http://www.oig.dot.gov/rss.jsp?subject=25 The 10 most recent releases on the U.S. DoT OIG web site related to Coast Guard en-US webmaster@oig.dot.gov (OIG Webmaster) http://www.oig.dot.gov/images/dot.gif http://www.oig.dot.gov/rss.jsp?subject=25 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=1222 Three former senior engineers for Norwegian Cruise Line were indicted by a Federal grand jury in Miami, FL, for their role in concealing the overboard dumping of waste oil from the SS Norway cruise ship in false log books designed to deceive the U.S. Coast Guard. In a related case, Norwegian Cruise Lines was fined $1 million on July 31, 2002 by a U.S. District Court judge in Miami, after pleading guilty to discharging oily bilge wastes into the sea and repeatedly lying to the Coast Guard about the practice over a period of years. Both investigations were conducted by OIG, U.S. Coast Guard, EPA, the FBI, MiamiDade Police Department, and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Thu, 18 Dec 2003 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=1222 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=1078 Mon, 14 Apr 2003 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=1078 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=1012 This report contains sensitive security information, and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will determine if any portions are publicly released. For additional information, contact TSAs Freedom of Information Act Office at (571) 2272300 or (866) FOIATSA. Fri, 28 Feb 2003 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=1012 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=900 We began an audit of the Coast Guards capital investments, with a focus on the Integrated Deepwater Systems acquisition project. The Deepwater project is intended to replace or modernize all assets used in deepwater missions, which generally occur more than 50 miles offshore. Our objectives are to determine: (1) whether the Coast Guards FY 2004 budget for Deepwater is based on a reliable cost estimate and reasonable assessment of needs; (2) whether the financial and management controls over the Deepwater project are adequate to ensure the effective use of funds and monitoring of progress; and (3) the extent to which Deepwater funding requirements may affect the Coast Guards 5year capital investment plans and priorities. Thu, 17 Oct 2002 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=900 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=875 We released our audit report regarding the user fees that the U.S. Coast Guard charges the public for vessel documentation services. Our audit found that the Coast Guards revenue from these fees exceeded the cost of providing vessel documentation for fiscal years 1999, 2000, and 2001. The Coast Guard could not support the basis it used to set the initial fees in 1994, nor had it updated the fees even though operations have been streamlined. Coast Guard estimated that revenues exceeded budgeted costs by $1.5 million and returned the excess to the U.S. Treasury. Coast Guard agreed to develop procedures for providing actual costs and adjust vessel documentation fees, as necessary. It also hired a consultant to update its costaccounting system. By law, the Coast Guard is required to charge user fees to recover the cost of providing vessel documentation, which is a form of national registration of ships and other vessels. The audit was performed at the request of Rep. Corrine Brown, Ranking Minority Member of the House Transportation Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation. Wed, 18 Sep 2002 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=875 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=829 We initiated an audit of the U.S. Coast Guards Search and Rescue Program at small boat stations. We were directed in the Departments FY 2002 Appropriations Act to audit $14.5 million earmarked for small boat stations search and rescue program improvements and certify that the funds were used to supplement, not supplant, Coast Guards level of effort in this area in FY 2001. We will also determine if Coast Guard spent the funds for purposes specified in the act and whether the staffing, training, and equipment deficiencies identified in our September 2001 report on small boat stations have been addressed. This audit has taken on added significance in light of interest in how the traditional search and rescue mission has fared due to the Coast Guards increased security activities and the proposal to transfer the Coast Guard to a Department of Homeland Security. Wed, 03 Jul 2002 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=829 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=782 We issued our audit of Coast Guards inventory management of spare and repair parts of cutters and small boats. During FY 2002, Coast Guard plans to begin constructing a new warehouse for inventory parts managed by its Engineering Logistics Center. Fiftynine percent of the inventory items are inactive, meaning there were no requests for them over a 32month period. An additional 28 percent of items were in low demand, meaning they were requested four or fewer times annually. Coast Guard agreed with our recommendation to reconsider the need for and size of the proposed warehouse based on the results of transferring inventory items to the Defense Logistics Agency or other Government agencies and disposing of unneeded inventory. However, Coast Guards response included a reevaluation which concluding that the warehouse was needed and appropriately sized. We recommend deferring the warehouse decision until Coast Guard completes the review and knows which and how many parts need to be warehoused. Tue, 07 May 2002 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=782 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=730 The Inspector General testified before the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Oceans and Fisheries that FY 2003 is a critical year for the Coast Guard as it adjusts its missions in the wake of 9/11 and engages in the most expensive acquisition in its historythe Deepwater Capability Replacement Project. The Coast Guard is also working to resolve serious weaknesses in its search and rescue program and has begun overhauling the National Distress (911) System for mariners. The IG has identified balancing Coast Guards mission and budget needs in light of 9/11 as a top ten management challenge for the Department in FY 2003. Tue, 19 Mar 2002 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=730 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=716 This report provides the results of a study of the actuarial model the U.S. Coast Guard uses to estimate its liabilities for retired pay and medical benefits. The Hay Group, which conducted the study, concluded the methodology used to calculate the liabilities and annual actuarial activity were reasonable and reliable. The study was conducted by the Hay Group as part of our audit of the Departments FY 2001 consolidated financial statements. Mon, 25 Feb 2002 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=716 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=692 The IG testified before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation regarding Coast Guard budgetary and management issues. Key points of the testimony were that: (1) there are a number of uncertainties about Coast Guards mission requirements, how it will execute major acquisition projects and control costs; (2) there are significant uncertainties about the Deepwater Capability Replacement Project and the National Distress and Response System Modernization Project (NDS), for which the Coast Guard is seeking a combined $590 million in FY 2003; and (3) the current NDS system is more than 30 years old and has many deficiencies including more than 88 communication coverage gaps, totaling 21,490 square nautical miles along the U.S. coastline where Coast Guard cannot hear mariners. Thu, 14 Feb 2002 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=692