C4ISR problems could delay cutter construction

[unhappycamper]

The first national security cutter, Bertholf, completed four days of builder's trials in the Gulf of Mexico earlier this month.


C4ISR problems could delay cutter construction
By Philip Ewing - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Feb 26, 2008 20:24:25 EST

The Coast Guard may endure more delays in completing its inaugural national security cutter, the Bertholf, because of shielding and security problems with the ship’s command and communications suite, according to an announcement posted Monday on a Coast Guard Web site.

Inspections by the Coast Guard, contractors and the Navy’s Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command have “identified discrepancies that will be added to the list of remediation actions that need to be completed prior to final onboard testing,” the announcement said. “While there is some risk to Bertholf’s delivery schedule posed by resolution of these remediation actions, the government and industry are working collaboratively and proactively to aggressively address this risk.”

The news was the first time the Coast Guard appeared to confirm rumors, simmering for weeks around Capitol Hill and on the Internet, that the systems aboard the Bertholf did not comply with federal and Department of Defense information-security standards, known as TEMPEST. Spokespeople for the Coast Guard and contractor Lockheed Martin had separately denied to Navy Times that there would be problems with the C4ISR systems on the ship.

The announcement, signed by Rear Adm. David T. Glenn, assistant commandant and technical authority for Command, Control, Communications and Information Technology; and Capt. Leonard L. Ritter Jr. of the Office of Cyber Security and Telecommunications, appeared on the “Coast Guard Journal” blog, which debuted earlier in February with the redesigned Coast Guard Web site.

In an interview Tuesday with Navy Times, Ritter said that the “issues and discrepancies” included such things as cables not yet being grounded and tables or bulkheads not shielded enough to protect transmissions emanating from the communications gear. Some of the “issues” came from inspections that took place before the systems were installed. Ritter said senior Coast Guard officials and Integrated Coast Guard Systems would have to work out the details about whether those issues would delay the Bertholf’s delivery, which is scheduled for this spring, and whether they would be repaired before or after the Coast Guard accepted the ship.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/02/coastguard_bertholf_delays_080226w/



uhc comment: Meet the $536,000,000 Bertholf:

USCGC Bertholf (WMSL-750)

USCGC Bertholf (WMSL 750) is the planned name of the first Legend-class maritime security cutter of the United States Coast Guard. It is named for Ellsworth P. Bertholf, former Commandant of both the Revenue Cutter Service and Coast Guard.

Construction began in 2005 by Northrop Grumman's Ship System Ingalls Shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi. The ship was launched on September 29, 2006,<1> and christened November 11, 2006.<2>

During the second quarter of 2007 it is expected that crew members will travel to Pascagoula for training and familiarization, with transfer ownership to the Coast Guard in August 2007. Following Ready for Sea trials, Bertholf will make an east coast patrol, then make way to its home port on the west coast via the Panama Canal, arriving in Alameda, California by the end of 2007.<3>


You can also read about the building of this Deepwater cutter --> http://www.professionalmariner.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=9B85045A2FDB4F5E8F19619932075E65