I hope they do a better job than what they did for PASHA and the two warships they delivered.
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The Navy is involved with this project, with the USCG. So we immediately know it will be well beyond budget, years behind schedule and likely not be able to pass any sea trials without something significant not functioning as designed, break down, or not even be ready to be tested until “after delivery”. Probably ALL THREE.
I predict the USCG will receive ONE heavy class icebreaker, double the cost, likely 3 years behind schedule (delivery date) and it will probably have a laundry list of issues as it is delivered to the USCG that will prevent it from fulfilling its mission into any polar region for at least 1 or 2 years beyond its intended mission schedule.
Is there any entity in the USA today that can be involved with the Federal gov’t in a project to design and construct a sea-going platform, oversee its construction, and deliver the vessel that was intended to be built, function as designed, and operate without some monumental catastrophe…on schedule and within budget???
Thats not a challenge. Its an honest question.
Is that unrealistic to ask? Can a shipyard be given a set of design specs and details that will be left alone and NOT changed as the vessel is being built, subjecting it to constant change orders, redesign, and other costly budget-busting and schedule delay issues??? Why are US built Navy ships so horribly done, by design, construction, and function??
Our Navy has the ability to do a horrific job of building…anything.
Now, the USCG is about to embark on another disastrous effort. Maybe I’m a pessimist. But I see the newest Cutter, the KIMBALL, delivered to Honolulu recently. It’s already out of service at her home dock, scaffolding all over her decks, in what appears to be some dockside maintenance or repairs.
Why? Its brand friggin’ new?? Whats up with that?
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Doubts about VT Halter’s ability to build the ship are already appearing in the media:
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The Pasha ships certainly don’t impress me.
I fear that these new USCG ice breakers will be billion dollar boondoggles.
While we generally get what we pay for on the commercial side, the US Government has a knack for paying five times too much for things that don’t work. Remember the LCS program?
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Hopefully better than HOS 320 series vessels I sailed on as well.
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Remember it? I wish I could forget it but the monster seems that it will live forever!
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Who is the designer? A lot of problems with a ship are the result of poor design and specifications, and attempting to save a few bucks here and there on material. Not necessarily who builds it
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How about aircraft carriers that can’t launch planes.
Yes. Agree emphatically.
I brought up the PASHA ships. And let me be clear, it is NOT the PASHA company I take issue with, but the ship that was built by VT Halter. In fact, PASHA is a company I admire and have much respect for, given what the family has accomplished and what they are doing here in Hawaii. I go aboard their two ships all the time here in Hawaii. Great officers and crews, lead by management I actually know and have worked with.
But VT Halter built the first hull for PASHA at a troublesome time for their yard. In fact, I believe they went into bankruptcy in the middle of building PASHA’s first hull. Nothing to do with PASHA, but it delayed delivery. Halter emerged from that period and finished the ship. That was back in 2005 I believe. More recently, the second of PASHA’s ship was delivered from VT Halter. A completely different design taken from a European firm, a copy of the GRIMALDI ships we so often see.
And herein is the example. It is the design. No gangway. Who builds a ship without a way of getting aboard? Up the auto ramp, of course. But that takes awhile to get down. Some other aspects of the design seem not so well thought out. But it’s an example of Naval Architecture that screams for a designer that has some experience aboard a ship and what that ship actually does day to day.
On a side note. In recent years Matson has been taking cadets from the Naval Architecture school on the east coast. I believe it is called ‘Westlawn’ and it is a rather unique place. I bend over backwards to engage with them after the job (or before we get underway) and discuss with them things they have learned or are curious about. This is a great idea (Naval Architecture students at sea) and I would encourage any similar school to do the same.
Lets hope VT Halter does a good job on these icebreakers. But based on work from the past, I’m not holding my breath. Especially as it is a military contract.
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Webb Institute. Phenomenally smart people
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YES!! Thanks. Webb Institute. My understanding is they take in exceptionally smart students and the tuition is free. From what little I know, that is indeed a pretty phenomenal institution of higher learning.
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There were Webb cadets on one ship I was on, one of them told me that the first time she applied to Webb she was turned down, so she went to MIT for a year and was then admitted to Webb.
Webb is indeed tuition free, it is a truly unique school.
I do not think that the USCG has the ability to successfully oversee the design and construction of new icebreakers.
I don’t know who designed them, but unless it someone that specializes in icebreakers, I doubt the design.
I would not trust Halter to build an outhouse, much less an icebreaker.
This is going to be another epic billion dollar boondoggle.
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That is downright Socialism. It will have to be stopped before it contaminate the young generation with ideas that is not wanted.
remember the original movie “the flight of the pheonix” where one actor says to the designer: " sometimes I don’t see how you guys (engineers) won the war. (ww2) “progress marches on” even if on a crooked line. so some guys will have to sail a horrible design for a few decades… but they’ll get it right the next time huh?
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They were founded in 1889, and it used to all free, now a student must pay room/board, books and computer.
P.S. Cal-State was tuition free until the late 60’s
More info on the VT Halter design. 45,200 shp is nearly as much as the proposed, slightly bigger Canadian polar icebreaker. I hope someone realizes that they are about 300 kW short and uprates the propulsion motors - otherwise there’ll be one hell of a penis envy when (if) the Canadians get their hull in the water…
Interestingly, the design is claimed to be based on the German Polarstern II “currently in design and construction in Germany”. To my knowledge, the Germans haven’t even selected a shipyard to build their polar research vessel…
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The ship design is an evolution from the mature Polar Stern II , currently in design and construction in Germany.
How is it mature if it’s not built yet?
Crazy world we live in, the vessel with the highest Polar class is going to be a French cruise ship in a few years. The Arctic nations has really dropped the ball.
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Not really. Just the opposite. It’s owned by a private entity. The tuition is free because a philanthropist pays for everything. NOT the gov’t.
Therefore, the graduates aren’t tainted by any obligation to the gov’t when they leave.
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Le Commandant Charcot will also be more powerful than USCG’s new polar icebreaker…