Vessel Procurement (and Maintenance)

A Federal Perspective

U.S. Geological Survey Great Lakes Science Center Russell StrachDirector, USGS GLSCJanuary 11, 2011

U.S. Department of the InteriorU.S. Geological Survey

Outline1. Background

2. The GLSC Large Vessel Fleet

3. New AARA-funded Vessels & R/V Grayling

4. Challenges Faced by the GLSC

BackgroundThe USGS Great Lakes Science Center

• Headquarters located in Ann Arbor

• 8 Field Stations throughout the basin

• Mission: To advance scientific information for restoring, enhancing, managing, and protecting the living resources and their habitats in the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem

Aerial view of the GLSC

The GLSC and its eight field stations

Background

• Better understand GLASS and its roles and capabilities• Education

What are the GLSC’s Goals for this Workshop?

• To contribute to a more cohesive inter-vessel support system for users of Great Lakes science vessel resources

• Highlight need for the development of inter-vessel procurement and maintenance strategies

BackgroundEvaluating Where We Are Today and Moving Forward

• Currently there is no standardization for vessel replacement or vessel maintenance across vessel ownerships

• Basic equipment could be standardized across vessels

• Some of the vessels in our fleet are undersubscribed (lost potential)

• Procurement, maintenance, and transferability appears loosely interconnected – is an overarching strategy missing?

BackgroundTransitioning from Discussion to Action

The following text was excerpted from the invitation for the 2003 Workshop (found on the GLASS website):

“Need to craft and refine an action plan, to promote – through enhanced communication and cooperation – the more efficient and cost effective use of the Great Lakes Science

Vessel resources.

One of the recommendations from the first workshop in 1997, which has been reconfirmed each subsequent year, is to annually convene a Great Lakes Science Vessel Workshop to provide a forum for continued discussion of important issues and to gauge

progress on implementing recommendations from the action plan”.

Questions: • How has the action plan progressed?• Does it include procurement, maintenance, and standard

equipment?• What actions are critical to move this along?

Outline1. Background

2. The GLSC Large Vessel Fleet

3. New AARA-funded Vessels & R/V Grayling

4. Challenges Faced by the GLSC

The GLSC Large Vessel FleetThe GLSC owns and operates a large research vessel on each of the Great Lakes

R/V Grayling on Lake Huron

R/V Kaho on Lake Ontario

R/V Sturgeon on Lake Michigan R/V Kiyi on Lake Superior

R/V Musky II on Lake Erie

The GLSC Large Vessel FleetSummary of the GLSC Large Vessel Fleet

Research Vessel Lake(s) Field Season Operation Days / Year

Kiyi Superior Year-Round 125

Sturgeon Huron, Michigan

May to November 100

Grayling Huron, Michigan

April to December

125

Musky II Erie April to November

50

Kaho Ontario April to November

60

Outline1. Background

2. The GLSC Large Vessel Fleet

3. New AARA-funded Vessels (& R/V Grayling?)

4. Challenges Faced by the GLSC

New AARA-funded Vessels (& R/V Grayling?)

New AARA-funded Vessels - Background

• June 2010, GLSC awarded $8.2M in AARA funding

• New vessels will replace: • R/V Musky II – Built in 1960• R/V Kaho – Built in 1961

• New vessels will have greater research capabilities, better fuel efficiency and lower maintenance costs

• Expected completion: September 2011

The R/V Kaho on Lake Ontario

The R/V Musky II on Lake Erie

New AARA-funded Vessels (& R/V Grayling?)

Potential Replacement of the R/V Grayling - Background

• 32 years of age - no longer suitable for 21st science, instrumentation / experimentation antiquated

• Frequent breakdowns, replacement will become critical in the next 5 years

• Business Case Analysis for replacement project will be presented to the National Investment Review Board on January 26

• If approved, same naval architect drawings & design specifications will be used as for the ARRA-funded vessels will be used

R/V Grayling towing a net

New AARA-funded Vessels (& R/V Grayling?)

Crew Size Requirements

• The ship specifications for the GLSC vessels call for the vessel to have berthing for six (6): One (1) Master One (1) Mate Four (4) Scientists

• The ships and scientific systems are designed to minimize required operating crew size Must be capable of being operated by a crew of two (2)

when not undergoing a science mission▫ Crew must be capable of performing routine & preventative

maintenance

New AARA-funded Vessels (& R/V Grayling?)

Deployment Length Requirements

• The ships will operate independently without fleet support

• Up to 100 days / year at sea

• Missions lasting up to 12 hours/day

• Designed and constructed for a 50-year service life

• Low maintenance, high reliability, and redundancy are important to achieve these goals

New AARA-funded Vessels (& R/V Grayling?)

Vessel Design & Speed Requirements

Design Characteristic

Per Specifications

Length overall 71 ft, 9 inLength waterline 66 ftBeam (Maximum) 18 ftDraft (Maximum) 5 ftFreeboard 3 ft min.; 4 ft max.Gross Tonnage (GRT) < 100 TonsMaximum Lightship Weight 65 Short TonsMaximum Air Draft 21 ft above waterline Maximum Speed 15 kts +Economic Fuel Speed 12 kts

New AARA-funded Vessels (& R/V Grayling?)

Other Requirements Included in the Statement of Work (SOW)• Dry Lab/Galley

• Wet Lab

• Over-the-stern and Over-the-side Handling

• Deck Equipment – Cranes, winches, stern frame Everything except the crane shall be demountable

• Working Deck Area – As clear as possible; safe weather decks

An aluminum plate that comes to

shipyard from the supplier with the parts cut out on a

semi truck.

This is mainly of the aft module keel and

other parts.

Both vessels inside the construction building

The bow looking aft to the mid-ship

bulkhead

Working being done on the bow section

R/V Grayling Replacement ProcessDecision Process for Replacement of the R/V Grayling

Develop a Business

Case Analysis

(BCA)

• ~90 days

Send BCAfor Review / Make Edits

• ~270 days

Present BCA to National Investment

Review Board

IRB approval pending,

inclusion in 2013 budget

Begin Design SOW

1 year

Need to secure funding (FY2013)

The R/V Grayling

New AARA-funded Vessels & R/V Grayling

• Great Lakes Towing Company

Ship drawings Construction IDIQ

Our Vessel Procurement and Maintenance Partners • JMS

Condition assessments Design for retrofits (i.e., new anchor for the R/V Kiyi)

• ALION – ALLIANT IDIQ contract

▫ Preliminary design▫ Program management▫ Final design

▫Schwartz Boiler Company - IDIQ

Outline1. Background

2. The GLSC Large Vessel Fleet

3. New AARA-funded Vessels & R/V Grayling

4. Challenges Faced by the GLSC

Food for Panel DiscussionQuestions to Consider…

• Who really cares about the condition of the fleet?

• How do we simplify/ standardize processes?

• How can we be more strategic and effective?

• How do we elevate and expand understanding and support?

QUESTIONS?