Shell to start new GoM production

Royal Dutch Shell announced May 31 that it will start production in the Kaikias field of the Gulf of Mexico about one year ahead of schedule. Production from the subsea deep-water development, which will reach 40,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, comes after Shell reduced its costs by nearly 30 percent to allow it to generate profit at less than $30 a barrel, the company said. Kaikias is located about 130 miles off the Louisiana coast in the Mars-Ursa basin. (Source: Marine Link 05/31/18)

CG commandant change June 1

U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Paul F. Zukunft will be relieved by Atlantic Area Commander Vice Adm. Karl L. Schultz on June 1 at the CG's HQ in Washington, D.C. (Marine Link 05/31/18)

Mobile River shipwrecks project

The Alabama Historical Commission will begin a project to inventory shipwrecks and other cultural resources in submerged portions of the Mobile River in Mobile County, Ala. The project will ultimately result in a National Register Maritime Historic District, and the possible discovery of the Clotilda – the last known ship to bring enslaved Africans to the U.S. In March, the Alabama Historical Commission, National Park Service, Smithsonian National Museum of African-American History and Culture, and SEARCH completed an investigation into a shipwreck’s remains in nearby Baldwin County that was believed to be the Clotilda. It was not. The Historical Commission has recently contracted with SEARCH to complete Phase I’s remote-sensing survey to locate significant submerged cultural resources. Afterwards, SEARCH will conduct an archaeological analysis of acquired data. In conjunction with local/state partners, the archaeological process will occur in multiple phases. Phase I is to begin in June. (Source: Alabama Historical Commission 05/31/18)

Join DISL for oceans’ day

Join he Dauphin Island (Ala.) Sea Lab for World Oceans’ Day (June 8) to learn about how to be a protector of the environment. World Oceans Day 2018 will focus on preventing plastic pollution and encouraging solutions for a healthy ocean. On June 8 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the DISL team will show to help improve the health of oceans by understanding the watershed, micro-plastics, and marine debris. Families with children ages 5-to-8 are invited to reserve a spot to continue the lesson with ‘Discovery Hall Programs Oceans Alive!’ day camp. The half-day adventure combines arts and crafts with a beach walk. Lessons in marine biology, ecology and zoology are introduced in hands-on activities. The cost for the camp is $35 and reservations are required. For more information email DHPSummer@disl.org, call 251-861-2141 ext. 7515. ) Source: DISL 05/30/18)

Ethylene can trigger CO alarms

Coast Guard officers examining liquefied gas carriers along the Gulf Coast have learned ethylene, and other hydrocarbon vapors, can trigger carbon monoxide (CO) alarms on gas detectors before alarming for lower explosive limits. A May 30 safety alert warns the CO alarms – usually alerting to deadly engine combustion gases in confined spaces – can be an early warning of gas leaks before building to explosive levels. Coast Guard officials said Texas port control officers on one carrier thought their detectors were sniffing CO from combustion, but was a trigger from ethylene vapor coming from an 8-inch crack on a cargo vapor line. A marine chemist traced the problem, and told CG officials that the explosive level alarms likely did not occur because of high winds on deck. The molecular weight of ethylene is identical to CO, which would trigger that alarm. The detector’s manufacturer “confirmed that gases such as methane, propane, ethylene and mercaptan” will actuate the CO sensors before the lower explosive level alarms. (Source: Work Boat 05/30/18)

La. gov’t capitalizing on greatest threat

Louisiana loses about one hundred yards of land every 100 minutes. But, it’s not the state that is losing. Private landowners and companies are the ones who have lost more than 2,000 square miles of coastal marsh over the past 100 years. That process is financially benefiting Louisiana under a law that grants state government the rights to oil and gas deep below navigable waters, including eroded coastlines that have been converted from land to water. The more land lost to erosion, the more open water the state can claim for mineral rights. The alarming rate of erosion means Louisiana’s government can capitalize on one of its greatest threats. The state is netting hundreds of millions of dollars in mineral royalty payments a year, records show. Critics argue Louisiana has avoided making a clear policy on who owns the mineral rights to coastal waters, leading to costly restoration project modifications and construction delays. It's also created headaches for fishers who don't know where they can legally drive a boat. (Source: NOLA.com 05/31/18)

NTSB’s El Faro synopsis online

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released a 16-page digest summarizing critical events and decisions that led to the 2015 sinking of the El Faro, and the loss of 33 crewmembers, during Hurricane Joaquin in 2015. The digest synopsizes more than 60 recommendations issued throughout the NTSB’s investigation. The summary makes for an easy-to-read digest compared with the thousands of pages that comprise the NTSB’s final report. The accident report is available at www.ntsb.gov. El Faro‘s navigation bridge and the deck below separated from the main wreck, which was found in 15,000 feet of water northeast of Crooked Island in the Bahamas, near its last reported position. (Source: Work Boat 05/25/18)

LCS 14 begins long voyage 'home'

The Independence class Littoral Combat Ship USS Manchester (LCS-14) was commissioned May 26 in Portsmouth, N.H. It is the 12th LCS in the fleet. Seven LCS, including Manchester, have been built by Austal USA’s shipyard in Mobile, Ala. The ship has begun its long voyage to a new homeport in San Diego. On the way, USS Manchester is expected to conduct training, equipment, and systems checks of the new ships. It is expected to visit several ports before transiting the Panama Canal on its way to California. Much of the crew had been in Mobile since August before construction was completed. “We are proud to take full ownership of our new ship, but we also thoroughly enjoyed our time here in Mobile, Alabama, and were welcomed with open arms by the local community,” Cmdr. Emily Bassett, Manchester’s commanding officer, said in the release. (Source: USNI News 05/28/18)

New Shell discovery in GoM

Shell Offshore Inc. announced May 24 it had made a large, deepwater exploration discovery in the Norphlet geologic play in the Gulf of Mexico with its Dover well. The discovery is Shell’s sixth in the Norphlet and encountered more than 800 net feet of pay. The site is located about 13 miles from the Appomattox host, and is considered a potential tieback. Shell’s Appomattox host has now arrived on location in the GoM and is expected to start production before the end of 2019. (Source: Work Boat 05/26/18)

CG rescues rafter near DI

NEW ORLEANS – The Coast Guard rescued a man on an inflatable raft that appeared to be in distress near Dauphin Island, Ala., on Memorial Day, May 28. CG Station Dauphin Island received the notice from the Dauphin Island Police Department. CG Station Dauphin Island launched a response boat and crew to the scene, and brought the rafter aboard and transported him in good condition to the CG station. Due to tropical storm condition, the CG reminds beachgoers of the dangers of rip tides and to heed beach flag warnings. (Source: Coast Guard 05/28/18)

Keesler secures from Back Bay

BILOXI, Miss. - Keesler Air Force Base and Mississippi’s Department of Marine Resources have installed 15 buoys on the Back Bay of Biloxi to keep boaters from trespassing on base property. The base has had problems with intruders although there are large signs on shore identifying Keesler as government property, WXXV-TV reported. Each buoy was installed 150 feet away from shore. Maj. Jonathon Murray, 81st Security Forces Squadron commander, says the base continues to try to heighten security and clearly define its boundaries. The project took almost two years of research and coordination between the AF and the Army Corps of Engineers, which controls navigable waterways. (Source: The AP 05/26/18)

CG rescue trio; vessel sinks

NEW ORLEANS – The Coast Guard rescued three overdue boaters near Big Constance Lake in Louisiana on May 25. Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received a report of three overdue boaters on a 20-foot commercial shrimping vessel from Rollover Landing, La. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries confirmed the truck and trailer associated with the overdue vessel was still at the landing. The CG launched an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from CG Air Station New Orleans. The overdue boaters were located on shore after using an orange shirt tied to a stick to flag the helicopter crew. The vessel had sunk 18 hours earlier. The aircrew returned the boaters to their truck in good condition. (Source: Coast Guard 05/25/18) The CG reminds boaters of the importance of float plans and ensuring that someone staying on land knows your plan. For more details on float plans, including what should be included, visit this website: http://floatplancentral.cgaux.org/classroom/filing.htm

LCS 14 commissioning May 26

The Navy will commission its newest Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), the future USS Manchester (LCS 14), during a 9 a.m. CDT ceremony May 26 at the State Pier in Portsmouth, N.H. The Vice Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. William Moran, will deliver the ceremony’s principal address. The Independence-variant team is led by Austal USA of Mobile, Ala. (for LCS 6 and follow-on even-numbered ships). Twenty-nine LCS have been awarded to date: 13 have been delivered to the Navy, 13 are in various stages of construction and testing, and three are in pre-production states. The ceremony can be viewed on the Navy Live blog at http://navylive.dodlive.mil. Follow the conversation on social media using #USSManchester. (Source: DoD 05/24/18)

CG directs two 'medevacs' along GC

NEW ORLEANS – The Coast Guard medically evacuated an 18-year-old male from a charter vessel some 26 nautical miles south of Panama City, Fla., on May 24. Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Mobile, Ala., received a report from the motor vessel Lady Kelley that the man was suffering from seizure-like conditions. A 45-foot response boat and crew from CG Station Panama City 'medevaced' the patient in stable condition to waiting emergency medical services at Panama City Marina. (Source: Coast Guard 05/24/18) In a second response along the Gulf Coast on May 24, the CG 'medevaced' a man from a fishing vessel about 1 nautical mile from Grand Isle, La. Watchstanders at CG Sector New Orleans received a report from the fishing vessel Angela Marie that a 41-year-old male was suffering from a fractured foot. Watchstanders directed the launch of a CG Station Grand Isle Special Purpose Craft and crew who medevaced the patient.

The Station Grand Isle boatcrew transferred the patient in stable condition to waiting emergency medical services in Grand Isle.

Gulf Craft delivers special ferry

Seastreak’s new 600-passenger Commodore has become the highest capacity Subchapter K passenger ferry ever built in the United States, and was welcomed into service May 23. The passenger ferry was delivered by Gulf Craft of Franklin, La., on May 8. The Incat Crowther-designed catamaran exceeded performance expectations during sea trials, hitting top speeds better than 39 knots. The ferry made its way up the East Coast and underwent Coast Guard evaluations before a christening in New Jersey on Wednesday. The Commodore has seating for 500 on two main decks with panoramic views, and additional open air seating behind the pilothouse on the third deck. (Source: Work Boat 05/23/18) Gulf Craft also builds fast crew/supply, passenger, commuter, and dinner cruise vessels; plus party fishing, whale-watching, glass bottom, and pilot boats, and tenders. In addition to building its own designs, Gulf Craft has partnered with one of the world's most experienced multi-hull design groups, Incat Crowther of Australia to be the only licensed Gulf of Mexico builder of Incat Crowther designed high-speed passenger catamaran vessels.

ACER study finds piece to DH puzzle

The Alabama Center for Ecologicial Resilience (ACER) has added another piece to the puzzle to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon (DH) oil spill across the northern Gulf of Mexico. ACER, led by scientists at the Dauphin Island (Ala.) Sea Lab, is one of 17 consortia funded by the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative to understand the impacts of the disaster and how to be more prepared to respond to future events. ACER’s team focus was understanding how biodiversity influences ecosystem resilience and the ability to resist and recover from disturbances in the aftermath of major oil spills. In April, Ecosphere, an Ecological Society of America’s (ESA) open access journal, published a paper by seven ACER scientists titled: “Effects of oil exposure, plant species composition, and plant genotypic diversity on salt marsh and mangrove assemblages." The publication compares the resistance to and recovery from, oil pollution by salt marsh grasses and mangroves. The results of the year-long outdoor mesocosm experiment showed that when grown together, mangrove and cordgrass were more resilient in recovering from negative impacts. The “results suggest that transition habitats in the northern Gulf of Mexico where A. germinans and S. alterniflora co‐occur will be negatively impacted by future oiling events, but that they are no more susceptible, and perhaps slightly less so, than habitats dominated by either individual species.” This study focuses on one of the seven components covered by ACER’s research, and is the fourth publication from the ACER team. (Source: Dauphin Island Sea Lab 05/14/18)

Offshore worker files fed lawsuit

NEW ORLEANS - Maurice Wilson of Morton, Miss., an African-American offshore oil worker, has filed a federal lawsuit here claiming intimidation and discrimination on the job by a supervisor who drew a picture of the worker dangling from a high rig structure while surrounded by co-workers in Ku Klux Klan-like pointy hats. The lawsuit claims Wilson was denied a promotion after complaining about the drawing. The suit also claims Wilson was removed from the rig off Louisiana's coast and sent home early from his assignment, and has not been called back to work since last July. He began work in May 2017. The suit seeks unspecified damages from Transocean Offshore Deepwater Drilling for failing to provide a safe workplace free from racial discrimination. The suit accuses Transocean of negligence for failure to provide a safe workplace free of "overt racial discrimination." Transocean declined comment May 23 and has not filed a response in court. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Lance Africk. (Source: The Associated Press 05/23/18)

HII-Pascagoula promotes Weldon

PASCAGOULA, Miss. - Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division announced May 23 that Scott Weldon has been promoted to vice president of supply chain management effective immediately. In his new role, Weldon will provide leadership to all Ingalls supply chain management functions, including sourcing, procurement, inventory control and material warehousing. He succeeds Lori Harper, who is retiring Aug. 1 after more than 15 years of service at Ingalls. (Source: HII-Pascagoula 05/23/18)

FAU grant for AUMV research

Florida Atlantic University's College of Engineering and Computer Science has been awarded a $1.25M grant by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) to undertake research in support of autonomous unmanned marine vehicles (AUMV) for coastal surveillance, surveys, target-tracking and protection of at-sea assets. The five-year project will entail developing unmanned surface vehicles that serve as "mother ships" for unmanned underwater vehicles and aerial drones, that enable multi-vehicle and multi-domain capability for mobile coastal monitoring, as well as training and education of graduate and undergraduate students in ocean engineering. The project will leverage and collaborate with FAU's ongoing Naval Engineering Education Consortium efforts with Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City, Fla., which involves use of two unmanned underwater vehicles (UUV) for adaptive subsurface sensing in support of detection of objects on the sea bottom. (Source: Florida Atlantic 05/23/18)

Swamp restoration grants for NOLA

DALLAS – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Gulf of Mexico Program awarded $285,744 in grants to the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana in efforts to help restore about 25 acres of a swamp-forest habitat in the New Orleans area of the Lower 9th Ward and along Lake Maurepas. “We must continue to be proactive in our efforts to protect and restore the diversity of Louisiana’s Gulf Coast,” said EPA Region 6 Administrator Anne Idsal. “Grants like these ensure that not only Louisiana retains the value of this important resource, but all five Gulf of Mexico States and the nation.” The grant will provide opportunities for some 300 volunteers to add 5,000 or more native swamp forest trees and restore or enhance about 25 acres of cypress-tupelo swamp habitat. The plantings along Maurepas will focus on the land bridge between the lake and the larger Lake Pontchartrain. “This is a welcome investment, which follows recent news from the Department of the Interior that GOMESA revenue-sharing provisions will return $82M to Louisiana,” said state Rep. Clay Higgins. “These resources will go a long way in implementing the Coastal Master Plan and funding critical infrastructure projects across Louisiana’s coast.” The Gulf of Mexico Program began in 1988 to protect, restore and maintain the health and productivity of the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem in economically sustainable ways. (Source: EPA 05/23/18)

Mercury Maine earns NZ innovation

Mercury Marine was awarded the 2018 Most Innovative Product for its all-new V-8 FourStroke outboard family of engines at the Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show. The show marked the first time these new engines have been displayed in public as they were launched globally on May 18. (Source: Maritime Propulsion 05/22/18) Gulf Coast Note: Mercury Marine’s worldwide HQ is located in Wisconsin, and has a testing facility in Panama City, Fla.

Women power of LCS 14

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. - The force and strength of the Gulf Coast-built 608-ton future USS Manchester (LCS 14) is undeniable. But perhaps one of the more historic aspects of the new Littoral Combat Ship is the clout of the women behind it. USS Manchester’s commanding officer, Cmdr. Emily Bassett, has made five deployments, earned two master's degrees and held leadership posts on four Navy ships. LCS 14 arrived here at the New Hampshire Port Authority on May 21 ahead of its commissioning ceremony May 26. Five-thousand attendees are expected. Bassett is a native of Seattle, Wash. She completed her first division officer tour aboard USS Rushmore (LSD-47). After nuclear power training, she completed a tour in the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72); followed by USS Ingraham (FFG-61); and as executive officer in USS Arlington (LPD 24). Her five deployments included WESTPAC, CARAT, Operations Enduring Freedom, Southern Watch and Iraqi Freedom. She earned a master's degree in Hispanic studies, taught in Spanish, from the University of Cadiz, Spain. She has another master's in engineering management from Old Dominion University in Virginia. (Source: Portsmouth Herald 05/21/18) Gulf Coast Note: USS Manchester was built at the Austal USA shipyard in Mobile, Ala.

Firms honored with export awards

U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross presented the 2018 President’s “E” Awards to firms and organizations that export U.S. goods and services. Those companies are in 18 states and recognized as part of the 56th anniversary of the award. This year’s honorees include 33 small and medium-sized businesses as well as 17 manufacturers. The President’s “E” Award is the highest recognition any U.S. entity can receive for making a significant contribution to the expansion of U.S. exports. Twenty-five were honored with the “E” Award for Exports for demonstrating a sustained increase in export sales over a four-year period. Nine assisted and facilitated export activities and received the “E” Award for Export Service. The “E” Star Award for Exports was awarded to eight firms. Gulf Coast states’ recipients are listed in each category: “E” Award for Exports: EXEPRON of Lafayette, La.; “E” Award for Export Service: Alabama Department of Commerce of Montgomery; “E” Star Award for Exports: Durbin USA of Ocean Springs, Miss. (Source: Commerce Department 05/21/18)

Gulf Coast marine surveyor(s) jobs

A Marine surveying and consulting firm seeks experienced and responsible surveyor(s) for Mobile, Ala., and/or New Orleans office(s). Master/Ch. Officer/Ch. Engr. license/COC essential. Experience in H&M and P&I surveys a plus. Must be in U.S. and proficient in English. Competitive salary and benefits incl. Health and 401-K. (Source: Maritime Jobs 05/18)

Oyster fest has new venue

GULFPORT, Miss. – The 3rd annual Gulf Coast Oyster Cook Off and Festival will have a new venue here at Jones Park, and big name performers who have had No. 1 country hits - Dylan Scott and Jordan Davis - when it opens Sept. 28-29. (Source: Gulf Coast Oyster Cook Off 05/16/18)

DDG 51 construction milestones

WASHINGTON — The Arleigh Burke class (DDG 51) of destroyers continue to reach milestones with the start of construction - signify the cutting of the first 100 tons of steel having been cut – at Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss., and Bath (Maine) Iron Works, according to a Naval Sea Systems Command media release. HII-Pascagoula construction of the future USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125) officially began May 7. Construction of the future USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125) officially began on May 7 at BIW. HII’s DDG 125 will be the first Arleigh Burke destroyer built in the Flight III configuration with improved capability and capacity to perform anti-air warfare and ballistic-missile defense in support of the Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) mission. The two ships are Aegis baseline 9 (DDG 124) and baseline 10 (DDG 125) IAMD destroyers with significant capabilities against modern air warfare and ballistic missile threats. The multi-mission combatants will serve as integral players in America’s global maritime security, engaging in air, undersea, surface, strike, and ballistic missile defense as well as providing increased capabilities in anti-submarine warfare, command and control, and anti-surface warfare. (Source: Seapower Magazine 05/17/18)

La. marine firm delivers 2nd of 3 tows

Belle Chasse, La.-based C&C Marine and Repair delivered the second of three triple-screw Z-drive towboats to Marquette Transportation Co. The 160-foot x 50-foot Chris Reeves is being delivered three months after the first, the Cindy L. Erickson. “We take production deadlines very serious at C&C Marine and Repair,” said C&CM’s Tony Cibilich said in a release announcing the delivery. The third towboat for Marquette is scheduled for delivery in August. There’s a fourth optional boat scheduled for delivery in December. Marquette Marine operate across the U.S. inland and intercostal waterway system with special emphasis on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway from Brownsville, Texas to St. Marks, Fla. (Source: Work Boat 05/16/18)

Surface warfare center & collegians

PANAMA CITY, Fla. – Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City, Fla., hosted 30 college students from four regional universities May 10 for a Naval Engineering Education Consortium Day (NEEC). The program employs project-based research at colleges and universities that targets the Navy’s technology needs and cultivates a world-class Naval Engineering workforce via student participation. NSWC personnel shared information, collaborated with students and hosted tours with the interest of furthering student discovery and investing in the next generation of scientists and engineers. Students were from Georgia Tech, Florida Atlantic University and University of Florida. The NEEC and warfare center partnership occurs after universities propose and are awarded contracts under a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) competitive contract process. This legal process allows real-world problems to be discussed and solved in a collaborative, secure environment. (Source: NSWC Panama City 05/11/18)

Alexis to retrofit tow’s bearings

The Pierre Part, La.-based inland workboat operator Alexis Marine was awarded a supply contract from Canada’s Thordon Bearings for the retrofitting of 6-inch diameter RiverTough bearings to MV Kristin Alexis, a 60-foot twin-screw towboat built by Bollinger Shipyard in Louisiana in 1969. Both the vessel’s shafts will be withdrawn at the New Orleans yard of Bayou Fabricators and Machine Works where the original rubber bearings will be replaced with Thordon’s RiverTough tailshaft bearings. (Source: Marine Link 05/15/18)

Ala. shipbuilder delivers 3rd towboat

Bayou La Batre, Ala., shipbuilder Master Marine has delivered its third of four new-build towboats for Illinois-based inland operator Waterfront Services Co. Each vessel will be powered by a pair of Covington, La.-based Laborde Products’ S6R2-Y3MPTAW Mitsubishi 803 HP tier III diesel marine engines, and two Northern Lights M65C13.2S 65KW Tier III electronic controlled generators. Gulf Coast Air & Hydraulics of Mobile, Ala., provided the steering system and a pair of Quincy F325 reciprocating air compressors. Schuyler Maritime of Mobile provided 11-inch x 18-inch rubber fenders. R.S. Price & Son of Robertsdale, Ala., provided Mitsubishi mini-split heat pump HVAC system on all interior spaces. Blakeney Marine of Theodore, Ala., provided all custom woodwork and interior finishes. Donavon Marine of New Orleans provided the large aluminum Diamond SeaGlaze windows, and Dales Welding and Fabricators of Plaquemine, La. supplied the aluminum exterior doors. (Source: Marine Link 05/15/18)

Fla. O&G drilling hearing in DC

Visit Florida President Ken Lawson and Brig. Gen. Evan Dertien, commander of the 96th Test Wing at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., will be among scheduled panelists for a Florida congressional delegation hearing on drilling off the state’s coasts May 17 in Washington, D.C. The hearing comes amid continued debate over plans to allow oil and gas drilling in federal waters off various parts of the country, including both coasts of Florida. The issue involves waters beyond the nation’s outer continental shelf - a jurisdictional term describing submerged lands 10.36 statutory miles off Florida's West Coast and three nautical miles off the East Coast. The hour-long hearing will begin at 7:30 a.m. (CT) from the Rayburn House Office Building. (Source: News Service of Florida 05/15/18)

Coronado Blue earns Battle ‘E’

SAN DIEGO – The Blue Crew of Littoral Combat Ship USS Coronado (LCS 4) was presented May 11 with the 2017 Battle Effectiveness "E" award from Commander Naval Surface Forces. It was the first time the crew had received the unit award. The Battle "E" recognizes superior readiness and execution of operational assignments across the fleet. The award is the “culmination of a great team effort, which began as early as 2015 in preparation for the LCS 2 variant('s) maiden deployment," said Cmdr. Larry Repass, commanding officer of the Blue Crew. Coronado Blue deployed from March to December 2017 to the Far East. As of April, Coronado Blue has been permanently assigned to the ship, which is one of four dedicated LCS test ships. LCS testing ships are single-crewed and focus solely on testing hardware, software and concepts of operations for its three mission modules. (Source: USS Coronado 05/14/18) Gulf Coast Note: LCS 2 was built by Austal USA shipyard in Mobile, Ala.

Deployed MS Seabees get new CO

NAVAL STATION ROTA, Spain – The Gulfport, Miss.-based deployed Seabees of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 11 held a change of command ceremony May 7 in Rota, Spain. Cmdr. Dean Allen assumed command from Cmdr. James Brown, bringing an end to his two-year assignment as commander. Guest speaker was Capt. Tim DeWitt, commander of the Gulfport-based Naval Construction Group (NCG) 2. “(I)t’s apparent that under (Brown’s) leadership, your NMCB-11 team contributed greatly to the Naval Construction Force, NECC, and the fleet," said DeWitt. Whether deployed or home, Brown’s battalion “has been recognized across the globe for everything from forward-thinking concepts to troop readiness." Allen began his naval service after graduating from Arizona State University in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. He comes to NMCB-11 from the Shore Readiness Budget Analyst at the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for financial management and comptroller. NMCB-11 will remain deployed until relieved later this year, and have delegated project responsibility in Rota to the Seabees of the Gulfport Seabees of NMCB-1. (Source: NMCB 11 05/14/18) In a separate storyline from the deployed Seabees of NMCB-11, 10 members began construction of a helicopter mooring pad project in Poland for the U.S. Army's 1st Air Calvary Brigade (ACB) in support of the European Deterrence Initiative build-up of April 16, 2018.

Merchant Marine fleet is dying

The once-mighty U.S. Merchant Marine fleet has nearly collapsed under the weight of labor costs, always-changing federal policies, and heavy competition from abroad. Those issues are damaging America’s position as the only country able to supply and sustain a long-distance war. The U.S. Merchant Marines has declined from 1,288 international trading vessels in 1951 to 81. “It’s a matter of national security,” said retired admiral and Maritime Administration’s chief Mark H. Buzby. The Merchant Marine fleet carries cargo during peacetime and becomes an auxiliary of the Defense Department during war-time to supply troops in areas of conflict. The Navy does not have the number of ships to handle a large-scale sea-lift supply mission on its own, and has had to rely on the Merchant Marine fleet. “If the fleet continues to lose ships, a lengthy, mass deployment on the scale of Desert Shield/Desert Storm (in 1991) could eventually require U.S. forces to rely on foreign-flagged ships for sustainment,” Air Force Gen. Darren W. McDew, head of the U.S. Transportation Command, told a Senate panel on April 10. Foreign-flagged crews should not be allowed near armaments and supplies the Pentagon uses in fighting wars, according to Buzby, because it is a national security issue. U.S. shipping companies say they can’t compete with subsidized foreign transport firms that allow skeleton crews and offer rock-bottom salaries. There are about 50,000 oceangoing trading vessels on the seas today. The U.S. is not among the top 20 maritime nations in world in terms of gross tonnage. (Source: McClatchy 05/15/18)

CG rescues boaters near PC

NEW ORLEANS – The Coast Guard rescued five people after their recreational vessel ran into a jetty May 13 inside St. Andrews Bay, near Panama City, Fla. CG Station Panama City received a report from a fisherman about the recreational vessel, with eight passengers aboard, running into the jetty. The CG launched a 45-foot response boat and crew at 8:46 p.m. The crew transferred five of the passengers with no life-threatening injuries to emergency services at the Panama City Marina. The Bay County Sheriff’s Department brought the remaining three ashore. EMS transported the five to Bay Medical Sacred Heart hospital. The cause of the incident is under investigation. (Source: Coast Guard 05/14/18)

CG medevacs distressed seaman

NEW ORLEANS – The Coast Guard medically evacuated a 59-year-old Russian crewman from the motor vessel Asphalt Sailor on May 13 near Dauphin Island, Ala. Vessel operations reported the crewman was experiencing symptoms of heart arrhythmia. Coast Guard Sector Mobile, Ala., launched a CG Station Dauphin Island response boat and crew embarked and transferred the crewman in good condition to awaiting emergency services on Dauphin Island. (Source: Coast Guard 05/14/18)

Radar woes arise at ‘Fitz’ hearing

WASHINGTON –In an Article 32 hearing last week at the Washington Navy Yard, the defense attorney for two junior officers (JOs) at the controls of USS Fitzgerald, which collided off the coast of Japan last summer with a merchant ship, laid bare the claim that a faulty radar system was a key contributing factor to the collision, and that the U.S. Navy knew about it. The hearing officer must now determine whether there is enough evidence to try the officers at a court-martial; and whether they should be held negligently responsible for the deaths of seven sailors. Prosecutors said the duo failed at their jobs, not using tools at their disposal properly. They claimed the JOs became complacent with faulty equipment, did not seek to get it fixed, and failed to communicate with the bridge. The merchant ship ACX Crystal’s radar was tracking up to 30 ships in its orbit leading up to the collision. Fitzgerald’s radar system was tracking five within that same orbit. David Sheldon, a civilian attorney for one of the JOs claimed that the “blame here lies not just with the (CO) or the (XO), it lies with the Navy … and the Navy is putting its head in the sand and not dealing with a ship that should never have gotten underway. Instead it wants to hold these officers responsible,” he said. The hearing officer has 14 days to make his recommendation on whether all or some of those charges should go forward in a court-martial. (Source: Stars and Stripes 05/11/18) Gulf Coast Note: USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) is currently under multiple contracts worth well more than $125M with Huntington Ingalls Shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss., to restore the destroyer’s electronic warfare equipment; hull mechanical and electrical systems; power systems; and command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence assets.

EPA appoints La. commissioner

DALLAS – The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the May 11 appointment of Calcasieu Parish (La.) Police Jury Commissioner Dennis Scott of Lake Charles to the Small Community Advisory Subcommittee (SCAS). The 17-member subcommittee helps EPA develop robust partnerships with smaller communities to address environmental and public health issues. The U.S. Census Bureau approximates that 60M people live in small or rural communities. Scott has served as the president of Louisiana Parishes Against Coastal Erosion and is now on his second term as vice president. He is a veteran of the U.S. Army and Louisiana Army National Guard, as well as a business owner. He also served on President Obama’s National Ocean Council Governance Coordinating Committee. (Source: EPA 05/11/18)

Surface PM job at Navy Panama City

Leidos is looking for an experienced Program/Project Manager (PM) in support of Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City, Fla.’s Joint Expeditionary Command and Control (JEXC2) Fleet Engineering Support and Site Maintenance. The PM would provide programmatic support for Shore and Expeditionary Integration Program Office (PMW 790) onsite representative, JEXC2 Technical Program Manager (TPM), and Technical Program Manager (TPM) acquisition management and engineering support. Contractor support will also include close liaison with all Regional Combat Commands and stakeholders in obtaining critical feedback on fielding, planned testing, system requirements, system performance and system operational suitability. The PM will have oversight experience managing technology integration support, acquisition management support, budget, financial and compliance reporting support, software engineering, system administration and cyber security support for integration installation, research and development and Operation and Maintenance. (Source: Leidos 05/18) Leidos is a global science and technology solutions firm working in defense, intelligence, homeland security, civil, and health markets. The company’s 33,000 employees support missions for government and commercial customers. It is HQ’d in Reston, Va. Leidos has a manufacturing site in St. Cloud and testing facilities in Panama City.

NSWC youth earns Fla.-wide award

PANAMA CITY, Fla. - A Northwest Florida teenager was named 2018 Military Youth of the Year for the State of Florida through the Boys & Girls Club of America. Seventeen-year-old Khaleel Anderson learned of the award in April, and is now planning to represent the Sunshine State at the Southeast regional competition in Atlanta next month. The winner in Atlanta heads to nationals. Khaleel’s father is a contractor at Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City (NSWC PC). Khalee mentors other military kids at the base’s Teen Center, and has helped out around base for holiday events and the annual Homeless Veterans Stand Down. “I just want to give back,” said Khaleel. (Source: Panama City News Herald 05/10/18)

La. firm: $11.6M spec warfare vessel

Alpha Marine Services of Galliano, La., was awarded an $11,678,540 firm-fixed-price contract for a U.S. flagged Maritime Support Vessel M/V Kellie Chouest in support of the U.S. Naval Special Warfare Command. The contract includes options, which if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $57,464,816. Work will be performed at sea, beginning June 1, 2018. Work is expected to be completed June 2019. If all options are exercised, work will continue through March 31, 2023. FY 2018 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $5,395,388 are obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with two offers received. The U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command of Norfolk, Va., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 05/10/18)

Study: Humans caused river flooding

Through discovery of ancient floods along the Mississippi River, a group of scientists found that human-led engineering, not climate, was the largest influence on worsening floods. The group included Dr. Matthew Therrell, a University of Alabama geography professor and co-author of the report, which was recently published in the journal Nature, concluded that the interaction of human alterations to the Mississippi River system with dynamical modes of climate variability has elevated the current flood hazard to levels that are unprecedented within the past five centuries. Large floods during this and the 20th century were put into context when researchers used sediment cores and tree rings to extend flood records 500 years. The team found the magnitude of the 100-year flood is 20 percent greater now than 500 years ago, with river engineering accounting for 75 percent of the increase. Human alterations to the Mississippi River, with assistance from climate variability, have exacerbated current flood risk to unprecedented levels. (Source: University of Alabama 05/09/18)

Seaman-to-Admiral apps sought

GREAT LAKES, Ill. - The Navy’s Seaman-To-Admiral (STA-21) commissioning program, which provides opportunity for qualified sailors to receive college educations and commissions, is soliciting applications for FY 2019, according to NAVADMIN 113/18. “STA-21 is a full-time, undergraduate education and commissioning program open to enlisted personnel of all pay grades and ratings to receive a college education and become commissioned officers, says Cathy Kempf, head of Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) program and STA-21 selection at Naval Service Training Command's Officer Development directorate in Pensacola, Fla. STA-21 pays up to $10,000 annually for college costs. Selectees continue to draw full pay and allowances for their current pay grade. Under the STA-21, sailors have up to 36 months to complete degree requirements. Selectees attend an eight-week Naval Science Institute (NSI) course at Officer Training Command Newport, R.I., prior to beginning studies at an NROTC-affiliated university. Application packages must be postmarked on or before July 1. Selectees will be announced in the fall. Questions about the program should be directed to command career counselors or the STA-21 website: https://www.sta-21.navy.mil. (Source: Naval Service Training Command 05/08/18)

Port, MNG work logistics for first time

GULFPORT, Miss. - The Mississippi Army National Guard (MNG) and the Port of Gulfport are working for the first time to transport military equipment, and to highlight the port's capabilities, when it comes to military logistics. It’s the first time the MNG has used Gulfport to move equipment since the port's achieved strategic designation status by the Defense Department. For the logistics mission, trucks and tanks were loaded onto a container ship. It is an on-the-job test to show that the Port of Gulfport is a viable option for the military. In the joint business venture, the MNG’s 842nd Transportation Battalion was working with employees from the port, state, and region to load equipment from the Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center, which is the largest reserve component training site in the U.S. "(T)his is the proof of principle,” said MNG Maj. Gen. Jason Boyle, to show that the Army can use the port to show Camp Shelby can be used for expanded training purposes, and that the port can move the required training mission equipment in and out of the region instead of shipping from Florida or Texas. (Source: WLOX 05/08/18) Camp Shelby is a regular annual training location for National Guard and Reserve units located in Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Additionally, units from across the country use its assets to support a variety of missions.

NOLA mod contract: $33.1M

PCCP Constructors JV of New Orleans was awarded a $33,150,000 modification (P00036) to contract W912P8-12-C-0049 to settle all outstanding claims and payments associated with the contract for permanent canal closures and pumps on the 17th Street, Orleans Avenue and London Avenue outfall canals at or near Lake Pontchartrain. Work will be performed in Metairie, La., with an estimated completion date of May 9, 2018. FY 2014 civil works funds in the amount of $33,150,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers of New Orleans is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 05/08/18)

Seabees deliver Navy dolphins home

GULFPORT, Miss. (NNS) – Navy Gulfport Seabees assigned to Naval Construction Group (NCG) 2 assisted the Navy Marine Mammal Program transport April 30 of three of their trained bottlenose dolphins. NMMP requested logistical support of two trucks and drivers to help relocate the dolphins. The handlers transported the dolphins from San Diego to Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Miss. The Seabees then transferred the dolphins to their new home at the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies (IMMS) in Gulfport. IMMS is a research and rehabilitation facility that provides care to stranded animals. The Navy dolphins will be loaned to IMMS for extended breeding and marine mammal science studies. The dolphins had been involved in a variety of capability demonstrations and bioacoustics research projects for the Navy. (Source: Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport 05/08/18)

Metal Shark to deliver 3 NYC ferries

New York City will spend another $300M to double its year-old NYC Ferry fleet in an effort to approach nine million riders by 2023, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced. NYC is already adding three new 350-passenger vessels this summer to augment its 16-ferry original Crowther-designed 150-passenger catamaran fleet of 16. Three more are to be delivery from the Franklin, La.-based Metal Shark shipyard. (Source: Work Boat 05/06/18)

Corps to dredge, repair La. waterways

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is planning to spend $205M in emergency funding to dredge and repair south Louisiana waterways, including the Atchafalaya, Calcasieu, and Mississippi rivers, the agency announced May 7. A portion of those monies are to be used for dredging the south end of Southwest Pass - the main navigation entry to the Mississippi River. Its depth had been reduced to 42 feet by sediment carried by this year's high-river conditions. That is three feet lower than authorized. Gulf-going ships using the channel have been forced to reduce cargo at a cost of several million dollars per vessel. The Southwest Pass segment is part of the Baton Rouge to Gulf of Mexico-Mississippi River project, which will receive $40M. (Source: NOLA.com 05/07/18)

‘Machining errors’ send CVN 78 home

The Navy’s costliest warship, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), suffered another failure at sea with a “main thrust bearing” in its propulsion system and forced back to its Virginia homeport that raises more questions about the new class of aircraft carrier. A previously undisclosed problem with a propulsion system bearing was announced in January, and had not yet been resolved. In the meantime, the Navy is poised to request approval from Congress to speed up a contract for a fourth carrier. The Ford class was to have been limited to three ships. The first failure with the propulsion system occurred in April 2017 during sea trials and before the ship was delivered to the Navy. CVN 78 was built by Huntington Ingalls Industries in Newport News, Va. The ship is scheduled to be operational in 2022. The Navy and HII-Virginia “are evaluating the case for a claim against the manufacturer,” says William Couch, spokesman for Naval Sea Systems Command. Neither Couch nor HII spokesperson Beci Brenton declined to identify the manufacturer. General Electric is responsible for the propulsion system part, according to the Navy program office, which said after the previous failure and review that the carrier’s thrust bearings identified “machining errors” by the company, located in Lynn, Mass., as the “root cause” of the issue “during the original manufacturing.” GE spokesperson Deborah Case e-mailed Bloomberg Government that “GE did produce the gears for the CVN-78 … (but are) no longer producing gears for CVN-78” and “cannot comment on the investigation.” The defects “will be fully corrected,” said Couch, during the ship’s upcoming “post-shakedown availability” phase. The post-shakedown period has been delayed until this summer, in part because of the failure, and completion in about 12 months. (Source: Bloomberg Government 05/07/18) Gulf Coast Note: HII-Pascagoula, Miss.’s Ingalls shipyard is a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries in Virginia.

HII starts fabrication on DDG 125

PASCAGOULA, Miss. - Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division officially started fabrication of the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125) on May 7 in Pascagoula. The start of fabrication signifies the first 100 tons of steel has been cut. HII-Pascagoula shipbuilders have delivered 30 DDGs to the Navy and back-to-back building has allowed them to gain experience and talent that is unmatched in our industry, according to Ingalls’ DDG 51 program manager George Nungesser. DDG 125 will be the first “Flight III” ship in the Arleigh Burke class of destroyers. Flight III will incorporate a new Advanced Missile Defense Radar that will replace the existing SPY-1 radar installed on the previous DDG 51 class ships. (HII 05/07/18)

LCS 14 headed for 2 long voyages

MOBILE, Ala. - The Navy's newest Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), the future USS Manchester (LCS 14), departed from Austal USA builder's shipyard in Mobile on May 5 to begin its journey toward commissioning May 26 in Portsmouth, N.H. After the commissioning, LCS 14 will begin a long transit to its homeport in San Diego. As part of her sail around, Manchester will conduct regularly scheduled equipment and systems checks, training, visit several ports and transit through the Panama Canal. Manchester is the 12th LCS delivered to the Navy and the seventh Independence variant, built solely at Austal USA. The Independence variant is noted for its unique aluminum hull design and large flight deck size. (Source: USS Manchester 05/07/18)

Missing boater's body recovered

NEW ORLEANS – The Coast Guard continues to search May 7 for a person in the water near Perdido Bay, Ala., after receiving a May 6 report from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission recovered the owner of a 20-foot pontoon boat that had been beached near Ono Island in the early evening. The owner’s 50-year-old wife remains missing. Anyone with information that may help is asked to contact CG Sector Mobile (Ala.) command center at (251) 441-6211. (Source: Coast Guard 05/06/18) UPDATE: The CG ended its search for a person in the water around Perdido Bay on May 7. A CG Air Station New Orleans MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and aircrew located the body around 9 a.m. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission recovered the body and transferred the person to shore where they were met by local EMS.

Barge fire on Mobile River

NEW ORLEANS – The Coast Guard and local agencies are responding to a barge fire on the Mobile (Ala.) River May 6 north of the Cochrane Bridge and downtown. CG Sector Mobile received a report from Mobile County Fire Department (MCFD) of barges on fire at Mile Marker #3 about 10 a.m. The barges were aground on the riverbank. No crewmembers were reported aboard when the fire begaan. CG Station Dauphin Island launched a medium response boat and crew on scene to escort vessel traffic through the area. MCFD brought in their own fire boast, since the site was inaccessible to land fire units. There have been no reports of pollution or injuries. The incident is under investigation. (Source: Coast Guard 05/06/18)

Navy to christen LCS 20

The Navy will christen its newest Independence variant Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), the future USS Cincinnati (LCS 20), at a 10 a.m. (CDT) ceremony May 5 at the Austal USA Shipyard in Mobile, Ala. Principal speaker will be Cincinnati Councilmember David Mann, a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Former Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker will serve as the ship's sponsor. She will christen the ship by breaking a bottle of sparkling wine across the bow. (Source: U.S. Navy 05/04/18)

CG boat capsizes in Mobile Bay

NEW ORLEANS – The Coast Guard responded to a capsized 26-foot Trailerable Aids to Navigation Boat from Coast Guard Sector Mobile, Ala., with four crewmembers aboard in Mobile Bay near Gaillard Island on May 3. The boat and crew were transiting Mobile Bay conducting aids to navigation operations. CG Station Dauphin Island launched a 45-foot response boat to the scene, where crewmembers had climbed atop the vessel’s hull after it capsized. The four crew members were removed and transferred to emergency services at CG Sector Mobile before noon. All four crewmembers were wearing life jackets, and did not appear to be injured. The cause is under investigation. (Source: Coast Guard 05/03/18)

Lionfish: Culinary delight to others

PENSACOLA, Fla. – The non-profit environmental group Coast Watch Alliance wants to make it easier for local divers to sell lionfish to out-of-state wholesalers and restaurants, where there appears to be a growing culinary market. The alliance informed Escambia County's Marine Advisory Council in April that they have begun work with the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus to change some regulations governing the sale of the invasive, non-native fish. Lionfish have no known predators to keep the populations down, and they eat Gulf Coast grouper and snapper. "This would make it easier for us to move lionfish up market. The demand is very high in places like Delaware," Brian Asher, director of the Pensacola-based alliance, told the Pensacola News Journal. The lionfish began to flourish off the Florida Gulf Coast in the 1980s when aquarium collectors released some of the fish in the region. Each female lionfish spawns millions of eggs annually. Coast Watch Alliance, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Gulf Coast Lionfish, Florida Sea Grant and other organizations are working together to promote awareness about the lionfish issue through a Lionfish Removal and Awareness event at the Flora-Bama Yacht Club on Perdido Key on May 19-20. (Source: Pensacola News Journal 05/02/18)

Kirby to acquire Targa tank barge biz

HOUSTON - Kirby Corporation announced May 3 the signing of an agreement to acquire Targa Resources Corp.'s inland marine tank barge business for about $69.3M in cash. Targa's inland marine tank barge fleet consists of 16 pressure barges with a total capacity of some 258,000 barrels, many of which are under long-term multi-year contracts. The closing of the acquisition is expected to occur near the end of the second quarter and is subject to customary closing conditions. Kirby President/CEO David Grzebinski called the planned acquisition an “an excellent addition to Kirby's fleet,” especially with the ongoing petrochemical build-out progressing along the Gulf Coast. Kirby’s HQ is in Houston, and is the nation's largest domestic tank barge operator transporting bulk liquid products throughout the Mississippi River System, Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, along all three U.S. coasts. Kirby transports petrochemicals, black oil, refined petroleum products and agricultural chemicals by tank barge. (Source: PR Newswire 05/03/18) Gulf Coast Note: Targa is a leading provider of mid-stream services and is one of the largest independent midstream energy companies in North America with corporate HQs in Houston, and an operations office in St. Bernard, La.

Austal USA acquires ElectraWatch

South Alabama-based Austal USA announced May 1 that it had acquired Virginia-based, and privately held, ElectraWatch Inc. in an all cash stock purchase. ElectraWatch develops and deploys portable probing devices that help maintain aluminum structures. The acquisition reinforces Austal USA’s position in aluminum ship manufacturing and sustainment, and extends its ability to support Navy ships built at their Mobile, Ala., shipyard, which includes the Independence variant Littoral Combat Ship and Expeditionary Fast Transport, according to Austal USA’s president. ElectraWatch’s patented technology and Austal USA’s advanced ship manufacturing and sustainment expertise will be able to reinforce the company’s position to efficiently support aggressive shipbuilding and meeting Navy requirements, says Craig Perciavalle. “As innovative technology reaches deeper into shipbuilding construction and sustainment, (Austal USA will) remain laser focused at providing cost-effective solutions to our customers.” (Source: Marine Link 05/02/18)

DoD backing unmanned robo sub

DENVER, Colo. - A Houston-based startup, Houston Mechatronics, recently unveiled a transformer robotic submarine (unmanned underwater vehicle or UUV) that is backed primarily by firms in oil and gas exploration and partially by the Pentagon for deep-sea missions and mine-countermeasure missions (MCM). The Aquanaut UUV can move beneath the surface and transform into an insect-like robot to perform delicate operations at great depths. Co-founder Nicholas Radford expects additional financial funding from within the military. The near-term objective is MCM missions “in area-denied water, or where you don’t want the presence of a top-side vessel,” he said. (Source: Defense One 05/01/18) Gulf Coast Note: Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City, Fla., has been instrumental in mine-countermeasure missions, primarily for the Littoral Combat Ship.

OTH missile for FFG-X & LCS?

WASHINGTON - Competition between contractors over a new over-the-horizon (OTH) missile designed to give Littoral Combat Ships more lethality is also being considered for the future frigate (FFG(X)) program, according to Raytheon executive Thomas Kennedy. The new missile program is part of an effort to make LCS more survivable against potential high-end enemies. The Navy is slated to award that contract by the end of summer 2018. The Raytheon/Kongsberg (R/K) Naval Strike Missile (NSM) is among their submissions for both LCS and the future frigate, according to Kennedy. Two major competitors – Boeing and Lockheed Martin - dropped out over feeling the OTH contract was being skewed towards R/K, according to Defense News. But, if the Navy plans to add the OTH to future frigates, it gives some perspective as to how the ship’s concept is coming along. NSM is launched from canisters on deck similar to the Navy’s current Harpoon missile, which frees up vertical launch cells for other missions. The Navy looks to accept proposals for the FFG-X in June 2019. The Navy awarded $15M contracts to Huntington Ingalls Industries of Pascagoula, Miss., Lockheed Martin, Austal USA of Mobile, Ala., General Dynamics’ Bath (Wis.) Iron Works, and Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri to produce mature designs before the Navy drops any details. Austal USA and Lockheed Martin are offering more lethal versions of their LCS variants. HII may likely offer a variant of its Coast Guard National Security Cutter. (Defense News 05/01/18)

Fitz collision hearing dates set

The former commanding officer and three unidentified junior officers (JOs) of the guided-missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) are set to appear at hearings in Washington, D.C., in May, the Navy announced in a media release April 30. Cmdr. Bryce Benson was relieved of command in August following a June 2017 collision off the coast of Tokyo with a Philippine-flagged container ship. Seven sailors died. Benson is scheduled to appear at an Article 32 hearing May 21. The hearing will determine whether there is enough evidence to send Benson to court-martial on charges that include negligent homicide. One JO is scheduled for arraignment, and entry of pleas, at a special court-martial May 8. Two others have Article 32 hearings May 9, according to the release. The investigation concluded that the collision was caused by ineffective watch-standing and failure on the part of the bridge crew to react in a timely manner and pull the ship off its collision course. Benson's hearing will determine whether there is enough evidence to send the former CO to court-martial on charges that include negligent homicide. (Source: Military.com 04/30/18) Gulf Coast Note: Ingalls shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss., has been awarded multiple contracts to repair and make upgrades to the USS Fitzgerald.

LCS 16 delivered to Navy

Austal delivers LCS 16 to Navy MOBILE, Ala. - The Navy accepted delivery of the future USS Tulsa (LCS 16) during a ceremony at Austal USA shipyard April 30 in Mobile. Delivery marks the official transfer of LCS 16 from the shipbuilder from Austal to the Navy. It is the final milestone prior to commissioning, which is planned for San Francisco in late 2018. Tulsa is the 13th Littoral Combat Ship delivered to the Navy and the eighth of the Independence variant, which has built at Austal. (Source: US Navy 04/30/18)