“Off-the-Shelf” Ships for Coast Guard

If increasing costs for Deepwater Project are not stopped its possible, according to National Defense:

The decision to purchase commercial “off-the-shelf” ships to serve as fast response cutters was made before the release of a Government Accountability Office report, which outlined the Coast Guard’s woes in attempting to use composite materials, rather than steel, to construct the hull, decks and bulkheads. Coast Guard engineers raised several concerns about the use of the unproven technology, which initiated a design review...The Coast Guard is interested in using composite materials because they are thought to be lighter, and offer lower maintenance and lifecycle costs. The cutters were initially scheduled for delivery in 2018. The original plan called for the conversion of all 49 of the service’s 110-foot patrol boats into 123-foot patrol boats to serve as cutters until delivery of the FRC. However, that plan ran into snags as well, prompting the Coast Guard to move up delivery of the new cutter to 2008...
If the design review fails to approve the plan to use composite materials, Allen said he would like to have a contract in place for a proven commercial off-the-shelf ship within one year. A request for information to potential contractors went out in April. How quickly and how many cutters could be delivered would depend on the manufacturer, he added.

The Navy may have to go this route themselves in the near future, if warship costs don't drop below $1 billion each. Off the Shelf warships, you ask? How about the Austal fast ferries, already in service?