1. NOAA’s Fleet of Ships Operations and Replacement Challenges
CDR Cecile Daniels, NOAA Corps
Deputy – Program Services Division
Office of Marine and Aviation Operations
September 14, 2010

2. O&M Trends

3. OMAO vs NOAA

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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 years?

9. 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)

10. NOAA Ship Recapitalization Plan
Oct08 - Submitted to Congress

11. 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

12. Questions?
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.
Vision
To be the best in class for sea and air operations and data acquisition for NOAA and the Nation.