COAST GUARD BUOY TENDERS: ASSET OR ANACHRONISTIC LIABILITY?

Reagan Administration policies of turning government functions over to the private sector, combined with tight budgets for the Coast Guard, have placed Coast Guard's Aids to Navigation (AtoN) mission in jeopardy. The maintenance of AtoN has been a federal function since 1789 and a mission of the Coast Guard for over fifty years. The black-hulled ships and boats that perform this mission are commonly referred to as the "Black Fleet," in contrast to the traditional white Coast Guard cutters. The "capital ship" of the Black Fleet is the World War II-vintage 180-foot seagoing Buoy Tender (WLB). This class is in need of replacement, but certain quarters believe that the Black Fleet is an anachronism in today's Coast Guard and a liability in the current budgetary climate. It is contended by the author of this report that the Black Fleet, and the WLBs in particular, perform the AtoN mission in a cost-effective manner, besides giving the Coast Guard and the country unique multimission capabilities. It therefore is argued that the mission should remain with the Coast Guard and that replacement of the WLBs should continue.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Report; DTIC distribution restrictions apply
• Corporate Authors:

  Naval War College

  Newport, RI  United States 
• Authors:
  • Papp Jr, R J
• Publication Date: 1990-2-23

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 35 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cost effectiveness; Tenders
• Identifier Terms: United States Coast Guard ships
• Old TRIS Terms: Black fleet; Deactivation
• Subject Areas: Finance; Marine Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00661028
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Maritime Technical Information Facility
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 21 1994 12:00AM