Summary
A major Coast Guard modernization program has been so badly mismanaged that the service now has boats that don't float, marine radios that aren't waterproof and replacement vessels and aircraft that are years behind schedule and millions of dollars over budget. This happened, according to news reports, because the Coast Guard allowed private contractors to manage the massive project with little oversight and because Congress failed to be more aggressive when problems became known. Going forward, congressional overseers must ensure that basic criteria, such as hulls that won't crack and buckle in heavy seas, are met before authorizing any more money for the project.
The modernization program, known as Deepwater, called for 91 new ships and 124 small boats, 195 new or rebuilt helicopters and 49 unmanned aerial vehicles at a cost of $17 billion. The new and refurbished equipment was needed to reinvigorate the Coast Guard's aged fleet to help it meet its expanded mission, especially after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.See the full content of this document
Extract
Troubled Deep Water
Because the overhaul involved all its equipment, the Coast Guard decided to allow an entity formed...
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