NOAA’s Fleet of ShipsOperations and Replacement

Challenges

CDR Cecile Daniels, NOAA Corps

Deputy – Program Services Division

Office of Marine and Aviation Operations

September 14, 2010

O&M Trends

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OMAO vs NOAA

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Operational Funding

• Annual appropriations (O&M) fund core operations of OMAO fleet and shore side support staff– Approx 3,300 operating days on NOAA ships – Approx 750 chartered vessel operating days

• Even with budget increases, challenged to meet NOAA mission requirements

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Capital Asset Funds

• Procurement, Acquisition and Construction (PAC) funds received for ship construction and major repair / service life extension

• Challenges– Acquisition cost estimate– Maintenance costs– Life cycle costs / service life assumptions– Performance measures / return on investment

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Acquisition Cost Estimates

• Requirements definition• Multi-purpose craft or unique capability?

– Common suite of capabilities• Cost trade-off study limitations• Estimation tools for advanced research

ships limited– Initial budget cost estimate accuracy +/- 40%,

but estimate held as max cost by NOAA / DOC / OMB

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Maintenance Costs

• Appropriate maintenance and reliability / availability levels not specified

• Current maintenance constrained by appropriated funds results in substantial work backlog

• Aging fleet• Newer ships increasingly complex

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Life cycle costs / service life assumptions

• No effective way to estimate life cycle costs and perform trade-offs during concept development stage

• Common support / training advantages and savings

• 30-year service life realistic given tendency to operate for 35-50 years?

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Performance measures / return on investment

• Effective budget defense for capital acquisition requires– Science-based outcome performance

measures– Efficiency measures– Approved plan (e.g. Ship Recap Plan)

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NOAA Ship Recapitalization Plan

• Oct08 - Submitted to Congress

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SRP1 Execution

• FSV6 construction on schedule• FSV5 (Shallow-draft) design and

construction delayed to FY13 start (at the earliest)

• FSV7 (Miller Freeman) replacement delayed to FY13 start (at the earliest)

• NSV class design and construction delayed

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Questions?

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http://www.omao.noaa.gov/

Mission To safely and efficiently operate NOAA ships and aircraft, incorporate emerging data acquisition technologies, and provide a specialized professional team responsive to NOAA programs.

VisionTo be the best in class for sea and air operations and data acquisition for NOAA and the Nation.