There would probably be some companies that would gear up to exclusively do AIDS and cover a large area. There would be others that might do only a small local area.
The local OMCIs know the local companies, workboats and mariners. They should have no problem figuring out who could do a good job in different areas of their sector.
I was thinking a master contractor for an area that would deal with individual boats so the USCG doesn’t have to worry at the “Bob’s boat is in the shop” level of detail.
No need to let a large prime contractor double the price and make more than the guys actually doing the work.
But they would have to actually do the work to get paid.
So how many civilian companies are willing to shell out the big bucks for 180’ buoy tenders? While some workboats might be able to handle smaller jobs, channel markers and such, you are going to go “heavy-duty” to handle some of the big stuff. Then they have to be brought to a buoy yard for overhauling before being placed back on station. We are talking a big industry to start from scratch.
Look at the fleet of 100’ range tugs and workboats (with cranes) that service the AIDS in the UK.
The only reason the USCG needs 180’ bouy tenders is excessively large crews. They also do other tasks.
If a profitable government contract required a 180’ bouy tender, companies would buy them.
I’ve noticed in Alaska that the USCG sometimes services the onshore (even end of the jetty) AIDS by helicopter.
The USCG has a big recruiting problem. I also think that Trump is going to refocus the USCG on border security, anti-immigration, antiterrorism, drug interdiction, and other national security and law enforcement tasks.
Do we still need a big pork barrel Aids to Navigation center in the hills of West Virginia? Sen Robert Byrd has been dead for decades.
My only thought is that the UK has a much smaller coast than we do. As for the size of the buoy tenders, There are some very large buoys out there that are most likely too large for even a 100’ foot ship. And while using “civilian” resources in place of military, buying up a "fleet’ of buoy tenders, then building a buoy yard, is going to be very expensive. I wonder how long it would take before the buoy business would be profitable. There is also the fact that buoy tenders also answer SAR calls. The Laurel out of Fort Macon/Morehead City ran a lot of SAR calls while I was PP at Fort Macon. As for A&N in West Virginia, you are absolutely correct. Grand Dragon Byrd has been dead for years. Lastly, from what I understand, the Coast Guard recruiting issue seems to be resolved and recruiting rates are rising. But what do I know, I’m just an old Coastie.