R 051255Z DEC 07 ZUI ASN-A00339000002 ZYB
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-01//
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS //N09094//
ALCOAST 553/07
COMDTNOTE 9094
SUBJ: ANCIENT MARINER SITREP 3 - BERTHOLF UNDERWAY
1. DURING THIS PAST SUMMER, I HAD THE GREAT PLEASURE OF VISITING
THE NORTHRUP GRUMMAN SHIPYARD IN PASCAGOULA, MS TO VISIT BERTHOLF.
GIVEN ALL THE PUBLICITY THAT HAS SURROUNDED THIS CUTTER, I WANTED
TO WALK THE DECKS TO GAIN A SENSE OF THE QUALITY OF WORKMANSHIP,
THE FUNCTIONALITY OF DESIGN, AND THE ENHANCED CAPABILITIES THAT
ULTIMATELY WILL BE DELIVERED TO THE FLEET TO SERVE OUR CUTTERMEN
OVER THE NEXT FEW DECADES AS THEY CARRY OUT THEIR DUTIES.  I LEFT
PASCAGOULA EXCITED, VERY IMPRESSED, AND CONVINCED THAT BERTHOLF
WILL BE THE FINEST, AND MOST CAPABLE CUTTER EVER DELIVERED TO THE
COAST GUARD.
2. BERTHOLF TOOK A MAJOR STEP TOWARDS DELIVERING ON OUR
EXPECTATIONS YESTERDAY WHEN SHE GOT UNDERWAY, FOR THE FIRST TIME,
AS THE CONTRACTOR COMMENCED MACHINERY TRIALS. WHILE MUCH REMAINS TO
BE DONE PRIOR TO GOVERNMENT ACCEPTANCE OF BERTHOLF (WHICH OCCURS AT
DELIVERY IN SPRING 2008), DEPARTING THE PIER FOR THE FIRST TIME
UNDER SHIPS POWER IS A NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT.
3. DURING THE COMING MONTHS, THE COAST GUARD, OUR GOVERNMENT
PARTNERS AND INDUSTRY WILL PREPARE CGC BERTHOLF, THE FIRST OF EIGHT
NEW NATIONAL SECURITY CUTTERS (NSC), FOR TESTING AND DELIVERY.
ADDITIONALLY, TRAINING CENTER PETALUMA AND OTHERS HAVE BEEN
AGGRESSIVELY ENGAGED IN THE CRUCIAL WORK OF PREPARING THE CREWS WHO
WILL GIVE LIFE TO THE CUTTER WHEN IT PROCEEDS TO ITS HOME PORT OF
ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA. THE NSC PROJECT TEAM, INCLUDING THE PROJECT
MANAGERS REPRESENTATIVES OFFICE (PMRO) AND VALUED PARTNERS SUCH AS
THE U.S. NAVY, HAS COME A LONG WAY IN THE THREE YEARS SINCE KEEL-
LAYING. THEIR COMMITMENT AND DEDICATION TO OUR SUCCESS IS
COMMENDABLE. AS WE PREPARE FOR BERTHOLFS ARRIVAL, I SHARE IN YOUR
EXCITEMENT LOOKING FORWARD TO DELIVERY OF THE FIRST NSC. AS THE
COMMANDANT HAS STATED, BERTHOLF AND HER SISTER SHIPS PROVIDE 21ST
CENTURY CAPABILITIES THAT WILL ENABLE US TO PERFORM OUR VITAL
MISSIONS MORE EFFECTIVELY, EFFICIENTLY AND SAFELY.
4. IN THE COMING WEEKS, THE ASSISTANT COMMANDANT FOR ACQUISITION,
RADM GARY BLORE, THE DIRECTOR OF ACQUISITION PROGRAMS RDML RON
RABAGO AND THE PROJECT STAFF WILL PRODUCE FOLLOW-ON MESSAGES WITH
MORE DETAILS ON THE TESTING, EVALUATION AND ACCEPTANCE TRIALS
PROCESS.  MORE INFORMATION ON THE NSC CAN BE FOUND ONLINE AT
HTTP://WWW.USCG.MIL/DEEPWATER/SYSTEM/NSC.HTM
5. AS WE LOOK TO THE FUTURE WITH BERTHOLF, WE MUST NEVER FORGET THE
LEGACY OF OUR SEAGOING HERITAGE.  THIS FRIDAY, IT WILL BE MY HONOR
TO SERVE AS THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT A COMMEMORATION OF THE 66TH
ANNIVERSARY OF THE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR.  THE CEREMONY WILL TAKE
PLACE IN BALTIMORES INNER HARBOR, ABOARD ONE OF OUR MOST FAMOUS
CUTTERS, USCGC TANEY, THE LAST SURVIVING WARSHIP STILL AFLOAT FROM
THE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR.  AS WE HONOR ALL MEMBERS OF THE ARMED
FORCES WHO SERVED IN WORLD WAR II, WE WILL ALSO REMEMBER THE
GENERATIONS OF COAST GUARD CUTTERMEN WHO SERVED IN TANEY.  WHAT AN
EXCITING TIME TO BE IN THE COAST GUARD, CONTINUING THEIR LEGACY, AS
BERTHOLF BEGINS A NEW CHAPTER IN OUR COAST GUARD HISTORY.
6. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.
7. FAIR WINDS, VADM R. J. PAPP, CHIEF OF STAFF AND 13TH GOLD
ANCIENT MARINER SENDS.
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