ACN 090/20 - JUL 2020 MODERNIZATION OF COAST GUARD OIL SPILL RESPONSE EQUIPMENT PROGRAM

ALCOAST COMMANDANT NOTICE                               CANCEL DATE  21 JUL 2021

R 221057 JUL 20
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-5RI//
TO ALCOAST 
UNCLAS //N16465//
ACN 090/20
SUBJ:  MODERNIZATION OF COAST GUARD OIL SPILL RESPONSE EQUIPMENT PROGRAM
A. U.S. Coast Guard Marine Environmental Response and Preparedness Manual,
COMDTINST M16000.14A
B. U.S. Coast Guard Personal Property Management Manual, COMDTINST M4500.5D
1. Effective immediately, this ACN directs the removal of all Spilled Oil Recovery
Systems (SORS) from the seagoing buoy tenders (WLB), the divestiture of excess Vessel
of Opportunity Skimming Systems (VOSS) in Districts 7 and 14, the divestiture of excess
SORS training equipment at the National Strike Force, and provides guidance on the
divestiture process. The existing VOSS capability will be retained at National Strike
Force (NSF) units. To replace the capability provided by SORS, COMDT (CG-5RI) will fully
support the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Navy Supervisor of Salvage (SUPSALV) joint training
and exercise program. This ACN supersedes SORS deployment and carriage requirements
outlined in REF (A). 
2. WLBs, in coordination with the respective District Response Advisory Team (DRAT),
will remove all SORS gear from the cargo hold and demilitarize the equipment prior to
commencing the divestiture process. The Shore Infrastructure Logistics Center Waterways
Operations Product Line (SILC-WOPL) will send specific demilitarizing instructions to
DRATs/WLBs. 
3. The SORS gear required to be removed by this ACN weighs approximately 10 Long Tons.
Removal of this equipment will not adversely affect stability, but cutter Engineering
Officers are responsible for updating the ship’s Flooding Casualty Control Software to
reflect the new arrangement. The SORS Cargo Hold (3-39-0-AA) must be used as a cargo
hold with the following limitations:
   a. The maximum cargo hold compartment load capacity is 26.79 long tons (60,000 pounds),
and
   b. The maximum load capacity is 138 pounds per square foot. 
4. Any configuration changes to the space must be pursued in accordance with the Joint
Engineering Change Process Guide, CGTO PG-85-00-900-G. As a reminder, the cargo hold
does not have the necessary accommodations for habitability (e.g., HVAC, lighting,
escape routes). Additional guidance will be disseminated from Surface Forces Logistics
Center Icebreaker, Buoy, and Construction Tender Product Line (SFLC-IBCTPL) regarding
layup of the SORS Hydraulic Power Unit (HPU) and modifications to the preventive
maintenance deck.
5. WLBs, in coordination with SILC-WOPL and COMDT (CG-844), will take the following
initial steps of the divestiture process:
   a. WLBs will offload SORS assets and remove all Coast Guard markings.
   b. WLBs will relocate SORS assets to safe and secure storage that is protected from
the elements until final disposition instructions are issued by COMDT (CG-844). While
inside storage is preferred, outside storage covered with tarpaulins is acceptable.
   c. SILC-WOPL will provide each WLB with a template form CG-4501, Report of Excess
Personal Property and its associated Mass Continuation Sheet listing of the SORS assets
to be divested for ship quantity, DEMIL, and condition code validation.
   d. The WLB’s Accountable Property Officer (APO) will complete the CG-4501 IAW REF (B)
and return the completed form to SILC-WOPL (Mr. Alvin Mike Crickard at
Alvin.m.crickard@uscg.mil).
   e. WLBs are required to maintain and safeguard the SORS assets until COMDT (CG-844)
issues final disposition release or transfer authority. WLBs may arrange for an individual
from a co-located shore-side unit to serve as an alternate POC who can provide access
to the equipment if the WLB is away from homeport.  
   f. SILC-WOPL, in coordination with COMDT (CG-844) will provide guidance to WLBs unable
to offload the SORS assets at their homeport due to extended deployments or dry-docking
on a case-by-case basis.
6. SILC-WOPL will divest of all remaining SORS equipment in the National Maintenance
Contract (NMC) warehouse as soon as practical.
7. Districts retaining VOSS equipment should coordinate with SILC-WOPL as they consider
storing spare parts locally due to the termination of the NMC warehouse. 
8. As the process of SORS divestment proceeds, SILC-WOPL will provide COMDT (CG-MER)
status updates when the following milestones are met:
   a. SORS assets have been removed from the vessel.
   b. SORS/applicable VOSS have been demilitarized.
   c. Final divestment of SORS assets on specific WLBs has been achieved.
9. These changes will be incorporated into the next revision of REF (A), which will be
released within the next year. 
10. POC: COMDT (CG-MER-1): CDR James Weaver, 202-372-2247; SILC-WOPL: Mr. Alvin M. Crickard,
252-331-6000 x4363;
COMDT (CG-844): Ms. Robin M. MacMillan, 757-579-6257; COMDT (CG-45): CDR Andres Camargo,
(202) 475-5720; COMDT (CG-7513): LCDR Patrick Armstrong, (202) 372-2341.
11. Released by Ms. Dana S. Tulis, Director of Emergency Management.
12. Internet release is authorized.