JHSV clears acceptance trials

MOBILE, Ala. -- Austal USA's USNS Spearhead successfully completed Navy acceptance trials in the Gulf of Mexico Aug. 17, company officials said. The Joint High Speed Vessel built in Mobile demonstrated the catamaran's propulsion plant, ship handling and auxiliary systems. Austal is under contract to build nine 103-meter JHSVs for the Navy under a 10-ship, $1.6 billion contract. (Source: Mobile Press-Register, 08/30/12)

Arlington back from builder's trials

LPD 24. Huntington Ingalls photo

PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- The amphibious transport dock Arlington (LPD 24), the eighth built at Huntington Ingalls Industries, recently returned from builder's sea trials in the Gulf of Mexico. Dock trials started last week, and the ship left HII's Ingalls Shipbuilding division on Aug. 21 for three days of at-sea testing. A team tested LPD 24's major operational systems. More than 200 test events took place during the sea trials, including anchor handling, flight operations, ballasting and de-ballasting the well deck, and compartment air balancing. (Source: Huntington Ingalls, 08/30/12)

Ingalls extends closure

The Ingalls Shipbuilding facilities in Pascagoula and Gulfport, Miss., and Avondale, La., are closed until Sept. 4 so damages from Hurricane Isaac can be assessed. The exception is for the damage assessment teams in Pascagoula and Gulfport, who will report for work Friday, as well as production control, rigging and transportation personnel in Gulfport. In Avondale, only personnel contacted by supervisors will report Friday. (Source: Sun Herald, 08/30/12)

Contract: Huntington Ingalls, $7.2M

Huntington Ingalls Industries, Pascagoula, Miss., is being awarded a $7,200,000 modification to previously awarded contract for research, development, test, and technical services in support of DDG 1000 Zumwalt-class destroyer. DDG 1000 technical services include technology development, analytical modeling, qualification of materials, potential design/process improvements, and design excursions. Work will be done in Pascagoula (80 percent), and Gulfport, Miss. (20 percent), and is expected to complete by September 2013. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 08/16/12)

Austal USA graduates 15

MOBILE, Ala. -- Fifteen people graduated from Austal USA's four-year apprenticeship program on Tuesday. The ceremony was held in the new Office Complex Multi-Use Room, completed last month as part of a three-building, $200 million expansion. The graduates consist of six electrical journeymen, four pipe-fitting journeymen, and five fabrication journeymen. (Source: Mobile Press-Register, 08/15/12)

Contract: SAIC, $58.5M

Science Applications International Corp., McLean, Va., is being awarded a $58,485,318 cost-plus-fixed-fee and cost-plus-incentive-fee contract. The contractor will perform Phases 2 through 4 of the Anti-Submarine Warfare Continuous Trail Unmanned Vessel (ACTUV) Program. The contractor will design, construct, and demonstrate a prototype ACTUV vessel. The contractor proposed a trimaran platform: key features and innovations for the vessel, sensors, autonomy and software. This design reflects the results of extensive trade studies conducted by Science Applications International in Phase 1 which validated the suitability of a trimaran platform. Long Beach, Miss., will perform 13.4 percent of the work. Other work sites are Arlington, Va. (25.7 percent); Vancouver, Wash. (27.4 percent); Pittsburgh, Pa. (8.9 percent); Glen Burnie, Md. (5.7 percent); Portsmouth, R.I. (5.0 percent); Pasadena, Calif. (4.5 percent); Newport, R.I. (2.6 percent); Melbourne, Fla. (2.4 percent); Bowie, Md. (1.9 percent); Bristol, R.I. (1.7 percent); Gloucester Point, Va. (0.5 percent); and Virginia Beach, Va. (0.4 percent). Work is expected to be completed by Aug. 15, 2015. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 08/15/12)

Austal USA to create more jobs

MOBILE, Ala. -- Austal USA will add up to 1,000 new jobs as a result of a new project agreement with the state, Gov. Robert Bentley said today. It's a five-year, $5 million agreement that will help Austal continue its workforce expansion efforts. As part of the agreement, the company will also receive employee training services from the Alabama Industrial Development Training program. Once the overall expansion is completed at Austal, total employment at the Mobile complex is expected to reach about 4,600 people. (Source: Office of the Governor, 08/14/12)

Huntington Ingalls graduates 295

PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- Huntington Ingalls Industries held graduation ceremonies for graduates of Ingalls Shipbuilding's Apprentice School on Saturday. The ceremony, held at the Biloxi Civic Center, included 295 students from crafts representing shipbuilders from Pascagoula, Gulfport, Miss., and Avondale, La., sites. Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant, delivered the keynote address. Ingalls Shipbuilding's apprentice program provides comprehensive two-to-four year curriculums for students interested in shipbuilding careers. Since 1952, the Apprentice School has produced more than 4,000 graduates in support of the operational needs of Ingalls Shipbuilding. (Source: Huntington Ingalls via Globe Newswire, 08/13/12)

Center tests underwater device

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. –The Underwater Breathing Apparatus performed at a “world class” level when the improved deep sea breathing device was tested at extreme depths, according to the Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division. Called the MK 16 MOD 1 UBA, it looks like a regular diving suit. Upgrading the apparatus will allow it to be used an additional 10 years, said Navy officials. (Source: Panama City News Herald, 08/12/2012)

BAE secures vessel contract

MOBILE, Ala. -- BAE Systems said the Mobile shipyard has picked up a contract from Houston, Texas-based GulfMark Americas Inc., to build two platform supply vessels. The 288-foot-long vessels are expected to cost $48 million each. The contract also includes the option to build two additional offshore platform supply vessels, according to the director and general manager at BAE Systems Southeast Shipyards Alabama. (Source: Mobile Press-Register, 08/08/12)

Command gets new leader

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. -- Rear Adm. Brian Brown is the new leader of the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command at NASA's Stennis Space Center. He relieved Rear Adm. Jonathan White in a change of command ceremony Friday. Brown most recently served as deputy oceanography of the Navy in Washington, but before that was executive officer of the Naval Oceanographic Office at SSC. White is moving to Washington to become oceanographer of the Navy. The command's mission is to monitor weather and ocean conditions worldwide. (Source: WLOX-TV, Sun Herald, 08/03/12)

Oceans in Action workshop nears

BILOXI, Miss. -- The Marine Technology Society's TechSurge Oceans in Action Workshop is scheduled for Aug. 13 and 14 at the IP Casino Resort in Biloxi. Events on the 13th include exhibit set-up, patron check-in and a reception. The next day featured speakers will detail major technologies developed or implemented since the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. There also will be exhibits from agencies and companies involved in marine science and technology projects. To register, click here. Also on the 14th, the Stennis Space Center's Mississippi Enterprise for Technology will host one-on-one business matchmaking sessions. The deadline to schedule meetings is Aug. 6. For a list of participating agencies and to register, click here. (Source: Tcp, 08/01/12)