Contract: Weeks Marine, $18.4M

Weeks Marine Inc., Covington, La., is being awarded an $18,383,017 firm-fixed-price contract for maintenance dredging at Naval Weapons Station Earle. The work to be performed provides for dredging the areas surrounding pier 3A and 4 including berths, turning basin, terminal channel, and a portion of Sandy Hook Federal Channel. Work will be performed in Earle, N.J., and is expected to be completed by September 2016. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with four proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Va., is the contracting activity (N40085-14-C-5232). (Source: DoD, 09/24/14)

Contract: Swiftships, $18M

Swiftships Shipbuilding, LLC, Morgan City, La., is being awarded an $18,000,000 not-to-exceed contract for the accomplishment of continuous lifecycle support for the Iraqi navy. This contract involves foreign military sales to Iraq. This contract will provide technical expertise in preventative and planned maintenance, emergent repairs, and platform overhaul support services for Iraqi patrol boats, off-shore vessels, and defender boats. Work will be performed on Umm Qasr Naval Base, Iraq, and is expected to be completed by October 2015. FMS funding in the amount of $9,000,000 will be obligated at time of award and the contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(4). Per FAR 6.302-4(a)(2) - full and open competition need not be provided for when precluded by the terms of an international agreement or a treaty between the United States and a foreign government or international organization, or the written directions of a foreign government reimbursing the agency for the cost of the acquisition of the supplies or services for such government. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity (N00024-14-C-4217). (Source: DoD, 09/23/14)

Contract: Offshore Svc Vessels, $8.8M

Offshore Service Vessels, Inc., Cut Off, La., is being awarded an $8,798,690 modification under a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00033-13-C-2001) to exercise a one-year option for the time charter of maritime support vessel MV C-Champion. The vessel is used as a platform for launching and recovering small boats; refueling and provisioning small boats; and assisting with limited maintenance for small boats. The vessel also provides support to maritime security operations. Work will be performed worldwide, and is expected to be completed by October 2015. Working capital contract funds in the amount of $8,798,690 are obligated for fiscal 2015 subject to availability of funds. No funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 09/23/14)

Keel authentication held

PASCAGOULA, Miss. – Ingalls Shipbuilding today held a keel authentication ceremony for the 30th Aegis destroyer built by the Jackson County shipyard. The ship, DDG 114, will be named the USS Ralph Johnson in honor of Marine Corps PFC Ralph Henry Johnson, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for throwing himself on a grenade to save others during the Vietnam War. DDG 114 is scheduled to be delivered to the Navy in 2017. (Source: Mississippi Press, 09/23/14)

JHSV 4 delivered to Navy

MOBILE, Ala. -- The Navy accepted delivery of Joint High Speed Vessel, the future USNS Fall River, from Austal USA today. USNS Fall River is the Navy's fourth Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV). The vessels are non-combatant transport ships built from a commercial design with limited modifications for military use. These ships enable the fast, intra-theater transport of troops, military vehicles and equipment. Each JHSV is capable of transporting 600 short tons 1,200 nautical miles at an average speed of 35 knots. The unique characteristics of JHSVs include a versatile off-load ramp and flight deck for helicopter operations. This further enhances port access and the Navy's operations in littoral areas. (Source: NNS, 09/15/14)

Hamilton delivered to Navy

PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- Ingalls Shipbuilding delivered the National Security Cutter Hamilton (WMSL 753) to the U.S. Coast Guard today. The ship will be commissioned in Charleston, S.C., on Dec. 6. It's the fourth Legend-class ship built by Ingalls, and three more are currently under construction. A seventh NSC, Kimball (WMSL 756), is scheduled to begin construction in early 2015. Hamilton will sail away from Ingalls on Nov. 1 en route to Charleston. The ships are 418 feet long and displace 4,500 tons with a full load. They have a top speed of 28 knots, a range of 12,000 miles, an endurance of 60 days and a crew of 120. (Source: Huntington Ingalls Industries, 09/15/14)

GC-built PCs arrive at 5th Fleet

MANAMA, Bahrain - The U.S. Navy has added two additional Coastal Patrol (PC) ships to the 5th Fleet’s maritime security operations in the Persian Gulf. The USS Hurricane (PC-3) and USS Monsoon (PC-4) – both built by Bollinger Marine of Lockport, La. - arrived here and brought the number of ships to 10. Their arrival also completed a Navy realignment plan to increase the Coastal Patrol ship presence across the 5th Fleet. Since arriving Aug. 13 on a commercial shipping vessel, the crews have been conducting maintenance and bringing systems online. Once fully operational, the two Bollinger-built ships will help spread the high operational tempo of the 10-PC fleet. (Source: Stars and Stripes, 09/10/14)

Weeks Marine dredge pact

Weeks Marine Inc. of Covington, La., was awarded an $18,700,000 firm-fixed-price contract with options for Mississippi River hopper dredge disposal from Baton Rouge to the Gulf of Mexico. Work will be performed in Baton Rouge with an estimated completion date of Feb. 10, 2015. Bids were solicited via the Internet, with two received. Fiscal 2014 other procurement funds in the amount of $18,700,000 are being obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans, Louisiana, is the contracting activity (W812P8-14-C-0055). (Source: DOD 09/09/14)

GC-built amphib gaining experience

About 1,500 Sailors and Marines have been busily testing the capabilities of the Navy’s newest amphibious assault ship during a two-month transit, after leaving its Pascagoula, Miss., shipyard in July. USS America (LHA 6) is traveling and stopping along the way around the tip of South America, while headed to its California homeport. Sailors and Marines have engaged with allies in Colombia, Brazil, Chile and Peru. Ship CO Capt. Robert Hall Jr. requested Marines from Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force South tag along with four MV-22B Ospreys. There’s not a lot of Navy-MC experience with Ospreys. But America doesn’t have a well-deck; yet, built for Marine aviation’s Ospreys and vertical takeoff and landing F-35B Joint Strike Fighters. Not having a well deck has made Sailors think differently, said Rear Adm. Fernandez “Frank” Ponds, commander of Expeditionary Strike Group 3. It symbolizes a new era in the “blue-green partnership” and is a “tremendous asset that gives a commander utility to do things that could’ve never been done before,” Ponds said. America is an “air-centric platform” resembling a “mini-Marine Corps aircraft carrier,” said Gen. John Kelly, head of the U.S. Southern Command, headquartered in Tampa, Fla. After the second America-class, future Navy amphibs will be built with well decks. (Source: Marine Corps Times, 09/07/14)

Covington firm earns Navy mod pact

Hornbeck Offshore Services of Covington, La., is being issued a $19,754,900 modification under a previously awarded Navy contract to exercise a 180-day option to extend services for the long-term time charter of U.S.-built, U.S.-flagged, contractor-owned and -operated surface escort vessels HOS Black Powder, HOS Westwind, HOS Eagle View, and HOS Arrowhead. The vessels are used to escort U.S. Navy assets transiting in and out of Navy ports. Work will be performed on the East and West coasts and is expected to be completed by February 2015. Navy working capital funds in the amount of $19,754,900 will be obligated in fiscal 2014, and will not expire at the end of the fiscal year. Military Sealift Command of Washington, DC, is the contracting activity. (Source: DOD 08/29/14)