Deepwater Program Research Articles

Deepwater or Troubled Water? Principal–Agent Theory and Performance-Based Contracting in the Coast Guard’s Deepwater Modernization Program

ABSTRACTIn the mid-1990s, the United States Coast Guard began planning a modernization effort known as the Deepwater program to replace an aging inventory of cutters, aircraft, and small boats. This effort involved a consortium of corporations to develop a “system of systems” to meet performance-based requirements and build the new equipment. This article examines the Deepwater program through the lens of multilayered principal–agent theory and evaluates the performance-based contracting (PBC) method used to alleviate strains linked to accountability from the principal–agent relationship. The findings help better understand the dilemmas prescribed from multilayered principal–agent theory and PBC by illustrating the accountability issues faced by smaller organizations when engaging in complex, large-scale procurement.

Trevor L. Brown, Matthew Potoski, and David M. Van Slyke, Complex Contracting: Government Purchasing in the Wake of the US Coast Guard's Deepwater Program (Cambridge, 2013). 268 pp. $43.81 (hardcover), ISBN: 9781107038622.

<i>Trevor L. Brown, Matthew Potoski, and David M. Van Slyke</i>, Complex Contracting: Government Purchasing in the Wake of the US Coast Guard's Deepwater Program <i>(Cambridge, 2013). 268 pp. $43.81 (hardcover), ISBN: 9781107038622</i>.

Stress wave propagation analysis on vortex-induced vibration of marine risers

To analyze the stress wave propagation associated with the vortex-induced vibration (VIV) of a marine riser, this paper employed a multi-signal complex exponential method. This method is an extension of the classical Prony’s method which decomposes a complicated signal into a number of complex exponential components. Because the proposed method processes multiple signals simultaneously, it can estimate the “global” dominating frequencies (poles) shared by those signals. The complex amplitude (residues) corresponding to the estimated frequencies for those signals is also obtained in the process. As the signals were collected at different locations along the axial direction of a marine riser, the phenomena of the stress wave propagation could be analyzed through the obtained residues of those signals. The Norwegian Deepwater Program (NDP) high mode test data were utilized in the numerical studies, including data sets in both the in-line (IL) and cross-flow (CF) directions. It was found that the most dominant component in the IL direction has its stress wave propagation along the riser being dominated by a standing wave, while that in the CF direction dominated by a traveling wave.

Ed GerrishComplex Contracting: Government Purchasing in the Wake of the U.S. Coast Guard's Deepwater Program, by Trevor Brown, Matthew Potoski, and David Van Slyke, New York: Cambridge University Press, 2013, 268 pp., $60.

<b>Ed Gerrish</b>Complex Contracting: Government Purchasing in the Wake of the U.S. Coast Guard's Deepwater Program, by Trevor Brown, Matthew Potoski, and David Van Slyke, New York: Cambridge University Press, 2013, 268 pp., $60.

Spectral Formulations for Vortex Induced Vibration Modal Decomposition and Reconstruction

Modal decomposition and reconstruction (MDR) of marine riser vortex induced vibration (VIV) is a technique where vibration is measured using accelerometers and/or angular rate sensors, the modal displacements are solved for and the stress and fatigue damage is reconstructed along the riser. Recent developments have greatly increased the accuracy and reliability of the method. However the computational burden is onerous due to stress time history reconstruction and rainflow cycle counting at every desired location along the riser. In addition, fully synchronous data are required to reconstruct the stress histories. Dirlik’s method for obtaining rainflow damage for Gaussian random stress using only spectral information (four spectral automoments) has proven to be quite accurate with a significant reduction in computational effort. In this paper two spectral formulations of MDR are introduced. The first method is applicable when all the measured data are synchronous. In this method, spectral cross moments of the modal displacements are solved from the spectral cross moments of the measured data using basis vectors consisting of normal mode shapes. The spectral automoments of stress are obtained from the modal displacement cross moments and analytical stress mode shapes. Dirlik’s method is then applied to obtain rainflow damage. The second method is a generalization of the first, where the measured data cross moments are only partially known. This method is applicable when measured data are partially synchronous or asynchronous. A numerical root-finding technique is employed to solve for the modal response cross moments. The method then proceeds in the same manner as the first. The spectral methods are applied to simulated VIV data of a full-scale deepwater riser and to Norwegian Deepwater Program (NDP) scale-model test data on a 38 m long slender riser. Comparisons of reconstructed fatigue damage versus simulated or measured damage indicate that the method is capable of estimating fatigue damage accurately for Gaussian VIV even when data are not fully synchronous. It is also shown that computational cost is greatly reduced.

A Network-Centric Approach to Maritime Domain Awareness

The Integrated Deepwater System's C4ISR (command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, reconnaissance, and surveillance) system is a critical element in the U.S. Coast Guard's efforts to modernize its aging force structure and implement its maritime strategy for homeland security. >> Conceived during the 1990s, the fully implemented Deepwater program will consist of three classes of new cutters and their associated small boats, a new and upgraded fixed-wing manned aircraft fleet, a combination of new and upgraded helicopters, both cutter-based and land-based unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and highly improved systems for C4ISR and advanced logistics capabilities. Integrated Coast Guard Systems (ICGS, a joint venture between Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman) is Deepwater's partner in industry and systems integrator. >> Deepwater's C4ISR capability improvements will contribute to higher levels of maritime domain awareness (comprehensive information, intelligence, and knowledge of all relevant entities within the U.S. maritime domain, and their respective activities, that could affect U.S. security, safety, economy, or environment). The Integrated Deepwater System (IDS) will play an important role in transforming the Coast Guard to meet the nation's 21st-century maritime-security requirements

Sediment accumulation and radionuclide inventories ( 239,240Pu, 210Pb and 234Th) in the northern Gulf of Mexico, as influenced by organic matter and macrofaunal density

Six cores were collected from the Northern Gulf of Mexico (GOM) as part of the “Deepwater Program: Northern Gulf of Mexico Continental Slope Habitats and Benthic Ecology” (DGoMB). These cores were collected from water depths ranging from ≈700 to 3500 m and processed for radiochemical assays to determine particle reworking (bioturbation) and sedimentation rates in these sediments, pursuant to the research objective to investigate biological, chemical, and physical processes that control the environmental setting for GOM benthic fauna. Bioturbation rates were quantitatively derived from 234Th xs profiles, with 234Th xs penetration depths ranging between 0.5 and 4 cm, and bioturbation coefficient values ( D b), ranging from ≈2 to 30 cm 2/year. 234Th xs data were also used to determine the shallow depth limit for particle mixing. Significant values of 239,240Pu were found over the 3–15 cm depth range, without any pronounced peak activities suitable for sediment dating, indicating periodic and nonlocal mixing events. Sedimentation rates ( S) were therefore calculated from 210Pb xs profiles, assuming steady state conditions, and using the constant flux-constant sedimentation (CF-CS) model. However, only 210Pb xs data below the 239,240Pu penetration depth were used for the purpose of determining an upper limit of S. The range of apparent sedimentation rates determined by this approach for these stations is 0.04–0.44 cm/year, after approximately 1000 m depth, sedimentation becomes essentially constant at ≈0.08 cm/year. To the best of our knowledge, there are no other published sedimentation rates for the GOM outside the immediate area of the Mississippi River Delta region. However, estimates of sedimentation rates presented here fall in line with rates from similar continental margin marine settings. 239,240Pu and 210Pb xs inventories are positively correlated ( r=0.91, p=0.01; r=0.80, p=0.05, respectively) with macrofauna density, which itself correlates well ( r=0.94, p=0.005) to particulate organic carbon (POC) inventories over the top 5 cm, the approximate average particle mixing (bioturbation) depths of 234Th xs at these GOM stations. However, these inventories did not correlate to benthic mixing intensities and depths. High macrofaunal densities and bioturbation intensities are a consequence of elevated rain rates of organic carbon, which is efficiently degraded at the sediment–water interface before incorporation into the sedimentary record. We hypothesize that relatively high densities of macrofauna in a given location on the sea floor, provide for a well mixed near surface sediment layer, wherein fallout radionuclides are more efficiently incorporated via adsorption and mixing into the sediment profile as compared to locations where macrofaunal densities are less, even when radionuclide fluxes might be similar.

DD(X) and Coast Guard Deepwater Program Will Inspire Technical Papers and Symposia Presentations

DD(X) and Coast Guard Deepwater Program Will Inspire Technical Papers and Symposia Presentations

大水深海域の開発動向と国内におけるチャレンジ

The world offshore operation is moving to the deeper and deeper water recently. Japan also has its first deepwater program of drilling two MITI wells offshore Japan in 1999. One well is targeting the natural hydrate, which is very new even in the world. This lecture outlines the world trend of deepwater exploration first, then introduces the forthcoming domesticdeepwater program with discussion of technology and safety consideration for this challenging project.

The Future of Minimal Manning and Its Effects on the Acquisition and Life-Cycle Costs of Major Coast Guard Cutters

Since the 1970's, the world's merchant fleets have been pursuing crew reductions as a way to cut costs: however, the United States military has been slow to adopt this trend. In the current age of tight budgets and defense cutbacks, the Coast Guard and Navy can no longer afford to continue in this manner. Both services have now initiated research and acquisition projects which address minimal manning. These projects must be carried out and minimal manning practices implemented if our sea going services are expected to maintain their edge as world leaders. This paper presents a study designed to research the quest for minimally manned crews and its applicability to military vessels. It is meant to provide guidance to the United States Coast Guard and other interested parties on future surface combatant acquisition projects including but not limited to the Coast Guard Deepwater Program. Emphasis is placed on the theory behind automation and the organizational impacts associated with minimal manning.