Coast Guard: Legacy Vessels' Declining Conditions Reinforce Need for More Realistic Operational Targets.

摘要

The Coast Guards legacy vessels are either approaching or have exceeded their designed life expectancies. The Coast Guard is replacing these vessels with a more capable fleet; however, cost and management problems have led to delays in the delivery of new vessels. GAO was asked to study the conditions of the legacy fleet. This report addresses: (1) how the physical condition of the Coast Guards legacy vessels changed from fiscal years 2005 through 2011, and key actions the Coast Guard has taken related to the physical condition of its legacy fleet; (2) key annual maintenance expenditure trends for the legacy vessel fleet, and the extent the Coast Guards cost-estimating process has followed established best practices; and (3) the operational capacity of the legacy vessel fleet and the extent the Coast Guard faces challenges in sustaining the legacy vessel fleet and meeting mission requirements. GAO analyzed Coast Guard data from fiscal years 2005 through 2011 on legacy vessels condition, cost, and operational performance. GAO visited five locations where vessels were based or undergoing maintenance. The results of these visits are not generalizable, but provided insights.