Analysis of USCG Replacement Stern-Loading Buoy Boat Requirements for the Aids toNavigation Mission

摘要

At present, 19 Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Teams (ANTs) and one Search andRescue Station (Burlington, VT) are using 13 46-foot stern-loading buoy boats (BUSLs) and 12 45-foot bow-loading buoy boats (BUs). All 25 of these boats are now or will soon be in need of replacement. In 1983 there were 33 BU/BUSLs: eight of those have since been retired due to poor condition. Rather than pursue a one-for-one replacement with the new 49-foot stern-loading buoy boats (BUSLRs) currently being built, the Coast Guard asked the Volpe Center to analyze BUSLR requirements using the ATON Service Force Mix (SFM) Decision Support System (DSS). The DSS was developed previously by the Volpe Center in support of the Coast Guard's SFM 2000 Project to help determine the required fleet size and mix of replacement coastal and seagoing tenders (WLMRs and WLBRs) needed to replace the current fleet of WLMs and WLBs. In addition to the work being performed by BUs and BUSLs, the Volpe Center considered two other areas for BUSLR employment: the buoy work of Coast Guard inland tenders (WLIs) and inland construction tenders (WLICs); and the assurance of adequate secondary response capabilities for the current WLM and WLB home ports proposed for elimination by the SFM 2000 Project. The results of this analysis indicate a projected Coast Guard requirement of 44 BUSLRs. Aids to navigation, Buoy boats, Decision support system, Aids to navigation teams, Inland tenders, Inland construction tenders, Buoy tenders.