Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Study sees shortage of marine scientists

The departments of commerce and education are forecasting a serious shortage of scientists trained to do the research required to rebuild fish stocks and restore marine species in the next decade. A new joint report to Congress estimates the nation will need between 180 and 340 new fishery stock assessment scientists in the next 10 years, but current institutions will produce only 160. (Source: Department of Commerce, Department of Education, 09/29/08)

Bollinger gets Coast Guard contract

NEW ORLEANS, La. - Bollinger Shipyards landed a contract valued at $88 million over the next decade to build a new class of faster Coast Guard patrol boats. Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Thad Allen announced the award Monday at Coast Guard headquarters in Washington. The Fast Response Cutter Sentinel Class patrol boat, or FRC, is a 153-foot cutter capable of speeds of more than 28 knots. (Source: New Orleans Times-Picayune, 09/30/08)

Austal turns out second ferry

MOBILE, Ala. - The second Hawaii Superferry left Austal's ship shed on the Mobile River into a floating dry dock Monday. The unnamed vessel should be floated off the dry dock at Atlantic Marine Tuesday, then will head back to Austal for final work before sea trials later this year. The ferry is part of a two-vessel, $190 million deal Austal landed in April 2004. (Source: Mobile Press-Register, 09/30/08)

Monday, September 29, 2008

Contract: Northrop Grumman, $8.2M

Northrup Grumman Corp., Ships Systems, Pascagoula, Miss., has been awarded an $8.2 million cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for asperstructures. Asperstructure incorporates the structural component of an aperture into a load-carrying member of a ship superstructure. The program will demonstrate the ability of integrated antenna and structure concepts to improve radar functionality, reduce weight and complexity and reduce costs. Work will be performed in Pascagoula. (Source: DefenseLink, 09/29/08)

Contract: Northrop Grumman, $76.6M

Northrop Grumman Ship Systems, Pascagoula, Miss., has been awarded a $76.6 million modification to a previously awarded Navy contract to exercise an option for CG 47 and DD 963 Class integrated planning yard services. Work will be performed in Pascagoula and is expected to be completed by Sept. 2009. (Source: DefenseLink, 09/29/08)

Sunday, September 28, 2008

Interview: Northrop's Michael Petters

Michael Petters, Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding president, says integrating the operations of Northrop Grumman’s shipyards and some 40,000 employees on the Gulf Coast and in Virginia is one of his top challenges. Petters discusses a wide range of topics with the Mississippi Press. (Source: Mississippi Press, 09/28/08)

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Survey vessel launched

MOSS POINT, Miss. - VT Halter Marine launched the last in a line of government fisheries survey vessels Friday when the Bell M. Shimada was launched into the Escatawpa River. The fourth ship of its class, the Shimada is also the last that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration contracted VT Halter to build. The Shimada and its sister ships incorporate acoustic quieting technology that enables them to study fish and other marine life without making enough sound to alter their behavior. (Source: The Sun Herald, 09/27/08)

Friday, September 26, 2008

Contract: VT Halter, $393.7M

VT Halter Marine, Inc., Pascagoula, Miss., was awarded a $393.7 million firm fixed price not-to-exceed modification to previously awarded contract for the detail, design and construction of three Fast Missile Crafts for the Egyptian Navy. Work will be performed at Pascagoula, Manassas, Va., Detroit, Mich., Baltimore, Md., Pittsburgh, Pa., Philadelphia, Pa., Camden, N.J., New Orleans, La., Thibodaux, La., Boca Raton, Fla., and other sites. Work is expected to be completed April 2013. (Source: DefenseLink, 09/26/08)

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

GCRL hosts oceans celebration

OCEAN SPRINGS, Miss. - The Gulf Coast Research Laboratory and its J.L. Scott Marine Education Center will celebrate the opening of its Ocean Today Kiosk with a free event Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. GCRL is one of five pilot sites debuting the kiosk, an interactive interpretive learning station featuring national ocean news and video from the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration. The address is 703 East Beach Drive, Ocean Springs, Miss. (Source: University of Southern Mississippi, 09/24/0)

DoD industry day at Moss Point

MOSS POINT, Miss. - The South Mississippi Contract Procurement Center in Biloxi is sponsoring a Department of Defense Industry Day Nov. 5 at Pelican Landing Conference Center in Moss Point. Participating organizations include the Department of the Navy Supervisor of shipbuilding and shipbuilders from Louisiana to Alabama. (Source: The Sun Herald, 09/24/08)

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Lockheed LCS delivered to Navy

MARINETTE, Wis. - Lockheed Martin delivered “Freedom,” the nation’s first Littoral Combat Ship, to the Navy on Thursday. It's the Navy’s preliminary acceptance of LCS 1. The 378-foot Freedom, a steel monohull, was christened and launched in September 2006 and completed sea trials last month. It will be commissioned Nov. 8 in Milwaukee and homeported in San Diego, Calif. Austal USA in Mobile, Ala., is building another LCS. (Source: Lockheed Martin, 09/18/08)

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Atlantic Marine eyes renovations

MOBILE, Ala. - Atlantic Marine plans to overhaul several of the existing piers at its Pinto Island shipyard on the Mobile River's east bank, creating a deepwater berth to dock oil rigs. Herschel Vinyard, vice president of Atlantic Marine Holding Co., said the company expects to do more repair and conversions. (Source: Mobile Press-Register, 09/10/08)

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Signal headquarter move stalled

MOBILE, Ala. - The move of Signal International's headquarters from Pascagoula to Mobile has been delayed to late February or early March 2009. The company says weather issues and negotiations with architects and decorators about the build-out delayed things. Fewer than a dozen employees will be based in Mobile. (Source: Mobile Press-Register, 09/09/08)

Saturday, September 6, 2008

Storms scaring away workers?

WASHINGTON - U.S. Navy Secretary Donald Winter is worried the specter of repeated hurricanes is taking a toll on the shipbuilding workers on the Gulf Coast. Rep. Gene Taylor of Mississippi agrees that the prospect of a major storm takes a toll. (Source: The Sun Herald, 09/05/08)