Coast Guard Coastal Patrol Boat Communications Demand: An Economic Approach

摘要

The Coast Guard is examining the requirements for a new Coastal Patrol Boat toreplace the aging POINT class patrol boat. The communications capabilities of the new vessel class is of particular interest to its designers. The purpose of this thesis is to analyze the ship/shore data communications need as perceived by the operators. The theoretical framework of the study is based on economic theory and demand forecasting. Communications needs are estimated through a survey of operators both afloat and ashore with experience in the present POINT class patrol boat. Several implementation considerations are presented which, although not directly affecting the communications requirements, are important factors to the survey respondents. Three levels of service, or tiers, are then offered to meet the ship/shore communications needs identified in this study.