R 062205Z NOV 09

ALCOAST 638/09
COMDTNOTE 3100
SUBJ: WAESCHE DELIVERED TO COAST GUARD
1.  THE COAST GUARD CONDUCTED PRELIMINARY ACCEPTANCE OF THE SECOND
NATIONAL SECURITY CUTTER, WAESCHE (WMSL 751), AT NORTHROP GRUMMAN
SHIPBUILDING IN PASCAGOULA, MISS., ON NOVEMBER 6, 2009.
PRELIMINARY ACCEPTANCE REPRESENTS THE OFFICIAL TRANSFER FROM THE
SHIPBUILDER TO THE COAST GUARD AND IS A MAJOR MILESTONE IN WAESCHES
TRANSITION TO FULL OPERATIONAL STATUS IN THE COAST GUARDS FLEET.
2. VADM DAVID PEKOSKE, THE COAST GUARDS COMPONENT ACQUISITION
EXECUTIVE, REVIEWED THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF U.S. NAVYS BOARD OF
INSPECTION AND SURVEY (INSURV).  THE BOARD CONSISTED OF WAESCHES
PROSPECTIVE COMMANDING OFFICER, CAPT LANCE BARDO AND A COAST GUARD
EXECUTIVE BOARD CONSISTING OF SENIOR LEADERS FROM THE COAST GUARDS
ACQUISITION DIRECTORATE, OPERATIONS DIRECTORATE AND TECHNICAL
AUTHORITIES.
3. PRELIMINARY ACCEPTANCE MARKS THE SIGNING OF THE MATERIAL
INSPECTION AND RECEIVING REPORT KNOWN AS A DD250.  THE SIGNED DD250
REPRESENTS CONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE OF THE CUTTER BY THE COAST GUARD.
IT FORMALLY DOCUMENTS THE CUTTERS INSPECTION AND RECEIPT BY THE
GOVERNMENT.  THE DD250 ALSO NOTES ANY OUTSTANDING CONTRACTUAL
DISCREPANCIES.
4. TODAYS DELIVERY ALLOWS WAESCHE TO ENTER "IN-COMMISSION SPECIAL"
STATUS PRIOR TO FORMAL COMMISSIONING.
5. WAESCHES SAIL AWAY FROM PASCAGOULA IS SCHEDULED FOR LATE
DECEMBER. LATER, SHE WILL MAKE HER WAY TO HER HOME PORT
IN ALAMEDA, CALIF. TO PREPARE FOR FORMAL COMMISSIONING NEXT MAY.
6. FINAL ACCEPTANCE OF WAESCHE WILL OCCUR FOLLOWING A YEAR-LONG
WARRANTY PERIOD AND COMPLETION OF FINAL CONTRACT TRIALS.
IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING DELIVERY, THE CUTTER WILL ENTER A POST
DELIVERY EVALUATION PERIOD OF APPROXIMATELY 18 TO 24 MONTHS, DURING
WHICH IT WILL UNDERGO POST SHAKEDOWN AVAILABILITIES PREPARING HER
TO MEET ALL PERFORMANCE AND OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS.
7. DURING THE RECENTLY COMPLETED ACCEPTANCE TRIALS, THE U.S. NAVYS
BOARD OF INSPECTION AND SURVEY (INSURV) RECOMMENDED ACCEPTANCE AND
LAUDED THE WAESCHE FOR MEETING OR EXCEEDING READINESS EXPECTATIONS.
THE POSITIVE RESULTS OF WAESCHES ACCEPTANCE TRIALS REFLECT LESSONS
LEARNED FROM THE FIRST NATIONAL SECURITY CUTTER, BERTHOLF (WMSL
750).  AT DELIVERY, WAESCHE WAS AHEAD OF BERTHOLF IN MANY AREAS
INCLUDING SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT TESTING, AND QUALITY OF
WORKMANSHIP, AS WELL AS COMPLETENESS AT DELIVERY.
8. THE COAST GUARD IS VERY PROUD OF THE HARD WORK DONE BY OUR
ACQUISITION, ENGINEERING AND OPERATIONAL PROFESSIONALS TO MAKE THIS
SHIP READY FOR DELIVERY.  I COMMEND THE EXTRA EFFORTS AND DILIGENCE
OF THE GULF COAST PROJECT RESIDENT OFFICE,WAESHCES COMMANDING
OFFICER AND CREW, THE NSC PROJECT TEAM, TECHNICAL AUTHORITIES, THE
SPONSOR, THE TRIAL OBSERVATION TEAM AND THE SHIPBUILDERS, RESULTING
IN TODAYS SUCCESSFUL DELIVERY.  WE ARE ALSO APPRECIATIVE OF THE
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE U.S. NAVY THROUGHOUT THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS.
9. MORE INFORMATION ON THE NSC PROGRAM CAN BE FOUND AT
HTTP://WWW.USCG.MIL/ACQUISITION/NSC/DEFAULT.ASP.
10. RADM RONALD J. RABAGO, ASSISTANT COMMANDANT FOR ACQUISITION,
SENDS.
11. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.