS USED THE TRIAL CARD
SYSTEM DURING PREVIOUS AT-SEA TEST EVENTS FOR BERTHOLF (INCLUDING
MACHINERY TRIALS IN DECEMBER 2007, AND BUILDER TRIALS IN FEBRUARY
AND MARCH 2008), AS WELL AS OTHER INSPECTIONS AND SURVEYS.
A. TRIAL CARDS ARE A STANDARD AND WELL ESTABLISHED COMMUNICATION
PROCEDURE EMPLOYED BY THE COAST GUARD, THE U.S. NAVY AND OTHER
AGENCIES TO ENSURE THAT THE GOVERNMENT PROVIDES RIGOROUS OVERSIGHT
OF THE SHIPBUILDERS WORK.
B. THE ACCEPTANCE TRIALS FOR BERTHOLF RESULTED IN 2,816 TRIAL
CARDS, WHICH WAS EXPECTED FOR A FIRST IN CLASS SHIP. A SIGNIFICANT
PERCENTAGE OF THOSE CARDS WERE WRITTEN BY COAST GUARD PROJECT
MANAGERS, PMRO, AND TECHNICAL AUTHORITIES DURING PREVIOUS TRIALS
AND OTHER INSPECTIONS. THE U.S. NAVY HAS TRADITIONALLY SEEN 6,000-
16,000 TRIAL CARDS WRITTEN DURING ACCEPTANCE TRIALS.
C. THE COAST GUARD IS WORKING WITH INDUSTRY TO HAVE THEM CORRECT
DISCREPANCIES IDENTIFIED IN THE BERTHOLF TRIAL CARDS. THE COAST
GUARD WILL DEVELOP A PLAN OF ACTION FOR RESOLVING TRIAL CARD
ISSUES, SEEKING THE BEST VALUE FOR THE TAXPAYERS DOLLARS.
4. IN THE DAYS AHEAD, THE INSURV BOARD WILL MAKE A FORMAL REPORT OF
ITS ASSESSMENT OF BERTHOLF. THE EXECUTIVE ACCEPTANCE BOARD (EAB),
AN INTERNAL COAST GUARD BOARD CHAIRED BY THE ASSISTANT COMMANDANT
FOR ACQUISITION (CG-9), AND COMPRISED OF THE TECHNICAL AUTHORITIES
(CG-1, CG-4, AND CG-6), THE SPONSOR (CG-7) AND THE PROGRAM
EXECUTIVE OFFICER (CG-93) HAS CONVENED TO CONSIDER THE INSURV
REPORT. THE PROSPECTIVE CO (CAPT PAT STADT) WILL ALSO PROVIDE A
THIRD INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS THAT THE EAB WILL CONSIDER IN THEIR
RECOMMENDATION TO THE AGENCY ACQUISITION EXECUTIVE (THE VICE
COMMANDANT) FOR CONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE OF BERTHOLF.
5. NEXT STEPS ARE:
A. ON 14APR08, INSTRUMENTED TEMPEST TESTING BEGAN AND WILL CONTINUE
THROUGH THE END OF APRIL, TRIAL CARDS WILL BE RESOLVED AS QUICKLY
AS POSSIBLE.
B. WHEN DELIVERY OCCURS, WHICH COULD BE AS EARLY AS 30 APRIL, IT
WILL BE MARKED BY SIGNING A MATERIAL INSPECTION AND RECEIVING
REPORT (FORM DD250). THE SIGNED DD250 REPRESENTS COAST GUARD
CONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE OF THE NSC FROM THE SHIPBUILDER, AND THE
CUTTER TRANSITION TO "IN COMMISSION, SPECIAL" STATUS AS THE
BERTHOLF PRE-COMMISSIONING (PRECOM) CREW MOVES ON BOARD.
C. WHILE DELIVERY IS A MAJOR MILESTONE, IT IS ONE STEP IN A
LENGTHY PROCESS THAT WILL INCLUDE 22 MONTHS OF POST DELIVERY
SHAKEDOWN TESTING AND INDUSTRIAL AVAILABILITIES, TO ENSURE THE
SHIP MEETS ALL TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS BEFORE IT BECOMES AN
OPERATIONAL ASSET IN THE COAST GUARD FLEET.
6. THE COAST GUARD IS VERY PROUD OF BERTHOLF, AND OF THE HARD WORK
DONE BY OUR ACQUISITION AND ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS TO MAKE THIS
SHIP READY FOR DELIVERY. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE PARTNERSHIP AND
SUPPORT THAT THE U.S. NAVY HAS PROVIDED, THROUGH THE SUPERVISOR OF
SHIPBUILDING, CONVERSION AND REPAIR (SUPSHIP), NAVAL SEA SYSTEMS
COMMAND (NAVSEA), SPACE AND NAVAL WARFARE SYSTEMS COMMAND (SPAWAR),
NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND (NAVAIR), THE INSURV BOARD, AND COMMANDER
OPERATIONAL TEST & EVALUATION FORCE (COMOPTEVFOR). WE ARE ALSO
GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT OF INDUSTRY AND COMMERCIAL ENTITIES, SUCH
AS THE AMERICAN BUREAU OF SHIPPING (ABS).
7. BERTHOLF HAS COME A LONG WAY IN THE FOUR YEARS SINCE THE KEEL
LAYING. WE HAVE MUCH WORK AHEAD OF US TO GET THE SHIP READY FOR
OPERATIONAL SERVICE. WHEN WE SUCCEED, WE WILL HAVE PROVIDED THE
COAST GUARD WITH THE MOST CAPABLE U.S. CUTTER EVER BUILT-READY TO
TAKE ON THE FULL SPECTRUM OF 21ST CENTURY MARITIME HOMELAND
SECURITY, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND NATIONAL DEFENSE MISSIONS.
8. MORE INFORMATION ON THE NSC CAN BE FOUND ONLINE AT
HTTP://WWW.USCG.MIL/ACQUISITION/NSC/DEFAULT.ASP
9. RADM GARY T. BLORE, ASSISTANT COMMANDANT FOR ACQUISITION, SENDS.
10. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.