Contract: Austal, $14M

Austal USA LLC., Mobile, Ala., is being awarded a $14,057,992 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-11-C-2301) to exercise options for class service efforts for the Littoral Combat Ship program. Austal USA will provide engineering and design services as well as affordability efforts to reduce LCS acquisition and lifecycle costs. Work will be performed in Mobile (72 percent) and Pittsfield, Mass. (28 percent), and is expected to be complete by December 2014. Fiscal 2013 shipbuilding and conversion, Navy and Fiscal 2014 research, development, test and evaluation contract funds in the amount of $3,984,807 will be obligated at time of award. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 12/23/13)

Contract: BAE, $48.9M

BAE Systems Technology Solutions and Services, Rockville, Md., is being awarded a $48,860,666 cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost reimbursable contract for services in support of the Program Executive Office for Ships, Naval Sea Systems Command, PEO C41, and the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division. Services provided will include the design, integration, testing, installation, training, and support of shipboard Command, Control, Communications, Computers, & Intelligence (C4I) electronic communication systems for ships of the U.S. Navy. Work will be performed in St. Inigoes, Md. (50 percent); California, Md. (48 percent); Bath, Maine (1 percent); and Pascagoula, Miss. (1 percent), and is expected to be completed in June 2019. Fiscal 2011 and 2012 shipbuilding and conversion, Navy contract funds in the amount of $48,860,666 will be obligated on this award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to FAR 6.302-1. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00421-14-C-0011). (Source: DoD, 12/23/13)

Contract: BAE, $32.9M

BAE Systems Southeast Shipyards Alabama LLC, Mobile, Ala., is being awarded a $32,946,457 firm-fixed-price contract for the regular maintenance and overhaul of USNS Supply (T-AOE 6). This contract includes two additional options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of the contract to $42,499,988. Work will be performed in Mobile, Ala., and is expected to be completed by October 2014. This contract was competitively procured with more than 50 companies solicited and three offers received. The solicitation was posted to the Federal Business Opportunities website. U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command, Washington D.C., is the contracting activity (N00033-14-C-7508). (Source: DoD, 12/20/13)

Contract: Multiple, $95M

JCON Group, Construction and Design, Miami, Fla. (N69450-14-D-0754); Orocon -- Carother Joint Venture 1, Oxford, Miss. (N69450-14-D-0755); Mitchell Industrial Contractors Inc., and Brasfield and Gorrie LLC, a Joint Venture, Madison, Ala. (N69450-14-D-0756); PentaCon LLC, Catoosa, Okla. (N69450-14-D-0757); TMG Services Inc., Cleveland, Ohio (N69450-14-D-0758), and Leebcor Services LLC, Williamsburg, Va. (N69450-14-D-0759); are each being awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple award design-build construction contract for construction projects located primarily within the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southeast area of responsibility. The maximum dollar value including the base period and four option years for all six contracts combined is $95,000,000. The work to be performed provides for, but is not limited to, new construction, renovation, alteration, demolition, repair work, and any necessary design including: industrial, airfield, aircraft hangar, aircraft traffic control, infrastructure, administrative, training, dormitory, and community support facilities. JCON Group, Construction and Design is being awarded task order 0001 at $8,696,000 for the construction of an enlisted dining facility located at Naval Air Station, Meridian, Miss. Work for this task order is expected to be completed by October 2015. All work on this contract will be performed primarily within the NAVFAC Southeast AOR which includes Mississippi (48 percent), Florida Panhandle area (48 percent), and in the remainder of the NAVFAC Southeast AOR (4 percent). The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months, with an expected completion date of December 2018. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website with 51 proposals received. These six contractors may compete for task orders under the terms and conditions of the awarded contract. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southeast, Jacksonville, Fla., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 12/17/13)

LCS 6 launched in Mobile

MOBILE, Ala. -- The future USS Jackson (LCS 6) launched from the Austal USA shipyard Saturday, while up in Wisconsin next week, the future USS Milwaukee (LCS 5) will launch from the Marinette Marine. These ships represent the beginning of "serial production" for the class. LCS 6 will now undergo outfitting, and test and evaluation of its major systems at the Austal shipyard. The ship's christening is planned for the spring. The LCS class consists of two variants, the trimaran design Independence variant, and the monohull design Freedom variant. The ships are designed and built by two industry teams, led by Austal USA and Lockheed Martin, respectively. Jackson is the third LCS constructed by Austal USA. (Source: NNS, 12/15/13)

Edenzon retiring next year

Irwin F. Edenzon, corporate vice president and president of Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Miss., will retire on Dec. 1, 2014, according to Huntington Ingalls Industries. Edenzon will step down as president on March 31, 2014. The HII Board of Directors has elected Brian Cuccias to succeed Edenzon in the position of corporate vice president and president of Ingalls Shipbuilding, effective April 1, 2014. Edenzon was named as Ingalls Shipbuilding president in 2011 and is responsible for all programs and operations at Ingalls Shipbuilding. Cuccias currently serves as the vice president, amphibious ship programs, for Ingalls Shipbuilding and will become vice president, program management, effective Jan. 6, 2014, until he assumes the president role in April. (Source: Huntington Ingalls Industries, 12/13/13)

Contract awarded for addition

PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- Jackson County supervisors Monday hired a grant administrator, engineer and architect for a basic skills training annex addition on Ingalls Shipbuilding's Haley Reeves Barbour Maritime Training Academy. A $1.3 million Hurricane Katrina community development block grant will fund the project. The professional services contracts were awarded to Gouras & Associates, Compton Engineering Inc. and Burk-Kleinpeter-Lunsford Engineers/Architect. (Source: Mississippi Press, 12/09/13)

Contract: Sechan, $17.2M

Sechan Electronics Inc., Lititz, Pa., is being awarded a $17,212,201 firm-fixed-priced, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the procurement of the Target Detecting Device (TDD) MK 71 Mod 1 to support the Quickstrike Mine Improvement program. This contract will require the fabrication, assembly, integration, testing and delivering of the hardware components which constitute TDD MK 71 Mod 1. TDD MK 71 Mod 1 has been developed and fielded for use in the air-delivered Quickstrike mine shape MK 65, and is also planned for use in two additional mines: Mine MK 62 and Mine MK 63. Work will be performed in Lititz, Pa., and is expected to be completed by December 2018. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Panama City Division, Panama City, Fla., is the contracting activity (N61331-14-D-0001). (Source: DoD, 12/09/13)

Contract: Ingalls, $39M

Huntington Ingalls Industries, Pascagoula, Miss., is being awarded a $39,051,995 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-10-C-2203) for life cycle engineering and support services on the Amphibious Transport Dock Ship Program LPD 17 class. Services to be provided include post-delivery planning and engineering, homeport technical support, Class Integrated Product Data Environment, data maintenance and equipment management, systems integration and engineering support, LPD 17 class design services, research engineering, obsolescence management, material support, emergent repair provision (including warranty enforcement), training and logistics support; LPD 17 Integrated Planning Yard support including ship alteration development and installation, material management, Fleet Modernization Program planning, availability planning, configuration data management, research engineering, logistics documentation, and other logistics and executing activity coordination, and management of all related data within the Configuration Data Manager's Database-Open Architecture. Work will be performed in Pascagoula, Miss., and is expected to be completed by December 2014. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 12/06/13)

Contract: Jacobs, $11.3M

Jacobs Technology Inc., Fort Walton Beach, Fla., is being awarded an $11,341,989 cost-plus-fixed-fee task order under the previously awarded General Services Administration Alliant Multiple Award contract for information technology services (GS0QBG-09-D-0059-GM01). This contract provides services for IT, information management, information assurance product service delivery mechanisms, software development, engineering and enterprise architectural compliance, server support services and information assurance compliance. The level of effort for the base year is 177,270 man hours. Work will be performed in China Lake, Calif. (82 percent); Point Mugu, Calif. (13 percent), and Norfolk, Va. (5 percent), and is expected to be completed in January 2015. The Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, China Lake, Calif., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 12/05/13)

Contract: Austal, $8.2M

Austal USA, Mobile, Ala., was awarded an $8,247,342 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-11-C-2301) on Nov. 27 to exercise an option for littoral combat ship (LCS) core class services. Austal USA will assess engineering and production challenges as well as evaluate the cost and schedule risks from affordability efforts to reduce LCS acquisition and lifecycle costs. Work will be done in Mobile (60 percent) and Pittsfield, Mass. (40 percent), and is expected to be complete by November 2014. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 12/02/13)

Contract: Lockheed, $10M

Lockheed Martin MST-Undersea Systems, Mission & Unmanned Systems, Riviera Beach, Fla., is being awarded a $9,999,830 contract to lease the S301i, a commercially-classed dry submersible vessel with lock-in/lock-out capability and to support risk mitigation research, development, test, and evaluation for long-term Dry Combat Submersibles program objectives in support of United States Special Operations Command, Program Executive Office - Maritime. Work will be performed primarily at government facilities in Panama City, Fla., with an 18 month expected completion date. Fiscal 2013 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $5,813,830 are being obligated at time of award. U.S. Special Operations Command, Tampa, Fla., is the contracting activity (H92222-14-C-0003). (Source: DoD, 11/29/11)

VT Halter wins contract

PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- VT Halter Marine has secured a $350 million contract with Crowley Maritime Corp. to build two container roll-on/roll-off ships. The vessels, designed by Wartsila Ship Design, will be built in Pascagoula with construction beginning the first half of 2014 and deliveries in mid- and late-2017. VT Halter Marine recently placed a floating drydock into service providing repair for oil field support vessels, barges, coastal ships and more. (Source: Mississippi Press, 11/25/13)

Contract: Silver Ships, $11.7M

Silver Ships Inc., Theodore, Ala., and Gravois Aluminum Boats LLC, doing business as Metal Shark Aluminum Boats LLC, Jeanerette, La., are each being awarded separate firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple award contracts for the construction of high speed maneuverable surface targets (HSMSTs). The U.S. Navy maintains an inventory of HSMSTs to be utilized mainly for weapon system test and evaluation and fleet training exercises at nine seaborne target operating ranges. This effort also includes trailers, shipping cradles and spares for a total estimated ceiling value of $48,000,000 for both awards. Silver Ships is being awarded $11,683,129 and Gravois is being awarded $13,782,379. Work will be performed in Theodore, Ala., and Jeanerette, La., and work is expected to be completed by November 2018. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 11/21/13)

Port gets new director

PENSACOLA, Fla. -- Amy Miller, the Port of Pensacola's chief financial and human resources officer, has been named director by Mayor Ashton Hayward. She's the first female director since the port's inception in the mid-1700s, and the only woman currently serving as port director in Florida. Miller takes over from Clyde Mathis, who joined the port as director in 2006 and resigned. Miller worked at ports in South Louisiana and Gulfport, Miss., and joined the Pensacola port in 2002 as manager of business and trade development. (Source: Pensacola News Journal, WEAR-TV, 11/20/13)

Navy AUV sets record

The Naval Research Laboratory's Acoustics Division, with Bluefin Robotics, set a record 315-mile long-endurance autonomous research mission using Reliant, its heavyweight-class mine countermeasures underwater vehicle (AUV). Reliant, when equipped with a low frequency broadband sonar system, is the prototype for the new U.S. Navy Knifefish mine-hunter. The 20 foot long, 1,350 pound AUV left Boston Harbor and traveled south past Cape Cod, then west through Nantucket Sound between Martha’s Vineyard and the mainland, then south of Long Island to the approaches to New York City. It traveled at a depth of 10 meters and an average speed of 2.5 knots. The vehicle surfaced at 20-kilometer intervals to report position via Iridium satellite and made Upper New York Bay with a 10 percent energy reserve. The system is designed to help the Navy detect and identify undersea volume and bottom mines in high-clutter environments. The Knifefish system is a part of the Littoral Combat Ship mine countermeasure mission package. (Source: Business Wire, 11/20/13) Gulf Coast note: Stennis Space Center, Miss., is home of an NRL detachment, the Naval Oceanography Mine Warfare Center and the Naval Oceanographic Office, which operates a fleet of unmanned underwater vehicles; A variant of the Littoral Combat Ship is built by Austal USA in Mobile, Ala.; The Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City, Fla., Division conducts RDT&E in technologies for warfare in littoral regions, including mine warfare systems and mines.

Signal backlog adds two oil rigs

MOBILE, Ala. -- Signal International announced it's been awarded a contract to repair two oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico. The company is scheduled to repair six offshore oil rigs, a backlog that will boost hiring at the company, officials said. Headquartered in Mobile, the marine construction and offshore drilling firm operates shipyards and ship repair facilities in Pascagoula, Miss. and Orange, Texas. All of the drilling rig repair work will be done in Mississippi. (Source: al.com, 11/19/13)

Errant drone strikes cruiser

Two sailors were treated for minor burns after the guided missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville was struck by an errant BQM-74 target drone. The Northrop Grumman-built drone struck the left or port side of the ship Saturday while it was conducting tests of its radar system off the coast of Port Mugu in Southern California. The Ticonderoga class cruiser returned to its San Diego homeport on its own power Sunday. (Sources: multiple, including AP via CSMonitor, 11/18/13; Los Angeles Times, RT com, 11/17/13) Gulf Coast note: Chancellorsville (CG 62) was built by Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Miss.; Tyndall Air Force Base and Eglin AFB use BQM-74 drones for training over the Gulf of Mexico.

Survey ship clears way

PHILIPPINE SEA -- The USNS Bowditch oceanographic survey ship was first on scene off the coast of Tacloban, Republic of the Philippines, ensuring safe sea lanes in order for the George Washington Strike Group to assist the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade in support of Operation Damayan. Bowditch (T-AGS 62) is an oceanographic sampling platform for surface, mid-water and ocean floor data collection. Surveys of this nature are required to confirm bottom features and identify navigational hazards in the wake of a major storm. The ship has been performing acoustical, biological, physical and geophysical surveys in the off-shore waters of the Philippines since Typhoon Haiyan struck. Bowditch is operated by the Military Sealift Command for the Naval Oceanographic Office, a component of the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command headquartered at the Stennis Space Center, Miss. The ship is one of six Pathfinder-class vessels with an all-civilian crew of professional mariners and scientific support personnel. (Source: Task Force 70 Public Affairs, 11/17/13)

LHA 6 back from builder's trials

PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- Ingalls Shipbuilding division's multipurpose amphibious assault ship America (LHA 6) returned Saturday from successful builder's sea trials in the Gulf of Mexico. Ingalls' test and trials team started with dock trials Monday and then spent five days operating the ship at sea. During builder's trials, America performed all required sea trial evolutions, including the operation of the gas turbine/electric-powered propulsion system. Other tests included anchor handling, flight operations, and combat systems' evaluations. The ship will now prepare for acceptance sea trials in late January to demonstrate the same tests and operational success to the U.S. Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV). (Source: Huntington Ingalls, 11/14/13)

Austal continues to grow

MOBILE, Ala. – Austal USA is building some of the most cutting-edge ships in the Navy inventory, and it's become the largest private sector employer in Mobile County. The company, owned by Australia's Austal, has invested $300 million here since it first bought 10 acres on the Mobile waterfront in 1999. Employment is expected to reach 4,000 by year's end. The company is building two types of aluminum vessels for the Navy, the Littoral Combat Ship and the Joint High-Speed Vessel, and it has a backlog that bodes well for the future. A feature story. (Source: al.com, 11/09/13)

Floating dry dock open

PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- VT Halter Marine Inc. said its new floating dry dock is now open for business and already has its first customers. The 546-foot long dock is part of an overall expansion plan at the south yard in Pascagoula, where VT Halter Marine is adding a repair facility for semi-submersible drilling rigs and Panamax-size ships. The addition of the floating dry dock will allow the company to grow into the ship repair business and start a new stream of revenue to its existing new-build business. (Source: Mississippi Press, 11/06/13)

UNO gets NRL grant

NEW ORLEANS – The University of New Orleans computer science department has been awarded a five-year, $663,000 research contract by the Naval Research Laboratory to develop next-generation defense mapping systems. The principal investigators on the project are Mahdi Abdelguerfi, chairman of the computer science department, and John Finigan, IT director of the department. The project builds on UNO's expertise in geospatial mapping. The project is expected to use open-source software and commodity hardware that will let the Navy process more map data faster and more cost effectively than the legacy systems, Abdelguerfi said. (Source: Times-Picayune, 11/06/13)

Ingalls gets exemption gift

PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- Pascagoula Mayor Jim Blevins read a proclamation celebrating Ingalls Shipbuilding's 75th anniversary, gave company President Irwin F. Edenzon a key to the city, then the City Council gave the company a 10-year exemption on ad valorem taxes. The exemption on about $18.4 million in property does not apply to school taxes. Earlier this year, the Jackson County Board of Supervisors granted a similar tax exemption worth about $100,000 a year or roughly $1.1 million over the life of the exemption. (Source: Mississippi Press, 11/05/13) Previous

Training center opens

PASCAGOULA, Miss. – Ingalls Shipbuilding officially opened the 70,000 square-foot Haley Reeves Barbour Maritime Training Academy today with a ribbon-cutting. The building, named for the former governor of Mississippi, will provide training for future Ingalls workers. The two-story building has 24 classrooms, three computer labs, a library, a bookstore, 26 offices and conference rooms, and craft labs for the shipyard's various trades. Ingalls' apprentice program involves comprehensive two- to four-year curriculum for students interested in shipbuilding careers. (Source: Ingalls via Globe Newswire, 11/06/13)

DDG 113 keel authenticated

PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- Ingalls Shipbuilding held a keel authentication ceremony Monday morning for the destroyer John Finn (DDG 113). The $783.5 million ship will be the 29th Arleigh Burke-class destroyer built at Ingalls. DDG 113, which is now about 20 percent complete, is expected to be delivered to the Navy in the third quarter of 2016. Ingalls also has a contract to build a 30th destroyer, Ralph Johnson (DDG 114). Fabrication started in September. (Source: Mississippi Press, 11/04/13)

Contract: USMI, $15.8M

United States Marine Inc., Gulfport, Miss., is being awarded a $15,827,132 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for post-production and contractor logistical support services for the combatant craft assault. The work will be performed in Gulfport and is expected to be completed by November 2017. This award is the result of a sole source acquisition. U.S. Special Operations Command, Tampa, Fla., is the contracting activity (H92222-14-D-0001). (Source: DoD, 10/31/13)

First Zumwalt class launched

Zumwalt launched at Bath Iron Works shipyard.
Navy photo courtesy General Dynamics

BATH, Maine -- General Dynamics Bath Iron Works successfully launched the Navy's first Zumwalt-class destroyer Monday at the Bath, Maine shipyard. The future USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000) will be the lead ship of the Navy's newest destroyer class, designed for littoral operations and land attack. Construction on the ship began in February 2009, and it's now more than 87 percent complete. It will be delivered late next year. (Source: NNS, 10/29/13) Gulf Coast note: The ship's composite deck and hangar were built by Ingalls Shipbuilding in Gulfport, Miss. Previous

Station Pascagoula work set

PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- Haskell Co. of Jacksonville, Fla., has been awarded a $4.6 million U.S. Coast Guard design-build contract for infrastructure work needed to support Fast Response Cutters (FRCs) at Coast Guard Station Pascagoula. The work will ensure that Station Pascagoula is ready to support the arrival of the soon-to-be-commissioned FRCs for the end of 2014. Work will include renovations to three support buildings, shore-tie services, pier utilities, fenders and cleats, along with the resurfacing of an existing parking lot. Haskell recently completed similar work at USCG Station Key West in support of FRC arrivals there. (Source: Seapower Magazine, 10/28/13)

NSC to be christened

PASCAGOULA, Miss. – The U.S. Coast Guard National Security Cutter Hamilton (WMSL 753), will be christened at Ingalls Shipbuilding Saturday. Hamilton is the fourth of eight planned ships in the Legend-class of technologically advanced multi-mission cutters. The ship is about 65 percent complete and will be finished in about a year and delivered to the Coast Guard in the fall of 2014. It's named after Alexander Hamilton, a Founding Father and founder of the U.S. Revenue Marine, precursor of the Coast Guard. The ship is 418 feet long, will have a crew of 120 and be homeported in Charleston, S.C. Ingalls is building two more cutters for the Coast Guard and has received a contract for another. (Sources: Sun Herald, Mississippi Press, 10/25/13)

LCS 1 has flooding incident

Littoral Combat Ship USS Freedom (LCS 1), first in class of two LCS variants, suffered about three feet of flooding in its bilge from discharge piping from the No. 1 gas turbine motor lube oil cooler on Oct. 20. The Wisconsin-built steel monohull ship is currently pierside in Singapore. The flooding is likely to only cause minimal operational impact. LCS 1 is expected to return to its San Diego homeport by late December. (Source: Defense News, 10/21/13) Gulf Coast note: The Independence-class LCS variants are built by Austal USA in Mobile, Ala.

Construction of tug underway

PASCAGOULA, Miss. – Construction of Signet Maritime's seventh ASD tug in less than four years, M/V Signet VIGILANT, is underway at Signet Shipbuilding and Repair in Pascagoula. The 30 metric ton vessel will be the first Castleman Maritime design for Signet with delivery slated for July 2014. The $10 million tug will operate from Signet's International Operations Center in Ingleside, Texas where it will perform rig escort, ship, and barge assist work. (Source: Mississippi Press, 10/21/13)

Ingalls celebrates 75 years

PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- Ingalls Shipbuilding held a Family Day on Saturday to commemorate 75 years of building ships on the banks of the Pascagoula River. Mississippi's largest private employer builds Aegis-guided missile destroyers, amphibious assault ships and amphibious transport ships for the U.S. Navy and National Security Cutters for the U.S. Coast Guard. It has more than 11,000 people working in South Mississippi. In addition to a weekly payroll of about $15 million, the company from 2010 to 2012 paid $57 million in taxes. In addition to the direct impact, there’s the indirect. Each manufacturing job at Ingalls creates three to five additional jobs in small business and retail. (Source: Sun Herald, 10/19/13)

Contract: Lockheed, $21.3M

Lockheed Martin, Mission Systems and Training, Moorestown, N.J., is being awarded a $21,350,270 modification to previously awarded contract for DDG 51 Combat System Ship Integration Technical Data Packages and Design Budget Engineering Team Packages associated with incorporating the AEGIS Weapon System and associated combat system elements into DDG 51 class ships. Twenty-six percent of the work will be done in Pascagoula, Miss., with 41 percent done in Moorestown, N.J., 26 percent in Bath, Maine, 5 percent in Washington, D.C., 1 percent in Port Hueneme, Calif., and Syracuse, N.Y. Work is expected to be completed by September 2014. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington D.C., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 10/18/13)

Somerset delivered to Navy

AVONDALE, La. -- Ingalls Shipbuilding has delivered the amphibious transport dock Somerset (LPD 25) to the U.S. Navy. The DD 250 document officially signifying custody transfer of the ship was signed by officials on the ship at the company's Avondale facility. Somerset is the ninth ship in the San Antonio (LPD 17) class of ships Ingalls has delivered to the Navy. The ship successfully completed builder's trials in August and U.S. Navy acceptance trials in September. Ingalls has two more under construction at its Pascagoula, Miss., shipyard. John P. Murtha (LPD 26) is slated for completion in 2016, and Portland (LPD 27) will complete in 2017. (Source: Huntington Ingalls, 10/18/13) Previous

Zumwalt christening postponed

WASHINGTON -- The Navy said today that the christening of the future USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000), originally scheduled for Oct. 19, has been postponed indefinately. "It is incredibly unfortunate that we are being forced to cancel the christening ceremony for this great warship," said Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, "but the ongoing government shutdown prevents us from being able to honor Admiral Zumwalt's memory with a ceremony befitting his and his family's legacy of service to our nation and our Navy." The ship is the first of a new class of next generation destroyers designed for sustained operations in the littorals. (Source: NNS, 10/11/13) The ship was built by Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine. Large composite structures on the ship, including the deckhouse, were fabricated in Gulfport, Miss., by Ingalls Shipbuilding.

Ship completes acceptance trials

AVONDALE, La. -- Huntington Ingalls Industries announced today that the amphibious transport dock Somerset (LPD 25) returned from successful U.S. Navy acceptance sea trials on Sept. 20. The company's ninth ship in the San Antonio (LPD 17) class returned to the company's Avondale facility following three days of at-sea demonstrations and testing. The 684-foot-long vessel's primary mission is to transport up to 800 Marines, their fighting vehicles and aircraft. Two other LPDs are also under construction at the Pascagoula, Miss., shipyard. John P. Murtha (LPD 26) is slated for completion in 2016, and Portland (LPD 27) will complete in 2017. (Source: Huntington Ingalls Industries, 10/10/13) Previous

Ingalls starts 6th NSC

PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- Huntington Ingalls Industries' Ingalls Shipbuilding division has started fabrication on the U.S. Coast Guard's sixth National Security Cutter, Munro (WMSL 755). Ingalls is currently building three NSCs and has delivered three that are serving as the flagships of the Coast Guard's cutter fleet. NSCs are 418 feet long with a top speed of 28 knots, a range of 12,000 miles, an endurance of 60 days and a crew of 110. (Source: Huntington Ingalls Industries, 10/08/13)

Signal hiring on the rise

MOBILE, Ala. -- Mobile-based Signal International said that new contract awards over the past month have prompted the company to hire 500 workers at its Pascagoula, Miss., yard this year. Over the past month, Signal has been awarded multiple contracts to refurbish and upgrade four offshore drilling rigs. All work is slated to be performed at the Pascagoula yard, and the rigs are already arriving. Signal plans to increase its Mississippi workforce over the next two months by 500 employees, said President and CEO Dick Marler. (Source: Mississippi Press, 10/04/13)

Mobile shipyard chosen for build

MOBILE, Ala. -- BAE Systems' Mobile shipyard was chosen to build a subsea support vessel for Oceaneering International Inc., a gas and oil field engineering company. The Houston-based company will use the ship for its offshore drilling operations. Marin Teknikk, a Norway-based company, designed the vessel. The MT6022 design will have a 250-ton crane powered by energy efficient power and propulsion system. BAE Systems shipyards in Mobile and Jacksonville, Fla., employ about 1,300. (Source: al.com, 10/03/13)

Signet gets new crane

PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- Signet Shipbuilding and Repair in Pascagoula has purchased a new heavy lift crane for new construction and repair. The 150-ton crawler crane will be used for hauling small vessels and barges from the water, and loading/offloading marine equipment while vessels are dockside. The crane also will enable the shipyard to fabricate several large modules simultaneously, making assembly of the units more efficient and cost-effective. The company is a division of Signet Maritime Corp. (Source: Mississippi Press, 09/30/13)

Contract: Lockheed, $23.2M

Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, Orlando, Fla., is being awarded a $23,171,609 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-13-D-5250) for Undersea Warfare (USW) Product Support across USW Systems. This contract modification includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $49,791,479. This contract combines purchases for the U.S. Navy (97.4 percent) and the government of Japan (2.6 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. Work will be performed in Norfolk, Va. (56 percent); Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (22 percent); San Diego, Calif. (8 percent); Mayport, Fla. (8 percent); Bath, Maine (3 percent); and Pascagoula, Miss. (3 percent); and is expected to be completed by November 2013. Fiscal 2013 other procurement, Navy; Fiscal 2010, 2011 and 2013 shipbuilding and conversion, Navy; Fiscal 2013 operations and maintenance, Navy and Fiscal 2013 research, development, test and evaluation funding in the amount of $7,315,173 will be obligated at the time of award. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, DC, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 09/30/13)

LCS 4 delivered to Navy

MOBILE, Ala. -- The Navy accepted delivery of the future USS Coronado (LCS 4) during a ceremony at the Austal USA shipyard Friday. Coronado is the fourth littoral combat ship to deliver to the Navy, and the second of the Independence variant, noted for its trimaran hull. Capt. Randy Garner, Commodore LCS Squadron One (LCSRON), was on hand to mark the occasion. The ship will be commissioned in April 2014 and homeported in San Diego, Calif., with sister ships USS Freedom (LCS 1), USS Independence (LCS 2) and USS Fort Worth (LCS 3). (Source: NNS, 09/27/13)

Contract: Horizon, $11.2M

Horizon Shipbuilding, Inc., Bayou La Batre, Ala., was awarded an $11,154,508 non- multi-year, firm-fixed-price contract with options for the Shorty Baird Replacement which is one inland river, all welded steel towboat for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Little Rock District. The performance location is Bayou La Batre, Ala. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Philadelphia District, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (W912BU-13-C-0062). (Source: DoD, 09/27/13)

Union ratifies Avondale contract

AVONDALE, La. -- Huntington Ingalls Industries said members of the New Orleans Metal Trades Council and the Metal Trades Department approved a new collective bargaining agreement with the company's Avondale subsidiary. The new contract runs from Jan. 6, 2014, to Jan. 6, 2019. Ingalls said in 2010 that it is closing the Avondale yard, but efforts are under way to find another use for the facility. Ingalls also has a shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss., and a composites facility in Gulfport, Miss. The Gulfport operation also is scheduled to close. (Source: Huntington Ingalls Industries, 09/26/13)

Northrop gets NSC work

Northrop Grumman won a $6.9 million subcontract from Huntington Ingalls Industries to supply the ship integrated control system (SICS) for the Coast Guard's sixth National Security Cutter (NSC). Northrop Grumman will provide engineering services, installation, integration, testing and commissioning of the SICS systems at the Ingalls Shipbuilding yard in Pascagoula, Miss. Work will be performed in Charlottesville, Va., and Ocean Springs, Miss., and in Pascagoula. Work will begin in late 2014. Northrop Grumman has supplied SICS for five of eight planned NSCs. (Source: Northrop Grumman, 09/24/13)

DDG 1001 hangar delivered

The Ingalls Shipbuilding division of Huntington Ingalls Industries has delivered the composite hangar that will be used on the U.S. Navy's second Zumwalt-class guided missile destroyer, Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001). The 220-ton structure will be transferred to a shipping barge and sent to Maine in early October. Ingalls is building the hangar, peripheral vertical launch system and composite deckhouse for the ship. The PVLS was delivered in July, and all that remains is the deckhouse delivery expected in first quarter of 2014. (Source: Ingalls via Globe Newswire, 09/25/13) Previous

Trinity delivers superyacht

GULFPORT, Miss. -- Trinity Yachts has finished a superyacht big enough for a king-size berth complete with his and her baths yet with a shallow draft. The owner named it the "Finish Line" and chose Trinity because he wanted the design and performance of the yacht to serve as inspiration to other American yachtsmen to build in the United States. The yacht will be on display at the Trinity Yachts stand during the 2013 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, Oct. 31 through Nov. 4. The yacht has a speed of 23 knots and a range of more than 3,600 nautical miles. (Source: Sun Herald, 09/24/13)

Northrop to build more LCS modules

BETHPAGE, N.Y. -- Northrop Grumman has received a $25.2 million contract from the U.S. Navy for additional Littoral Combat Ship Mission Modules. The company will deliver three mission module packages - two for surface warfare missions and one for mine countermeasures. The LCS has three primary missions: mine warfare, antisubmarine warfare and surface warfare. Each mission package involves the integration of manned and unmanned systems operating across the air, surface and subsurface domains. To date, Northrop Grumman has delivered two surface warfare mission modules and one mine countermeasures mission module for LCS. The second and third Northrop Grumman-produced mine countermeasures mission module and the third surface warfare mission modules are currently in production. (Source: Northrop Grumman, 09/16/13) Gulf Coast note: The LCS Independence-class ships are built in Mobile, Ala., by Austal USA.

Work begins on new destroyer

PASCAGOULA, Miss. – Work has begun on the Navy's next Aegis guided missile destroyer, Ralph Johnson (DDG 114). It's the 30th Arleigh Burke Class destroyer built by Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Miss., part of Huntington Ingalls Industries. The start-of-fabrication milestone signifies that 100 tons of steel have been cut for DDG 114. Ingalls uses state-of-the-art robotic cutting machines to ensure the steel is cut and fabricated to exact Navy specifications. Ralph Johnson is expected to be delivered in the first half of 2017. (Source: Huntington Ingalls Industries, 09/13/13)

Ingalls, insurer reach settlement

PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- Huntington Ingalls Industries has agreed to release an insurance claim in exchange for a cash payment of $180 million. In a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday, the company said it previously disclosed it has been pursuing legal action against an insurer, FM Global. The filing said the claims were related to losses as a result of Hurricane Katrina, which hit the company's shipyards in Pascagoula and Avondale, La., in 2005. On Sept. 6, Huntington Ingalls entered into a confidential settlement agreement, according to the filing. (Source: Sun Herald, Mississippi Press, 09/10/13)

Ingalls composite center closing

Huntington Ingalls Industries announced Wednesday the closure of its Composite Center of Excellence in Gulfport, Miss. HII President and CEO Mike Petters said it was a difficult but necessary decision due to the Navy's decision to use steel rather than composite structures for the reduced number of Zumwalt-class ships. Earlier versions of the class of ships used composite deckhouses and other large composite structures. The facility will close by May 2014, after current work is finished. The facility has 427 workers, of which some will be transferred to other Huntington Ingalls operations. The company has a shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss. The company’s shipyard in Avondale, La., is also on the chopping block. (Source: Huntington Ingalls, 09/04/13) Previous

Ship design lab getting upgrade

NEW ORLEANS -- The University of New Orleans received $58,000 in donations from the shipbuilding and maritime industry to upgrade its ship-design computer laboratory. Hornbeck Offshore Services of Covington gave $50,000; Eastern Shipbuilding Group of Panama City, Fla., gave $5,000; Bollinger Shipyards of Lockport, $2,500; and Elliott Bay Design Group of Seattle and New Orleans, $500. The ship-design lab, part of UNO's School of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, helps prepare students for careers in the maritime industry. The school was established in 1980. (Source: Times Picayune, 09/02/13)

LCS buys may be smaller

The Office of Secretary of Defense reportedly wants to limit the number of Littoral Combat Ship purchases to 24, way below the Navy's goal of 52 ships. That's what sources told the Defense News. That would end procurement with the fiscal 2015 budget. The Navy is countering with a no-lower-than 32 ship purchase number. (Source: Defense News, 09/02/13) Gulf Coast note: Purchases are divided between Independence class ships built by Austal USA in Mobile, Ala., and Freedom class ships built in Wisconsin.

Edenzon talks workforce

PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- Ingalls Shipbuilding President Irwin F. Edenzon spoke with the Pascagoula Rotary Club Wednesday about the long-term future of the Pascagoula shipyard and workforce development. While the Pascagoula shipyard has a list of big contracts into 2016, officials with Huntington Ingalls Industries are in constant contact with the Pentagon hashing out the kinds of ships and the numbers of ships in the Navy's long-range plan. Edenzon said the shipyard is ramping up to a workforce of about 13,000 in Pascagoula, so developing the next generation of shipbuilders is crucial to future success. (Source: Mississippi Press, 08/28/13)

LCS 4 completes acceptance trials

MOBILE, Ala. -- The future USS Coronado (LCS 4) successfully concluded acceptance trials after completing a series of graded in-port and underway demonstrations for the Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV). Acceptance trials are the last significant milestone before delivery of the ship later this fall. During the four-day trial, the Navy conducted tests intended to demonstrate the performance of the propulsion plant, ship handling and auxiliary systems. While underway, the ship successfully performed launch and recovery operations with both the 7-meter and 11-meter rigid hull inflatable boats, a four-hour full power run, surface and air self defense detect-to-engage exercises, and demonstrated the ship's tremendous maneuverability performing tight turns and accomplishing speeds in excess of 40 knots. Following commissioning, Coronado will be homeported in San Diego with its sister ships USS Freedom (LCS 1), USS Independence (LCS 2) and USS Fort Worth (LCS 3). The Independence-class LCSs are built in Mobile, Ala., by Austal USA. (Source: NNS, 08/27/13)

Contract: Lockheed, $18.2M

Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Training, Moorestown, N.J., is being awarded an $18,175,946 modification to previously awarded contract for cruiser and destroyer modernization testing efforts associated with the Aegis Combat System. Fifteen percent of the work will be done in Pascagoula, Miss. Other work locations are Moorestown, N.J. (40 percent); Bath, Maine (15 percent); Washington, D.C. (12 percent); San Diego, Calif. (7 percent); Norfolk, Va. (7 percent); Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (2 percent); Port Hueneme, Calif. (1 percent); and Syracuse, N.Y. (1 percent), and is expected to be completed by August 2014. Fiscal 2012 shipbuilding and conversion, Navy; fiscal 2013 operations and maintenance, Navy; fiscal 2011 and 2012 other procurement, Navy; fiscal 2013 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $18,175,946 will be obligated at time of award. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington D.C., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 08/19/13)

LPD 25 finishes builder's trials

AVONDALE, La. -- The future USS Somerset, LPD 25, successfully completed builder's trials last week at Ingalls Shipbuilding's Avondale, La., yard. Builder's sea trials are designed to test a ship's major systems, including combat, propulsion, ballasting, communications, navigation and mission systems. The trials let the shipbuilder fix deficiencies prior to Navy acceptance trials this fall. LPD 25 is the ninth ship of the LPD 17-class of amphibious transport dock ships. Somerset is named for the passengers and crew of United Airlines Flight 93, whose actions disrupted the terrorist hijackers causing Flight 93 to crash in Somerset County, Pa., in September 2001. (Source: Mississippi Press, 08/19/13)

Fourth NSC launched

Ingalls launched Hamilton Aug. 10.
Photo by Steve Blount

PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- Ingalls Shipbuilding on Saturday launched Hamilton (WMSL 753), the company's fourth Legend-class national security cutter for the U.S. Coast Guard. Ingalls in 2010 received a $480 million contract to build Hamilton, slated to be delivered to the Coast Guard in fall 2014. Hamilton is the fourth of eight planned ships in this new class of technologically advanced multi-mission cutters. Bertholf, Waesche and Stratton have been commissioned and are on duty. Hamilton will be christened Oct. 26 in Pascagoula. (Source: Mississippi Press, 08/12/13) Previous

Navy opts for steel deckhouse

After two Zumwalt-class destroyers were built with composite deckhouses, the Navy is switching to a steel deckhouse for DDG-1002, the future USS Lyndon B. Johnson. The Navy was reportedly unhappy with the costs of the composite structures. In a January solicitation it indicated it might need a steel deckhouse. Earlier this month the Navy and General Dynamics' Bath Iron Works inked a $212 million contract not only for the deckhouse, but the hangar and aft peripheral vertical launching system (PVLS) modules for the ship. Zumwalt-class ships were originally designed to replace the DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class ships as the Navy's primary destroyer force, but the Navy opted to build just three. The composite deckhouses were built by Ingalls Shipbuilding's composite center in Gulfport, Miss. The move raises questions about the use of composites for large-scale ship sections. (Sources: PRNewswire, Aviation Week, Marine Log, 08/05/13) Previous

LPD 27 keel authenticated

PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- The keel of Ingalls Shipbuilding’s 11th amphibious transport dock ship Portland (LPD 27) was authenticated Friday at the company's shipyard. Bonnie Amos, wife of Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Amos, authenticated the keel of Ingalls' latest San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock. Portland is now about seven percent complete and is scheduled to be delivered to the Navy in 2017. (Sources: Sun Herald, Mississippi Press, 08/02/13)

Portions of DDG 1001 delivered

PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- Ingalls Shipbuilding has delivered the final aft peripheral vertical launch system assemblies for the Navy's second Zumwalt-class guided missile destroyer, Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001). Four assembly units make up the aft PVLS, and the first two units were delivered in July 2012. The latest two units were delivered a week early. Ingalls also builds the vessel's hangar and composite deckhouse at its composite center of excellence in Gulfport, Miss. The ships are built at General Dynamics' Bath Iron Works in Maine. (Source: Mississippi Press, 07/24/13)

Contract: SAIC, $10.2M

Science Applications International Corp., McLean, Va., is being awarded a $10,196,609 modification under a previously awarded contract to exercise an option for services supporting Military Sealift Command's (MSC) information technology ashore operations. These services assist MSC's command, control communications and computer systems in merging the physical, financial, contractual, and performance attributes of its IT investments to enable cost-efficient, timely business decisions. Work will be performed in Washington, D.C. (74.7 percent); Norfolk, Va. (16.9 percent); San Diego, Calif. (5.9 percent); Pensacola, Fla. (2.4 percent); Scott Air Force Base, Ill. (less than 1 percent);Yokohama, Japan (less than 1 percent); and Naples, Italy (less than 1 percent), and is expected to be completed by July 2014. The Military Sealift Command, Washington Navy Yard, D.C., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 07/16/13)

State might fund academy annex

PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- Ingalls Shipbuilding has applied for a $1.3 million Hurricane Katrina-related community development block grant to add a basic skills training annex to the nearly complete Haley Reeves Barbour Maritime Training Academy. The Jackson County Board of Supervisors agreed to request proposals for professional services, such as engineering, for the project. The project is a 4,105-square-foot multi-purpose classroom that will be able to hold 320 people in an auditorium-style setup. The room will be equipped with projectors and other technology need for presentations. (Source: Mississippi Press, 07/15/13)

Maritime worker demand high

The demand for jobs in South Mississippi's maritime industry is higher than ever. Huntington Ingalls, VT Halter Marine, both in Pascagoula, and Trinity Yachts in Gulfport are constantly seeking skilled workers for new projects. Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, along with coastal industries, are training and placing these workers quickly, but the demand remains high. "We've never seen it higher than what it is right now," said John Shows, MGCCC associate vice president for community campus and career technical education. (Source: Sun Herald, 07/11/13)

New supply vessels to be built

NEW ORLEANS -- Edison Chouest Offshore will build more than 40 new vessels to meet demand for offshore oil and gas support in the Gulf of Mexico, the Arctic and Brazil. The Galliano-based company did not disclose the cost of the newest round of builds. Most of the construction work will be spread among Chouest U.S. shipyards, North American Shipbuilding in Larose, LaShip in Houma, Gulf Ship in Gulfport, Miss., and Tampa Ship in Tampa, Fla. (Source: AP via nola.com, 07/10/13)

Contract: Raytheon, $14.2M

Raytheon Integrated Defense System, Portsmouth, R.I., is being awarded $14,211,010 for cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery order #0004 under a previously awarded Basic Ordering Agreement for upgrading the AN/AQS-20A mine hunting sonar 3493-AS-780-9 configuration with a high frequency wide band forward look sonar and multi-function side looking sonar and associated components. The work will be performed in Portsmouth, R. I., and is expected to be completed by September 2014. Fiscal 2013 Research, Development, Test and Evaluation funding in the amount of $2,500,000 will be obligated at the time of award. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S.C. 2304(c) - only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements, Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Panama City Division, Panama City, Fla., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 07/01/13)

Contract: Northrop, $19.4M

Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Bethpage, N.Y., is being awarded a $19,360,601 modification to previously awarded contract to provide engineering and production planning services for mission packages that will deploy from and integrate with the littoral combat ship. Work will be performed in Bethpage, N.Y. (44 percent); Oxnard, Calif. (16 percent); Washington, D.C. (14 percent); Panama City, Fla. (10 percent); Dahlgren, Va. (8 percent); San Diego, Calif. (4 percent); Hollywood, Md. (2 percent); Andover, Mass. (1 percent); and Middletown, R.I. (1 percent); and is expected to be completed by June 2014. Fiscal 2013 Research, Development, Test and Evaluation funding in the amount of $5,931,600 will be obligated at the time of award. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington D.C., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 06/28/13)

Keel laying at Austal

MOBILE, Ala. -- Austal USA held a keel laying ceremony Tuesday to mark start of construction on a new Littoral Combat Ship. The LCS is the future USS Montgomery, and is expected to be delivered to the U.S. Navy in 2016. The Navy's LCS class ships are optimized for missions in coastal waters. Montgomery is one of the Independence-class variants of the LCS being built by Austal USA at its Mobile River yard. (Sources: multiple, including al.com, 06/25/13, UPI, 06/26/13)

Cedar Point site of meeting

OCEAN SPRINGS, Miss. -- The newly-founded Science Center for Marine Fisheries held its first-ever meeting at the Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center in Ocean Springs Friday morning. Funded by the National Science Foundation and the University Cooperative Research Center, the SCMF utilizes academic, recreational and commercial fisheries resources to address urgent scientific problems limiting sustainable fisheries. The University of Southern Mississippi is the lead institution of the SCMF, with the Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences the partner institution. For USM President Rodney Bennett, it was his first visit to the GCRL Cedar Point teaching site. (Source: Mississippi Press, 06/21/13)

Contract: Lockheed, $9.9M

Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Training, Moorestown, N.J., is being awarded a $9,931,106 modification to previously awarded contract for DDG Modernization testing efforts associated with the Aegis Combat System and MK 59 Decoy Launcher System shipcheck studies onboard DDG 62. Work will be performed in San Diego, Calif. (40 percent), Norfolk, Va. (38 percent), Moorestown, N.J. (8 percent), Washington, D.C. (7 percent), Port Hueneme, Calif. (3 percent), Bath, Maine (2 percent), Pascagoula, Miss. (2 percent), and is expected to be completed by September 2013. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 06/17/13)

Ingalls gets $76.8M NSC contract

PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- Huntington Ingalls Industries' Ingalls Shipbuilding division today received a $76.8 million fixed-price contract from the U.S. Coast Guard to purchase long-lead materials for Kimball (WMSL 756), the company's seventh National Security Cutter (NSC). Construction and delivery will be performed at the company's Pascagoula facility. Funds will be used to buy major items for Kimball, such as steel, the main propulsion systems, generators, electrical switchboards and major castings. Ingalls has delivered three NSCs. Ingalls' fourth NSC, Hamilton (WMSL 753), will launch later this year and be christened on Oct. 26. The keel was recently laid on the fifth cutter, James (WMSL 754), and construction will begin on the company's sixth cutter, Munro (WMSL 755), later this year. (Source: Huntington Ingalls, 06/14/13) Previous

JHSVs, LCSs named

WASHINGTON -- Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced Thursday the next three joint high speed vessels (JHSV) will be named USNS Yuma, USNS Bismarck and USNS Burlington, and two littoral combat ships (LCS) will be named USS Billings and USS Tulsa. The JHSVs, all 338 feet long and built by Austal USA in Mobile, Ala., are named after small American cities and counties. Yuma (JHSV 8) honors the city in Arizona and will be the fourth ship to bear this name. Bismarck (JHSV 9) is the first naval vessel to be named after North Dakota's capital city, and Burlington (JHSV10) is the first to be named for the city in Vermont. The LCSs are named to recognize cities that are one of the five most-populated communities in a state. Billings (LCS 15) is named in honor of Montana's largest city and will be the first ship to bear the name. Tulsa (LCS 16) will be the second ship named for Oklahoma's second-largest city. Billings, a Freedom-variant LCS, will be 378 feet long and built in Marinette, Wis., and Tulsa, an Independence-variant LCS, will be 419 feet long and built by Austal. (Source: DoD, 06/06/13)

Austal launches JHSV

MOBILE, Ala. -- Austal USA launched its third Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV), USNS Millinrocket. The 338-foot aluminum catamaran is part of a $1.6 billion, 10-ship program with the U.S. Navy. The vessels are designed to be fast, flexible and maneuverable in shallow waters, travel at an average speed of about 40 mph and transport troops, weapons and cargo. The ship will undergo final outfitting before sea trials and delivery to the Navy later this year. (Source: al.com, 06/06/13)

Contract: Ingalls, $3.3B

Huntington Ingalls of Pascagoula, Miss., is being awarded a $3,331,476,001 fixed-price incentive, multiyear contract for construction of five DDG 51 class ships, one in each of fiscal 2013-2017. This contract includes options for engineering change proposals, design budgeting requirements and post-delivery availabilities, which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $3,386,092,948. Work will be performed in Pascagoula, Miss. (56.3 percent), with additional work sites in Ohio, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia and other locations. Work is expected to be completed by July 2023. This contract was procured via a limited competition between Huntington Ingalls and Bath Iron Works. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 06/03/13)

Sea lions find new home

GULFPORT, Miss. -- Four young sea lions stranded on California beaches have a new home at the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies. More than 1,000 sea lion pups have been abandoned on California beaches since January, more than three times the usual number. The reason for the stranding is unclear, but without their mothers' milk and protection, the sea lions are starving. IMMS is the only public display facility in the United States that has a permit to acquire stranded sea lions, said Moby Solangi, executive director of IMMS in Gulfport. It’s the first public display facility outside California to receive the abandoned pups. (Source: Sun Herald, 05/27/13)

Equity firm buys into shipyards

Private equity firm Littlejohn & Co. of Greenwich, Conn., now has an ownership stake in Gulf Coast Shipyard Group, which owns Trinity Yachts and TY Offshore shipyards in Gulfport and New Orleans. John Dane III, CEO of the shipyard group, says the company plans $9 million in improvements at the Gulfport yard, which will allow it to build more ships each year. Trinity, which builds large private yachts, has about 700 employees. TY Offshore builds offshore supply vessels and tank barges. (Sources: Multiple, including AP via Sun Herald, Maritime Executive, Marine Log, 05/28/13)

GCRL opens new building

OCEAN SPRINGS, Miss. – The first new building at the Gulf Coast Research Lab since Hurricane Katrina in 2005 is now open. State, local and educational leaders were on hand to celebrate the opening of the new $1.2 million Field Studies Building. Field Studies is one of the major missions of the lab that was established in the late 1940s by the Institutes for Higher Learning. It now belongs to the University of Southern Mississippi. (Source: Sun Herald, 05/27/13)

Suits filed in guest worker case

GULFPORT, Miss. -- About 33 Indian guest workers filed a lawsuit against Mobile, Ala.-based Signal International claiming they were tricked out of money and forced to work in barbaric conditions at the Pascagoula facility. The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Gulfport, requests a jury trial. Two other suits against Signal were filed in Texas on behalf of 17 and 33 workers, respectively. The Southern Poverty Law Center said that in addition to those suits, more than 100 additional workers will be represented by other firms and organizations. (Source: Mississippi Press, 05/21/13)

JHSV completes acceptance trials

MOBILE, Ala. -- USNS Choctaw County, the Navy's second Joint High Speed Vessel, completed acceptance trials earlier this month in the Gulf of Mexico, according to the Naval Sea Systems Command. The Austal USA-built JHSV is an all-aluminum, non-combat catamaran transport ship. Choctaw County is slated for delivery in June and is part of a 10-ship contract valued at $1.6 billion. The first vessel in the order, the USNS Spearhead, also built by Austal, was delivered to the Navy in December 2012. (Sources, Naval Sea Systems Command, 05/16/13, al.com, 05/20/13)

Contract: L-3, $8M

L-3 Global Communications Solutions, Victor, N.Y., is being awarded an $8,093,065 firm-fixed-price General Services Administration delivery order to acquire Hawkeye III Lite tri-band antennas and Hawkeye diplexer kits for the Deployable Joint Command and Control Rapid Response kits and Sensitive Compartmented Information kits for the expeditionary command and control suite. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $10,530,855. Work will be performed in Panama City, Fla., and is expected to complete by September 2013. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1), only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division, Panama City is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 05/20/13)

Maritime Academy nears completion

PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- Classes will be underway at Ingalls Shipbuilding's Haley Reeves Barbour Maritime Training Academy by the end of summer. The academy, funded through a Hurricane Katrina community development block grant, is meant to provide a skilled workforce and will help Ingalls expand its 2- to 4-year apprentice program to about 1,000 students. It's named after the former governor, who was instrumental in its creation. Mobile, Ala.'s Ben M. Radcliff Contractor Inc. was awarded the $15.6 million contract to construct the facility. It should be complete by August. (Source: Mississippi Press, 05/19/13)

Keel authenticated for cutter

PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- Ingalls Shipbuilding division today authenticated the keel of the company's fifth U.S. Coast Guard National Security Cutter, James (WMSL 754). It's named for Joshua James, credited with saving more than 600 lives along the New England coastline during a nearly 60-year career in the 1800s with the U.S. Life Saving Service. Ingalls has delivered three National Security Cutters to the Coast Guard. The fourth ship, Hamilton (WMSL 753), will be christened on Oct. 26. (Source: Ingalls via Globe Newswire, 05/17/13)

VT Halter dry dock arrives

PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- A floating dry dock arrived at VT Halter Marine's Pascagoula shipyard from the Philippines as part of the company's multimillion-dollar south yard expansion. The 546-foot dry dock will help the company offer ship repair of semi-submersible drilling rigs and Panamax-size ships. The new repair facility will create about 400 new jobs while diversifying the company's offerings and increasing its customer base. The company currently employs about 2,200 workers at its Moss Point, Pascagoula and Escatawpa yards. (Source: Mississippi Press, 05/16/13)

Contract: Ingalls, $8.9M

Huntington Ingalls Inc., Pascagoula, Miss., is being awarded an $8,964,961 modification to previously awarded contract to exercise options for DDG 51 class follow yard services. The follow yard services provides necessary engineering, technical, material procurement and production support; configuration; class flight upgrades and new technology support; data and logistics management; lessons learned analysis; acceptance trials; post-delivery test and trials; post-shakedown availability support; reliability and maintainability; system safety program support; material and fleet turnover support; shipyard engineering team; turnkey; crew indoctrination, design tool/design standardization, detail design development, and other technical and engineering analyses for the purpose of supporting DDG 51 class ship construction and test and trials. Work will be done in Pascagoula (97 percent) and Washington, D.C. (3 percent), and is expected to be completed by May 2014. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 05/16/13)

Barge, tug christened

PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- VT Halter Marine and Crowley Maritime celebrated a partnership Thursday with the christening of a tug and a barge. VT Halter built the 600-foot long barge, called 750-3, which has the capacity to hold 330,000 barrels of petroleum products. The companion tug Liberty had been built at a shipyard in Washington state. They were christened separately at a double ceremony at VT Halter's Bayou Casotte shipyard. (Source: Sun Herald, 05/02/13)

Hybrid squadron introduced

SAN DIEGO -- The Navy Thursday introduced its first squadron combining manned and unmanned helicopters. Helicopter Maritime Strike 35, "the Magicians," with 140 sailors, will combined eight manned MH-60R Seahawks with 10 unmanned MQ-8B Fire Scouts and will work off coastal combat ships. The Navy expects the squadron to make its first deployment in early 2014 on the littoral combat ship Fort Worth, with two Fire Scouts and one Seahawk. Pilots will fly the drones from a control room inside the ship or even on shore. The Fire Scouts will reside at the Rancho Bernardo campus of Northrop Grumman, said the squadron's commanding officer. Fire Scouts can stay aloft at least eight hours, compared to the Seahawk's 3.3 hours. The Navy has been testing the Fire Scout since 2007 and deploying it since 2009, using it for counter-narcotics operations and in Afghanistan. (Source: Reuters, UT-San Diego, 05/02/13) Gulf Coast note: Fire Scouts are built in part in Moss Point, Miss.; Austal USA in Mobile, Ala., builds one version of the littoral combat ships.

Contract: Concurrent Tech, $8.4M

Concurrent Technologies Corp., Johnstown, Pa., is being awarded an $8,359,958 modification to previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to provide additional engineering and fabrication services in support of the ongoing development and testing for the carriage, stream, tow and recovery system. Work will be performed in Johnstown and is expected to be completed by February 2015. The Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division, Panama City, Fla., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 05/02/13)

Ingalls shareholders get update

PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- Huntington Ingalls Industries shareholders got an update Wednesday on company plans to continue improvements on aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford, get started on two new carrier programs and sign a construction contract for aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy. In addition, Ingalls expects a decision "soon" from the Navy on a destroyer program, "an award very important to the future of Ingalls," Huntington Ingalls President Mike Petters said. Thirty-two Huntington Ingalls Industries shareholders met for the annual meeting on Wednesday, help in Pascagoula for the first time. Ingalls has between 75,000 and 85,000 total shareholders, according to a company representative. (Source: Sun Herald, 05/01/13)

LPD 23 to be commissioned

The Navy will commission the amphibious transport dock ship, Anchorage, in its namesake city in Alaska May 4 during a ceremony at the Port of Anchorage. Anchorage is named in honor of the largest city in Alaska. Adm. Cecil Haney, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, will deliver the keynote address. The 24,900-ton Anchorage, LPD 23, was built by Huntington Ingalls Industries - Avondale Shipyard in Louisiana. The ship is 684 feet long with an overall beam of 105 feet. Anchorage is the seventh amphibious transport dock ship in the San Antonio class. (Source: DoD, 05/01/13)

Ingalls to build 6th USCG NSC

NSC Stratton. Huntington Ingalls photo

PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- Huntington Ingalls Industries announced today that the U.S. Coast Guard has awarded a $487 million, fixed-price-incentive-fee contract to its Ingalls Shipbuilding division to build the sixth National Security Cutter, Munro (WMSL 755). NSCs, the flagships of the Coast Guard's cutter fleet, replace the 378‐foot Hamilton-class high-endurance cutters, which entered service during the 1960s. Ingalls has delivered the first three. The fourth, Hamilton (WMSL 753), currently at 40 percent complete, is scheduled to launch this summer and will be christened in October. Keel-laying for the fifth NSC, James (WMSL 754), is set for May 17. A long-lead material contract for Munro was awarded in 2012, and all associated equipment has been ordered. (Source: Huntington Ingalls via Globe Newswire, 05/01/13)

Ingalls called fit-friendly

PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- Huntington Ingalls Industries said Monday that its Ingalls Shipbuilding division has received a Platinum Award in the American Heart Association's Fit-Friendly Worksite program. This is the highest level recognized by the AHA for companies that demonstrate progressive leadership in making the health and wellness of their employees a priority. Huntington Ingalls Industries designs, builds and maintains nuclear and non-nuclear ships for the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard and provides after-market services for military ships around the globe. (Source: Globe Newswire, 04/29/13)

Exelis tapped for MK 105

VAN NUYS, Calif. -- ITT Exelis has been awarded a contract valued at more than $10 million to provide one MK 105 Mod 4 airborne minesweeping system for the Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division in Panama City, Fla. Introduced to the Navy fleet in 1972, the Exelis MK 105 system has been used in every major mine-clearance operation. The Navy’s MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter tows the system through the water, and twin magnetic tails, consisting of open-electrode magnetic sweeps, are towed behind the sled, detonating mines to clear the water for vessels. The work will be done in Panama City by the Exelis radar, reconnaissance and undersea systems business area, which designs and develops integrated minesweeping systems for the U.S. and allied navies. (Source: Business Wire, 04/29/13)

Contract: CACI Tech, $20M

CACI Technologies Inc., Chantilly, Va., is being awarded a $20,150,158 modification to previously awarded contract for professional support services in support of Program Executive Office Littoral Combat Ships. Services include professional services in the areas of: program management and acquisition support, technical and engineering support, business and financial management support and logistics support. Work will be performed in Washington D.C. (89.9 percent); Norfolk, Va. (4.2 percent); San Diego, Calif. (2.2 percent); Panama City, Fla. (1.8 percent); Newport, R.I. (1.3 percent); and Monterey, Calif. (0.6 percent), and is expected to be complete by October 2013. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 04/25/13)

GCRL, education center growing

OCEAN SPRINGS, Miss. -- The University of Southern Mississippi's Gulf Coast Research Laboratory is growing. Near-term plans call for opening an 8,300-square-foot, four-classroom and lab addition in May and long-term plans call for erecting an $18 million Marine Education Center, the education and outreach arm of the lab. Eric Powell, director of the lab, said GCRL with a 200-person staff is among the largest marine research labs in the country and supplies nationally recognized marine disease research. GCRL and MEC leaders met with the Jackson County Board of Supervisors earlier this month to share the plans for growth. (Source: Mississippi Press, 04/23/13)

JHSV to be christened

The Navy will christen the Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV) Millinocket Saturday during a 10 a.m. CDT ceremony in Mobile, Ala. Vice Adm. William R. Burke, deputy chief of Naval Operations for Warfare Systems, will deliver the ceremony’s principal address. Karen G. Mills, administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration, will serve as the ship's sponsor. The future USNS Millinocket is the first naval vessel to be named in honor of Millinocket and East Millinocket, Maine. The 338 foot-long aluminum catamaran is being built by Austal USA in Mobile, Ala. (Source: DoD, 04/19/13)

Contract: BIW, $12.6M

Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine, is being awarded a $12,599,317 modification to previously awarded contract to exercise an option for Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Class Design Services. LCS Class Design Services provide necessary engineering, program, and technical support for LCS Class ships. This effort includes class baseline design services, class documentation services, class engineering studies, cost estimating support, LCS ship transition, and liaison for ship construction and post delivery with the class design agent for LCS 6 and follow. Work will be performed in Bath, Maine (52 percent); Pittsfield, Mass. (47 percent); and Mobile, Ala. (1 percent), and is expected to be completed by June 2014. Fiscal 2012 Shipbuilding and Conversion, Navy funding in the amount of $12,599,317 will be obligated at time of award. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 04/15/13)

Fire sends LCS back to Mobile

The Austal-built Littoral Combat Ship Coronado had a fire in its starboard diesel exhaust while conducting a high-speed demonstration on its second day of sea trials in the Gulf of Mexico, according to Defense News. LCS-4 is the second variant on the Independent class built in Mobile, Ala. The fire was put out immediately and there were no reported injuries. Coronado returned to the shipyard Friday night. (Source: Defense News, 04/14/15)

Offshore supply vessel launched

ESCATAWPA, Miss. -- VT Halter Marine launched and christened HOS Commander, the first of 10 vessels that Covington, La.-based Hornbeck Offshore Services will use to supply deepwater offshore exploration. The offshore supply vessels represent about a $442 million contract for VT Halter, who is building six of them at the Moss Point Marine yard in Escatawpa and four at the Halter Moss Point yard. The boats, called Super 320 Class OSVs, are designed to carry about 20,900 barrels of liquid mud and have 11,863 square feet of deck area. (Source: Mississippi Press, 04/09/13)

Contract: BAE Systems, $8.3M

BAE Systems Electronics Ltd, Maritime Services Division, Portsmouth, U.K., is being awarded an $8,268,703 modification to previously awarded contract that includes firm-fixed-price contract line item numbers for program management and support and calibration and maintenance services and a cost-plus-fixed-fee CLIN for engineering services support. This modification will complete production and delivery of Archerfish neutralizers (destructor, mine neutralization, Airborne EX64 Mod 0 Archerfish) system upgrade provides a significant reliability and performance improvement to the current MK-105, increasing the U.S. Navy's capability to conduct quick response, high speed airborne mine countermeasures for the next decade. Work will be performed in Portsmouth, U.K., and is expected to be completed by September 2014. The Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division, Panama City, Fla., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 04/10/13)

Oceanographers win humanitarian award

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. -- A modeling capability developed by oceanographers at Stennis Space Center that predicts the likelihood of pirate attacks received an international humanitarian award from Computerworld magazine. IDG’s Computerworld Honors Program selected the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command as a 2013 Laureate in the field of Safety and Security for its development of the Pirate Attack Risk Surface (PARS). The PARS model produces a forecast of shipping vulnerability due to piracy at a certain latitude, longitude, and time. The Honors Program, founded in 1988, recognizes organizations and individuals who have used information technology to advance public welfare, benefit society and business, and change the world for the better. (Source: Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command, 04/09/13)

Composite hangar milestone reached

Hangar goes ship-shape. Ingalls photo

GULFPORT, Miss. -- Ingalls Shipbuilding achieved a milestone in the construction of the composite hangar that will be used on the Navy's second Zumwalt-class guided missile destroyer, Michael Monsoor. The shipbuilder’s composites facility in Gulfport turned the inverted hangar to an upright position, or ship-shape, which is an important and necessary feat in the construction schedule of this component. The Zumwalt destroyer is being built by Bath Iron Works in Maine. (Source: Ingalls Shipbuilding via Globe Newswire, 04/08/13)

State Senate honors Ingalls

JACKSON, Miss. -- The Mississippi Senate honored Pascagoula's Ingalls Shipbuilding Thursday on its 75th anniversary as the state's largest private employer. Sen. Brice Wiggins of Pascagoula introduced a resolution commending Ingalls on its anniversary and thanked Sen. Michael Watson of Pascagoula for putting together the resolution. Wiggins noted that Ingalls employs some 10,000 workers in Mississippi and 37,000 nationwide. (Source: Mississippi Press, 04/04/13)

Arlington to be commissioned

The Navy will commission the newest San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship, Arlington, during a 12:30 p.m. EDT ceremony April 6 at Naval Station Norfolk, Va. The ship is named for the county of Arlington and honors the first responders and the 184 victims who died when American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon Sept. 11, 2001. The ship is 684 feet long and is the eighth of the LPD-17 class to be built by Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Miss. (Source: DoD, 04/04/13) Previous

Horizon triples capacity

BAYOU LA BATRE, Ala. -- Horizon Shipbuilding Inc. of Bayou La Batre said is has tripled the company's production capacity with the acquisition of its “West Yard” facilities. Located directly across from its main yard, the West Yard adds about 22 acres to Horizon’s footprint, including 3,000 feet of waterfront, three production bays, and multiple launch ways. Horizon, with 240 workers, has built ships for the Navy, Coast Guard, Army Corps of Engineers and for commercial companies. (Source: al.com, 04/02/13)

Shipyard expansion ready for bid

PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- VT Halter Marine's multimillion-dollar south yard expansion is ready for bid. Jackson County Port Authority commissioners agreed unanimously to advertise the project for bid at a Thursday morning special meeting. The new ship repair facility, to be built at the Bayou Casotte shipyard in Pascagoula, will create 400 jobs while diversifying the company’s offerings and increasing its customer base. The company currently employs about 2,200 workers at its Moss Point, Pascagoula and Escatawpa yards. (Source: Mississippi Press, 03/28/13)

VT Halter launches ship

MOSS POINT, Miss. -- The 253-foot oceanographic survey vessel U.S. Naval Ship Maury was christened and launched Wednesday at VT Halter Marine's shipyard. The all-steel T-AGS 66 is an enhanced version of the T-AGS 60 class used by the Navy to gather data and provide information to the military and improve undersea warfare technology and ship detection. It can carry a crew of 67. It was named in honor of Matthew Fontaine Maury, the first superintendent of the United States Naval Observatory an author of the first textbook of oceanography. He was also considered the father of world meteorology. He died in 1873. VT Halter has built six of the original T-AGS 60s. (Source: Mississippi Press, 03/27/13)

GD wins $26M contract for MK46

STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. -- General Dynamics Land Systems has been awarded a $25.7 million contract to produce eight MK46 30mm Naval Weapon Systems for the U.S. Navy for use on San Antonio-class (LPD-17) ships and the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) class. The MK46 is an all-weather, day/night, fully stabilized weapon system. General Dynamics has delivered 30 MK46 systems to the Navy since 2005. It is the main deck gun for LPD-17 ships and is the secondary gun battery for Littoral Combat Ships. Work will be done in Woodbridge, Va.; Tallahassee, Fla.; Lima, Ohio; Westminster, Md.; Sterling Heights, Mich.; and Scranton, Pa. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in September 2014. (Source: General Dynamics via PRNewswire, 03/26/13) San Antonio-class ships are built by Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Miss., and one of two versions of the LCS is built by Austal USA in Mobile, Ala.

Ingalls to fill 3,000 positions

PRICHARD, Ala. -- Huntington Ingalls Industries plans to hire 3,000 people for its Pascagoula, Miss., shipbuilding facility over the next 12 months to fulfill existing ship orders. A job fair to help fill those positions will be held at 5 p.m. Friday at the Sunlight District Auditorium at 809 Seminary Street in Prichard. Bill Glenn, manager of public affairs for Ingalls Shipbuilding, confirmed the company has partnered with a consortium of ministers across the Gulf Coast to help attract the necessary applicants to fulfill such a strong demand for skilled workers. (Source: al.com, 03/20/13)

Contract: Austal USA, $20M

Austal USA LLC., Mobile, Ala., is being awarded a $19,987,274 modification to previously awarded contract to exercise options for class service efforts and special studies, analyses and reviews for the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program. Austal USA LLC will assess engineering and production challenges and evaluate the cost and schedule risks from affordability efforts to reduce LCS acquisition and lifecycle costs. Work will be performed in Mobile, Ala. (72 percent) and Pittsfield, Mass. (28 percent), and is expected to complete by March 2014. Fiscal 2012 Shipbuilding and Conversion, Navy funding in the amount of $19,987,274 will be obligated at time of award. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 03/15/13)

Hydroid UUV in full production

Hydroid Inc. of Pocasset, Mass., has begun full-rate production the Navy Littoral Battlespace Sensing (LBS) Unmanned Underwater Vehicle. The Navy conducted more than a year of test and evaluation before ordering the LBS UUV. The end user of the UUVs will be the Naval Oceanographic Office at NASA's Stennis Space Center, Miss., which acquires and analyzes open oceans, coastal waters, and harbors data. The U.S. Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command in San Diego ordered the immediate production of three LBS UUVs, based on the Hydroid REMUS 600 UUV, and one Shipset consisting of a launch and recovery system (LARS), a LARS flat rack, a mission van, a maintenance van, and vehicle support equipment. The REMUS (Remote Environmental Measuring Units) UUV projects funders include the U.S. Office of Naval Research in Arlington, Va.; the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency in Arlington, and the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence in London. Hydroid is a subsidiary of Kongsberg Maritime AS in Kongsberg, Norway. (Source: Military and Aerospace Electronics, 03/08/13)

LPD leaves Pascagoula

PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- Ingalls Shipbuilding's amphibious transport dock Arlington left the Pascagoula yard Friday morning, headed toward Norfolk for an April 6 commissioning. LPD 24 is a 684-foot-long vessel designed to transport up to 800 Marines, their fighting vehicles and aircraft. It's the 8th in the LPD 17-class to be built by the company. The ship is named Arlington for Arlington County, Va., where American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001, killing 184 people. (Source: Mississippi Press, Sun Herald, 03/08/13)

Keel-laying ceremony held

MOBILE, Ala. -- BAE Systems Southeast Shipyard Alabama LLC held a keel-laying ceremony this week for the second of two dump scows being built for Illinois-based Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co. Construction of the 295-foot-long, 62-foot-wide Hull 108 started in October, as did construction of the first dump scow, Hull 107. Both vessels will be delivered by August. The vessels are used to transport and dump sediments acquired while dredging waterways. (Source: Mobile Press-Register, 03/06/13)

Contract: Bath Iron Works, $12.3M

Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine, is being awarded a $12,326,893 modification to previously awarded contract to exercise an option for post-delivery support for the USS Coronado (LCS 4). Bath Iron Works will perform the planning and implementation of deferred design changes that have been identified during the construction period. The corrections and upgrades are necessary to support Coronado's sailaway and follow-on post-delivery test and trials period. Work will be performed in Mobile, Ala. (76 percent); Bath, Maine (18 percent); and Pittsfield, Mass. (6 percent), and is expected to be complete by February 2014. Fiscal 2009 Shipbuilding and Conversion, Navy funding in the amount of $12,326,893 will be obligated at time of award. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 03/04/13)

Contract: Austal, $681.7M

Austal USA, Mobile, Ala., is being provided funding in the amount of $681,721,789 under previously awarded contract for construction of two fiscal 2013 Littoral Combat Ships. Work will be performed in Mobile, Ala. (51 percent); Pittsfield, Mass. (13 percent); Cincinnati, Ohio (4 percent); Baltimore, Md. (2 percent); Burlington, Vt. (2 percent); New Orleans, La. (2 percent) and various locations of less than two percent each totaling 26 percent. Work is expected to be complete by June 2018. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 03/04/13)

VT Halter wins contract

PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- VT Halter Marine said it has secured a contract to build an articulated tug barge, with an optional second unit, for Bouchard Transportation Co. The option must be exercised within 60 days of the initial contract award, the company said in a news release. The barge is 625 feet by 91 feet by 47 feet, has a 250,000-barrel capacity and will be used to transport liquid petroleum. Construction will begin in April at VT Halter Marine’s Pascagoula, Miss., facility, with delivery scheduled for mid-2015. (Source: Mississippi Press, 02/13/13)

HII eyes energy for Avondale

Huntington Ingalls Industries will open an office in Houston to help market its closing Avondale, La., shipyard. The company is pursuing opportunities in the energy infrastructure market for the yard. Located on the Mississippi River near New Orleans, the 268-acre facility has the potential to employ up to 10,000 highly skilled craft workers, the company said. (Sources: Mississippi Press, Globe Newswire, 02/05/13) HII owns Ingalls Shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss. Previous