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From: Nate
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Remote Name: 24.213.19.75
Date: 03.01.06
Time: 09:31:04 AM
Yes, you're correct about the ice trials as a reqmnt for acceptacne, but I would not expect to see the old boat working next year. They may delay decommisioning and stay on some sort of "standby" but it is not very likely. It costs thousands of dollars/hour to run a boat like that and it just would not make sense to have two boats doing the same job. Of course, we're takling about our govenment here and this may be as good a way as any to waste money, but I personally don't see it happening. They cannot keep the old mac around indefinately so it would seem that as soon as they were reasonably comfortable with the replacement, they would want to make the switch as soon as possible. Being fammiliar with the ice tank testing they did during development of the new hull, I would find it very unlikely that ice trials would present difficulty for this boat; even more unlikely that it would delay or prevent acceptance on the part of the Coast Gaurd. Of course this is all speculation, and it is true that you can't count on our government to always do what makes sense, but I personally would take that bet of a steak dinner that we won't see the old boat working after this year:)