Plastic: Top 10 of coastal cleanups

For the first time in the 30-year history of Ocean Conservancy’s annual International Coastal Cleanup, plastic has made the Top 10 list of items collected by some 800,000 volunteers across the multi-country cleanup. "Given that plastic production is rising, this could be the start of a long and troubling trend," said Nicholas Mallos, the conservancy’s ocean trash program directors. Common non-plastic items, including glass bottles, rope, beverage cans and paper bags, were pushed out of the Top 10 in the most recent inventory published this week. Volunteers in more than 100 countries collected 20.5M tons of trash during September's cleanup. In Louisiana, more than 1,700 people took part, collecting just more than 47,000 items. The Gulf of Mexico has one of the world's highest concentrations of marine plastic. The Mississippi River may be to blame for much of the GoM's plastic problem. The river acts as a collector of plastic and other waste that eventually flows into Gulf. (Source: NOLA.com 06/28/18)

W&F: Proof of scale causing land loss

Scientists have been warning of a fast-moving, tiny foreign insect – called a scale – that has been killing off the tall-growing roseau cane that protects much of south Louisiana’s wetlands. Now, the state Wildlife and Fisheries (W&F) have their first measurement of land lost. Over the past 16 months, the die-off of the cane has triggered from 625 feet and 940 feet of coastal retreat in parts of six lower Mississippi River Delta channels in south Plaquemines Parish, according to W&F. "It's been difficult to see and show the loss, and to quantify it," W&F biologist Todd Baker told NOLA.com. W&F used satellite imagery to compare the six channels. "But this shows we've lost quite a bit," said Baker. The die-off compounds an already dire land loss crisis. Plaquemines was already expected to lose half its land area within 50 years due to erosion and sea level rise, according to the state Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority. The lower delta is dominated by the roseau cane, which has been under attack from a the scale - native to Japan and China. (Source: NOLA.com 06/28/18)

La. CEO appointed to prez’s council

On April 26, 2018, U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross appointed Bob Wetta, president/CEO of DSC Dredge LLC of Reserve, La., to serve on the President Trump’s Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa (PAC-DBIA). Among Wetta’s professional activities include being an ex-officio member of the Board of Directors for the Western Dredging Association; member of the Young Presidents Organization and the Louisiana District Export Council (past Chair). Wetta was the recipient of the Western Dredging Association’s “2014 Dredger of the Year Award.” Wetta named Charlie Sinunu, DSC’s Director of International Dredge Sales, to his advisory council staff to help identify commercial opportunities for the U.S. in the region. (Source: Maritime Professional 06/25/18)

Civilian scientists train at Tyndall

Nine government scientists traded test tubes for fighter jets and robots. They awoke on the first day to emergency drills vice coffee. They wore Mission Oriented Protective Posture (MOPP) suits and gas masks. For the scientists, training like a war-fighter gave them a larger understanding of battlefields, and provided insights into real world applicability. The week-long program is part of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s Chemical and Biological Technologies Department’s Scientists in Motion (SIM) effort, which addresses knowledge gaps between scientists and the war-fighter on the front lines. SIM offers researchers on the forefront of product development a chance to experience a simulated chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high-yield explosive (CBRNE) operational environment to gain a deeper understanding of how war-fighters employ CBRNE defense products. Recently, DOD civilian scientists traveled to Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, Fla., to train with the Air Force’s Air Combat Command 823 RED HORSE (Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers) Squadron for the collaborative event. DTRA CB has held 14 events since the program’s inception in 2015, providing more than 125 government program managers and lab technicians the opportunity to develop a stronger understanding of war-fighter-driven scenarios. (Source: DTRA CB 06/27/18)

Harris gets prelim OK for ambassador

WASHINGTON – The Senate Foreign Relations Committee, ahead of a full Senate vote expected in early July, unanimously approved President Trump's pick for ambassador to South Korea, paving the way for his confirmation. At his confirmation hearing earlier in June, retired Nay Adm. Harry Harris Jr. expressed support for the President’s decision to suspend joint military exercises with South Korea while the U.S. negotiates the dismantlement of North Korea's nuclear weapons program. Harris recently retired from duty as chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet in Hawaii. The retired flag officer led the Pacific Command for three years until May, with oversight of more than 28,500 personnel under his direction with U.S. Forces Korea. (Yonhap News Agency-South Korea 06/26/18) Gulf Coast Note: Harris was born in Japan to a Japanese mother and an American Navy-father, and later graduated from Washington High School in Pensacola, Fla.

Can’t build fleet w/out technologies

The U.S. industrial base can’t build a 355-ship Navy fleet, now required by National Strategy (NDS), or afford to repair it unless the two entities can use advanced technologies to cut costs, James “Hondo” Geurts, assistant Navy secretary for research, development and acquisition, told attendees of Defense One Tech Conference in Washington, D.C., on June 26. “ … (I)f we can’t solve and fundamentally drive some of the costs out of these ships over the long term, both in construction and in repair, we’re not going to be able to achieve” the NDS. “… (T)here are so many technologies that could fundamentally shift the cost curves and the affordability curves in shipbuilding, those (industries) that can make the connection first will have great market opportunities.” (Defense One 06/26/18) Gulf Coast Note: Multiple Gulf Coast shipbuilding yards are involved in building the Navy’s fleet, including the largest shipbuilder in the country, Huntington Ingalls in Pascagoula, Miss.; Austal USA in Mobile, Ala. and Metal Shark of Jeanerette, La., to name but a few.

CG rescues 9 from sinking boat

NEW ORLEANS – The Coast Guard rescued nine people from a sinking sport-fishing boat about 115 nautical miles south of Destin, Fla. CG Sector Mobile (Ala.) received a call around 9 p.m. June 22 that the 61-foot boat was taking on water. CG Cutter Kingfisher transferred the passengers aboard and towed the boat to about 40 nautical miles from Destin. SeaTow then took over the tow into Destin. An HC-144 Ocean Sentry fixed-wing aircrew from CG Aviation Training Center Mobile was first on scene, and delivered a dewatering pump and a radio to the sport-fishing vessel. All passengers aboard the fishing boat were wearing lifejackets, had two life rafts prepared, a satellite phone, an emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB), and various sound and signaling devices. The CG was able to assist the distressed mariners after the EPIRB was activated, and satellite phone and signaling devices used. (Coast Guard 06/23/18)

La. seeks firms for Barataria projects

The State of Louisiana is looking for a number of big-time construction firms to build multiple large-scale marsh-creation and ridge-restoration projects in the Barataria Basin, according to coastal authority officials June 22. It's the first time that the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority will use a method called "outcome based performance contracting," which allows the state to enter into a single contract to have a company finance, design, build, monitor and maintain a project, with payment made by the state only when the work is substantially completed. "We are seeking to explore other contracting approaches that may bring a better overall value, innovation, and efficiency to project implementation," said CPRA Senior Executive Engineer Robert Routon. Firms determined to be qualified to participate in the program will later be allowed to bid for contracts for the actual restoration projects that could cost as much as $65M each. (Source: NOLA.com 06/22/18)

Pascagoula gets new work

Leidos Innovations Corp. of Gaithersburg, Md., was awarded a $14,133,010 cost-plus-fixed-fee and cost only modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-16-C-5202) to exercise the options for integrated logistic support, fleet support, and life-cycle-sustainment of the Navy’s AN/SQQ-89A(V)15 Surface Ship Undersea Warfare systems. Work will be performed in Norfolk, Va. (43%); San Diego (28); Yokosuka, Japan (9); Bath, Maine (7); Pascagoula, Miss. (4); Pearl Harbor (3); Everett, Wash. (3); Mayport, Fla. (2); Rota, Spain (1), and is expected to be completed by June 2019. FY 2018 Navy other procurement; foreign military sales FY-14; FY-16/17 Navy shipbuilding and conversion; and FY-18 Navy operations and maintenance funding in the amount of $7,390,440 will be obligated at the time of award; $149,106 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Sea Systems Command of Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. (Source: DOD 06/21/18)

Austal: $16M LCS mod contract

Austal USA of Mobile, Ala., was awarded a $16,303,195 cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost-only, and firm-fixed-price modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-17-C-2301) for Littoral Combat Ships class design services and integrated data and product model environment (IDPME) support. Austal USA will provide class design products, including but not limited to technical analyses, non-recurring engineering, configuration management, software maintenance and development, production assessments, and diminishing manufacturing sources and seaframe reliability analysis. Austal USA will also maintain an IDPME that shall enable Navy access to enterprise data management, visualization, program management applications, network management and control. Work will be performed in Mobile (60%); Pittsfield, Mass. (40); and is expected to be completed by June 2019. FY 2014 Navy shipbuilding and conversion; FY-18 other Navy procurement; and Navy operations and maintenance funding in the amount of $16,303,195 will be obligated at time of award, and funds in the amount of $1,590,331 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Sea Systems Command of Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. (Source: DOD 06/21/18)

Pearl sailor to be buried at NASP

PORT EDWARDS, Wis. - A Wisconsin sailor who died at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, will be laid to rest more than 75 years after his death at the Barrancas National Cemetery onboard Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Fla., later this month. Navy Pharmacist Mate 1st Class John Schoonover of Port Edwards, Wis., was among 429 crewmen who died aboard the USS Oklahoma after Japanese torpedoes capsized the ship on Dec. 7, 1941. Schoonover was 39. He had been among unidentified fallen sailors who were buried in a large gravesite in Hawaii. The Department of Defense increased efforts to ID service members who served in the Pacific Theater during WWII. Schoonover's son, Robert, of Panama City Beach, Fla., says confirmation of his father's remains has brought him closure. (Source: The Associated Press 06/21/18)

Ferries begin service in NW Fla.

The christening of two ferries to run between downtown Pensacola, Fort Pickens and Pensacola Beach begins June 22. It’s been a culmination of eight years of effort by the National Seashore, Escambia County and the City of Pensacola to bring the two, 150-passenger ferries to region. The ferries, named Pelican Perch and Turtle Runner by area school children, opened to the public Friday morning downtown. They will depart from downtown, the Pensacola Beach boardwalk and Fort Pickens every 45 minutes through 6 p.m. on weekdays and 9 p.m. on weekends, depending on the departure location. (Source: Pensacola News Journal 06/20/18)

Reducing LCS-2 dry-dock requirement

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Navy may not continue to put its Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ships into the dry-dock every time they go into planned maintenance, as one way of dealing with a looming shortfalls in dry-dock availability and private sector maintenance capacity. Vice Adm. Tom Moore, commander of Naval Sea Systems Command, told USNI News that the Independence variants, built at Austal USA shipyard in Mobile, Ala., have to be dry-docked for all planned maintenance events, partly due to a requirement to inspect the condition of the hull. Most of the Navy’s ships are made of steel. The Independence variants’ hulls are made of aluminum. The Navy decided early to gather data through hull inspections at each planned maintenance event. “Part of the dry-docking piece was to do an underwater hull inspection,” Moore said. There is no exact maintenance schedule, but the flag officers believed the dry-docking requirement could go from once every three years to once every five-to-six years, if the engineering study in the fall supported using the dry-dock every other maintenance availability. Additionally, the private sector has about 15,750 personnel in the workforce today and can only meet about 75 percent of the Navy’s ship maintenance needs, according to Moore. By FY 2020, the Navy will need the private sector workforce to be about 19,750. Many of the yards aren’t growing their workforce because the Navy’s maintenance budget can be unpredictable. Bringing in more employees would meet the Navy’s need, but it would require a large, long-term cost for companies if the Navy doesn’t follow through and fund all the availabilities. (Source: (USNI News 06/21/18)

LCS 14 arrives at new homeport

SAN DIEGO - The newest Littoral Combat Ship, USS Manchester (LCS 14), arrived at its San Diego homeport on June 19 after completing its maiden voyage from Austal USA’s builder-shipyard in Mobile, Ala. Prior to arriving at San Diego, LCS 14 was commissioned in Portsmouth, N.H.; made port calls to Norfolk, Va.; Mayport, Fla.; Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. It also completed a successful transit through the Panama Canal. (Source: USS Manchester 06/20/18)

Spearhead's SMART inspection

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Military Sealift Command's first expeditionary fast transport ship, USNS Spearhead (T-EPF 1), completed its first Ships Material Assessment and Readiness Testing (SMART) inspection on June 14. Spearhead was the first ship in its class to undergo the SMART inspection. MSC’s ships undergo SMART inspections every five years. "During these inspections, we check out all of the mission specific equipment including propulsion, safety gear, and damage control equipment. We check out everything from stem to stern," said Capt. Chris Wells, the director of inspections at the Board of Inspection and Survey. The inspection lasted seven days, and culminated in an at-sea demonstration of its material readiness. (Source: Military Sealift Command 06/20/18) Gulf Coast Note: Construction of Spearhead began on July 20, 2010, when the ship's keel was laid at Austal USA’s shipyard in Mobile, Ala. At the time, Spearhead was intended for service with the Army’s 7th Sustainment Brigade as USAV Spearhead. In August 2012, Spearhead made a clean sweep of acceptance trials and was delivered to the Navy on Dec. 5, 2012.

LCS 4 underway to test MQ-8C

PACIFIC OCEAN – The Alabama-built USS Coronado (LCS 4) began underway operational testing June 15 of the Navy's newest unmanned helicopter, the MQ-8C Fire Scout, off the coast of San Diego. The operations are a continuation of MQ-8C operational testing that began in April. This phase of testing is for the MQ-8C's ability to operate concurrently with other airborne assets and Littoral Combat Ships. The enhanced capability will provide commanders an improved and integrated intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance picture. LCS 4 is one of four designated LCS testing ships. Fire Scout operations are a whole-ship effort, requiring effective coordination between the aviation and surface entities aboard, says Cmdr. Lawrence Repass, the ship’s commanding officer. During Coronado's 2016-17 deployment to the Western Pacific, it successfully used MQ-8B Fire Scout as an organic sensor to strike a target beyond visual range using a Harpoon surface-to-surface missile. (Source: LCS Squadron One 06/20/18) Gulf Coast Note: LCS 4 – and all even-numbered LCS hulls, primarily based in San Diego – were built at Austal USA’s shipyard in Mobile, Ala.

Metal Shark finding its groove

When several work-boat builders are feeling the pains an offshore malaise, and over-supplied inland market that doesn’t need big numbers of barges, Louisiana-based Metal Shark’s shipyards have found a groove in an active and competitive niche market. By the end of 2018, the Jeanerette-base company’s military vessels will be in service or production for about 50 countries and continents, including Africa, Asia, Caribbean, Middle East, and Latin America. The last 18 months have been especially busy with Metal Shark delivering boats to more than 12 countries. (Sourced: Work Boat 06/20/18)

Mitigating oyster fishers’ losses

After more than a decade, Louisiana stopped new oyster leases in an attempt to avoid lawsuits when oyster beds are damaged by its coastal restoration projects. But as the Pelican State embarks on a $1.4B-to-date coastal restoration project, called the Mid-Barataria sediment diversion in Plaquemines Parish, plans to mitigate oyster fishery losses includes opening new coastal waters for fishers to move crops out of a potential harm's way. Officials are hoping that lifting the moratorium will encourage oyster leaseholders to find areas away from the project, according to Cole Garrett, executive counsel for Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. It’s one of “many things” that are being looked at to address coastal changes, he said of lifting the moratorium. The current design would allow 75,000 cubic feet/second of Mississippi River sediment and water to flow through a controlled opening in the West Bank levee near Ironton. The sediment is to feed Barataria Bay marshes in attempts to reduce land loss and to sustain wetlands damaged by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, according to an Army Corps of Engineers report. The project has gotten opposition from oyster fishers. Louisiana produces some 50 percent of the nation’s oysters. From 2000-04, some 50 percent of the nation's oyster landings are located in Louisiana. In 2016, oyster landings in Louisiana were valued at more than $68M, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The state Supreme Court reversed a $1B settlement against Louisiana in 2004 finding the state was not liable for damages to the oyster leases because of a "hold harmless" clause written into leases. Still, the moratorium remained, and sent oyster fishers to coastal landowners to expand operations. In 2016, legislation was established to lift the moratorium; but it’ll take another six months before fishers can apply. When the moratorium is lifted, some 670,000 acres of state-owned water bottoms could be available and suitable for lease, according to a legislative auditor report. (Source: NOLA.com 06/19/18)

Mississippi Maritime Museum

PASCAGOULA, Miss. – Funds are being raised and artifacts collected as the Mississippi Maritime Museum prepares for construction inside the old Pascagoula (Miss.) High School’s math and science building. Construction is to start in 2020 on the estimated $4.7M facility. The museum’s Maritime Activities Center (MAC) has already opened. It provides a preview of things to come. Lecture series and other events are being held in the center, which includes many items and displays that will be a part of the museum once it’s built. What we are going to tell is the story of South Mississippi's 300-year maritime heritage," said Terry Bollman, treasurer at the Mississippi Maritime Museum. "It started in 1699 when Sir D'Iberville landed in what is now Ocean Springs. I’Iberville brought with him a master ships carpenter, and that's the “start of the legacy and the heritage," Bollman said. Jeff Rester of the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission will present a talk on the Southeast Area Assessment and Monitoring Program on June 19; and Elsa Martin will be wrapping up her 10-part historic series on the third Thursday of each month. The final two sessions are June 21 and July 19 at the MAC. Admission is free. (Source: WLOX 06/16/18)

NOLA firm hires maritime lawyer

The New Orleans-based Lewis, Kullman, Sterbcow & Abramson law firm has hired maritime lawyer Conrad S.P. “Duke” Williams, according to a company media release. Williams served on the Plaintiff Steering Committee in the BP Deepwater Horizon litigation, practicing as a member of the trial team, and the attorney charged with overseeing the litigation surrounding the drilling moratorium imposed by the federal government. Williams will focus on litigation, maritime, aviation, wrongful death and environmental cases. In addition, he represents land and small business owners, fishermen in commercial disputes, pollution and toxic tort matters, and oil and gas matters. (Source: Houma Courier 06/17/18)

Nelson: GoM drilling, port top priorities

PANAMA CITY, Fla. – Panama City’s port needs dredging, and that Tyndall and Eglin Air Force bases need to keep training at a high level, according to U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), who came to town June 15 to address the Bay County Chamber of Commerce. Offshore drilling could hinder that training, he said. "If we had offshore drilling it would hugely impair (Tyndall and Eglin’s) mission. This is the largest testing and training area for the United States military in the world," he continued. Nelson also touched on the area’s concern regarding the Port Panama City. He wrote to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to start work on dredging the port after funding was not included in the CoE’s FY 2018 budget. The project calls for deepening the port for larger ships to moor with more cargo. Wayne Stubbs, executive director of the Port Authority released a statement saying: "The current depth of 31 feet is not suitable for modern cargo vessels. It is crucial to the port and its users that we get this project done." Nelson called the deepening project "economically beneficial" to the region area. The senator and port authority are hoping the deepening project will be in the CoE’s FY-19 budget. (Source: WJHG 06/15/18)

College interns work NSWC projects

PANAMA CITY, Fla. - Naval Research Enterprise Internship Program college students kicked off 10-week internships at Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City. The 26 students selected by NSWCPC work on a range of projects from computer science, electrical and mechanical engineering to physics and oceanography. In 2017, NREIP provided 600 internships to college students conducting research at about 37 Navy laboratories. The Office of Naval Research and individual government laboratories fund the annual internships. Programs like NREIP provide college students with first-hand experience with Navy research projects. The NSWCPC interns came from Florida State University, University of Florida, Huntingdon College in Alabama, University of Central Florida, Florida Atlantic University, University of West Florida in Pensacola, University of Michigan, Florida Institute of Technology, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Erskine College, Auburn University, and Virginia Polytechnic Institute. (Source: NSWCPC 06/15/18)

Houma yard to build 2nd RCRV

Gulf Island Shipyards of Houma, La., received a contract modification to build a second 193-foot regional class research vessel (RCRV) for Oregon State University. The announcement was made by the shipyard’s parent company, Gulf Island Fabrication. The initial vessel was awarded in July 2017, which included options for two more. The vessels will be built in Houma and be ABS Ice-Class C0 and DPS-1, Green Marine-Certified, acoustically quiet, and carry up to 29 crew and embarked scientists per vessel. The National Science Foundation is providing $88 million for the project. (Source: Work Boat 06/13/18)

Dual CG command changes

NEW ORLEANS - Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans and Coast Guard Sector New Orleans are both holding change of command ceremony on their respective bases June 15. Cmdr. Harper L. Phillips is scheduled to relieve Cmdr. Tina J. Peña and take command of CGAS New Orleans during a 9 a.m. ceremony. Peña has served as CGAS New Orleans commander since the summer of 2016. Phillips comes to the Gulf Coast from CG headquarters in Washington, D.C. Capt. Kristi M. Luterell is scheduled to relieve Capt. Wayne R. Arguin at CGS New Orleans in a 1 p.m. ceremony. Arguin has served as captain of the port, federal maritime security coordinator, federal on-scene coordinator, officer in charge of marine inspection and search and rescue mission coordinator since July 2016. He is departing the region to serve on the chief of emerging policy staff at CG headquarters. Luttrell served most recently at CG Sector New Orleans as deputy commander. (Source: Coast Guard 06/13/18)

MS river cruises appear dead

Gretna, La., officials were giddy in June 2016 when gathering for the debut of the French America Line – a startup riverboat cruise line that promised jobs and a local HQ as part of a $7.5M investment. FAL had promised romantic multi-day cruisers from the West Bank up the Mississippi River. It looked too good for Gretna officials to pass up, even for out-of-state onlookers like Dorothy Brown, 82, and her husband of Palm Harbor, Fla. They booked a 7-night trip eager to sail the riverboat Louisiane to enjoy its fine dining, spa, and nightly entertainment. More than a year later, FAL's plans appear dead. The company's founder and chairman, Christopher Kyte, said the cruise line intends to re-start sailings in 2019, but many are skeptical. (Source: NOLA.com 06/12/18)

Metal Shark acquires Horizon

JEANERETTE, La. - Following a motion approved by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court Southern District of Alabama on June 5, Louisiana-based shipbuilder Metal Shark has acquired the assets of Alabama-based Horizon Shipbuilding. With the acquisition, Metal Shark assumes ownership of a fully developed 35-acre shipbuilding facility in Bayou La Batre - some 30 miles south of Mobile - with separate east and west yards both fronting a dredged deep-water inlet from Mobile Bay. The facility has nine assembly buildings; a 660-ton Travelift; multiple cranes, CNC plasma cutters, welders, and other fixtures supporting the construction of steel and aluminum vessels up to 300-feet and 1,500 tons of launch weight. (Plasma cutting is a process that cuts through electrically conductive materials by means of an accelerated jet of hot plasma.) Metal Shark’s new Alabama shipyard is situated minutes from the Intracoastal Waterway with direct access to the Gulf of Mexico. Metal Shark will use the facility to design and construct custom steel vessels for multiple markets, as well as the refit, repair, and conversion of existing vessels. Since bankruptcy filings, Horizon has operated under the direction CEO Travis R. Short. With the acquisition, Short will join Metal Shark and serve as Executive VP, according to Metal Shark’s CEO Chris Allard. (Source: Metal Shark 06/11/18)

Tentative ports contract OK’d

The International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) announced June 6 that it had reached a tentative agreement with U.S. Gulf and East coasts’ ports to extend its labor contract for six years, well in advance of its September expiration date. The tentative agreement still has to be ratified by ILA and port members of the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX). Full details of the deal were not made public. ILA President Harold J. Daggett and USMX Chairman David F. Adam only said that the tentative agreement was “beneficial to both sides." The master contract covers container royalties paid by ocean carriers, medical benefits, and wages across all covered facilities on the Gulf and East coasts’ coasts. Port-specific talks will continue between union locals and local port operators regarding work rules and pensions. Both ILA and USMX encouraged members to wrap up local negotiations by July in advance of a union-wide vote. (Source: Maritime Executive 06/06/18)

Bollinger delivers 29th FRC

Bollinger Shipyard of Lockport, La., delivered its 29th Fast Response Cutter Forrest Rednour to the Coast Guard at a June 7 event in Key West, Fla. The FRC has been described as an operational “game changer,” by senior Coast Guard officials. “The vessel’s commissioning is scheduled for November,” said Ben Bordelon, Bollinger president/CEO. This will be the first of four FRCs to be stationed in San Pedro, Calif. In other news, Bollinger received an “Award for Excellence in Safety” for the 13th consecutive year at the Shipbuilding Council of America’s (SCA) annual general membership meeting in Washington, D.C. SCA is the national association representing the U.S. shipyard industry. Bollinger operates 10 shipyards throughout Louisiana with direct access to the Gulf of Mexico, Mississippi River and the Intracoastal Waterway. Bollinger is the largest vessel repair company in the Gulf region, according to company officials. (Source: Work Boat 06/08/18)

Court OKs Harvey Gulf plan

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court approved in late May a final reorganization plan submitted by Harvey Gulf International Marine of New Orleans. The approval comes more than a month after the company’s pre-packaged filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. The firm filed for bankruptcy protection March 6. The filing included plans to convert nearly $1B of secured debt into equity. Those moves were designed to “right size” Harvey Gulf’s balance sheet and save the company some $47M per year in debt service costs. The company also announced it has entered into three long-term vessel charters with Hess of Houston, Texas, for two of its 310-foot LNG Platform Supply Vessels and one of its 300-foot PSVs. (Source: Work Boat 06/07/18)

CG medevacs fisherman near Destin

NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard medically evacuated a 65-year-old fisherman from a catamaran June 8 some 20 nautical miles south of Destin, Fla. Coast Guard Sector Mobile, Ala., watchstanders received a request for medical assistance from the catamaran Pecan around 8 a.m. Friday. CG Station Destin launched a response boat and crew. The boatcrew successfully transferred the man in stable condition to local EMS who transported him to Fort Walton Medical Center. (Source: Coast Guard 06/08/18)

HII’s futuristic mini-sub

A new mini-submarine-like vehicle, designed for stealthy manned and unmanned military operations by Huntington Ingalls Industries and Batelle, has the potential to provide covert combat personnel with significant fire power. Proteus could be described as a hybrid of an underwater vehicle and a drone. As an underwater vehicle, Proteus is designed for up to six combat divers to penetrate enemy territory by water. In the future, there may be potential for submersibles like Proteus to be used offensively by the Navy. If Proteus was eventually equipped with weapons, then just like dogfights with aircraft, SEALs could fire weapons in underwater battles. As an insertion vehicle, Proteus is smart. It can switch from being driven as a vehicle to driving itself and running its own missions. Proteus can also deliver air, surface and underwater micro-drones to a target and launch them. Proteus and other drones working together as a team were tested in 2017 at Naval Special Warfare Center Panama City, Fla.’s Advanced Naval Technology Exercise (ANTX). Proteus successfully delivered and launched the micro-drone team to perform its missions. (Source: Fox News 06/07/18) HII’s Undersea Solutions Group first showed off Proteus e at the Navy League’s 2015 Sea-Air-Space Exposition. In January 2015, HII acquired the Engineering Solutions Division (ESD) of The Columbia Group, a leading designer and builder of unmanned underwater vehicles for domestic and international customers. As a previous stand-alone division within The Columbia Group, ESD is headquartered in Panama City Beach.

CG responds to La. oil spill

NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard has responded to reports of an oil spill near Breton Sound, La., in the early evening on June 7. CG Sector New Orleans watch standers received a call at 6:29 p.m. reporting a 61-foot motor vessel hitting the Breton Sound 18 production platform resulting in the spill of an estimated 840 gallons of crude oil from the platform. Environmental Safety & Health arrived on scene and deployed boom around the platform. There were no reported injuries. The incident is under investigation. (Source: Coast Guard 06/07/18)

NCTC Gulfport has new boss

GULFPORT, Miss. - Cmdr. Russell Bates relieved Cmdr. Ana Franco as commanding officer of Naval Construction Training Center (NCTC) Gulfport during a May 23 change of command. Bates is a graduate of Excelsior College in New York with a Bachelor of Science in administration management studies with a focus in biology. He previously served as chief staff officer at the 22nd Naval Construction Regiment in Gulfport. Franco received the Meritorious Service Medal for service at NCTC. During her tenure, the command graduated more than 16,000 students from all seven Seabee ratings, along with Air Force and Army students attending Builder "A" school, as part of an Inter-service Training Review Organization agreement. Franco’s next assignment will be as operations officer for Naval Facilities Engineering Command in Washington, D.C. (Source: Center for Seabees and Engineering 06/05/18)

HII adds work for DDG 51

The Boeing Co. of Huntington Beach, Calif., is being awarded a $15,879,671 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for design agent and technical engineering services for the AN/USQ-82(V) family of systems consisting of the data multiplex system, fiber optic data multiplex system, and gigabit Ethernet data multiplex system. AN/USQ-82(V) systems are for high-speed fiber-optic shipboard networking for Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers (DDG 51) . As the AN/USQ-82(V) design agent, Boeing will provide advanced and highly specialized technical engineering to assist with system sustainment; cybersecurity enhancement; configuration management; development, qualification and integration of systems; testing; and technical support to manufacturing and repair vendors. The contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value to $82,394,253. Work will be performed in Huntington Beach, Calif. (69%); Arlington, Va. (19%); Pascagoula, Miss. (5%); Bath, Me. (5%); Seattle, Wash. (1%); and Philadelphia (1%. It is expected to be completed by May 2019. FY 2018 Navy shipbuilding and conversion; FY-18 Navy operations and maintenance; and foreign military sales funding in the amount of $6,499,675 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of FY-18. This contract combines purchases for the Navy (93%), and the Republic of Korea, Commonwealth of Australia, and Japan (7%), under the Foreign Military Sales program. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1), only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. Naval Sea Systems Command of Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 06/05/18) Gulf Coast Note: Ingalls Shipbuilding of Pascagoula uses modular construction techniques pioneered by the yard in the 1970s, and refined over the years to maximize shipyard throughput of the DDG 51 class.

Review: Ship-handling issues

The Navy’s senior surface fleet leadership conducted a 3-month internal review and found that nearly 85 percent of junior officers (JOs) had either some or significant concerns in ship-handling and many struggled to react decisively to move their ship out of danger when there was immediate risk of collision, according to an internal message obtained by Defense News. Lead by the Surface Warfare Officer School, officer of the deck competency checks were conducted on a random selection of OOD-qualified first-tour division officers in underway bridge navigation simulators fleet-wide. Of the 164 evaluated officers only 27 passed with “no concerns.” A total of 108 completed with “some concerns” and 29 had “significant concerns,” according to the message released by the top surface warfare officer, Vice Adm. Richard Brown of Naval Surface Force Pacific. He termed the results as “sobering.” The evaluations raise significant questions about the level of ship-handling training JOs get both prior to arriving at their first command, and how good is that training. Among the shortfalls: JOs struggled with operating radars and associated tools, an issue that emerged in the wake of the USS Fitzgerald accident that claimed the lives of 17 sailors last summer; and a direct factor in both the Fitzgerald and USS John S. McCain collisions in 2017. (Source: Defense News 06/05/18) Gulf Coast Note: USS Fitzgerald is undergoing repairs, and upgrades, currently at Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Ingalls shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss.

Austal's T-EPF heads NY Fleet Week

BRONX, N.Y. - The Military Sealift Command's newest expeditionary fast transport ship, USNS City of Bismarck (T-EPF 9), hosted 2,550 visitors during Fleet Week New York from May 23-28 here at State University New York Maritime College. The Gulf Coast-built T-EPF left Joint Expeditionary Base Fort Story Little Creek, Va., to participate in the week-long celebration with 13 other ships. Fleet Week New York is the city's time-honored celebration of the sea services, and an opportunity for regional citizens to meet sailors and witness first-hand the latest capabilities of current maritime services. The MSC accepted delivery of USNS City of Bismarck in December 2017 from Austal USA shipyards in Mobile, Ala., and has spent the last six months involved in sea trials and Final Contract Trials (FCTs) to get the ship ready for its first mission later this year. For some crewmembers, Fleet Week New York was the icing on the cake following the FCTs. "We received a 9.4 which is the highest amongst all EPF's," said Anthony Hayes, Second Engineer aboard Bismarck, but coming to NY Fleet Week was worth it to see “kids' faces, the parents, teachers, and police officers (that support) us for the job that we do … was very refreshing." (Source: MSC 06/04/18)

1st of two cutters arriving at NASP

NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard Cutter Decisive will be the first of two to arrive at their new homeport of Pensacola, Fla., on June 5. The Decisive is a 210-foot Medium Endurance Cutter that had previously been based in Pascagoula, Miss.. The CG Cutter Dauntless, a 210-foot Medium Endurance Cutter based in Galveston, Texas, is tentatively scheduled to relocate no later than August 31. Each cutter boasts a crew of 76. The cutters are used to conduct a variety of missions, including Counter Drug Enforcement, Alien Migration Interdiction Operations, Search and Rescue, Maritime Law Enforcement, and Defense Readiness. The cutters will be homeported at Naval Air Station Pensacola along with the CG Cutter Cypress, a 225-foot Seagoing Buoy Tender. (Source: Coast Guard 06/04/18)

Shipbuilders set course to FFG(X)

A multi-billion dollar opportunity has foreign and U.S. competition heating up to build the Navy’s FFG(X) warship. In February, the Navy announced it had shortlisted five shipbuilders for the program: Huntington Ingalls of Pascagoula, Miss.; Austal USA of Mobile, Ala.; Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, and Fincantieri. The FFG(X) is to replace the Littoral Combat Ship. The five were awarded research-and-development (R&D) contracts this year. The Navy expects to pick a single winner in 2020. Fincantieri is an Italian manufacturer. Austal USA is a subsidiary of an Australian shipbuilder. The competition would be a major long-term opportunity for a single primary contractor. The Navy plans to stop buying LCS, and wants to start buying the new frigates in 2020, which leaves little time for R&D. The plan is to buy 20 frigates (one or two a year) at an estimated cost of up to $900M apiece. The Navy expects to spend between $850M to $1.8B annually from 2020-23, according to the Congressional Research Service. To start buying ships by 2020, the Navy is asking for something that’s already been produced and demonstrated. The short-listers are generally pitching souped-up versions of ships now in service. Austal USA is one of two LCS shipbuilders. It is pitching a modified version of its earlier product, something that may offer the Navy an easier transition between systems. (Source: Washington Post 06/04/18)

DoD continues climate change prep

The Navy has launched an effort in San Diego to monitor and prepare for a sea level rise. Marine Corps’ Parris Island (S.C.) leaders are considering building a sea wall to ward off rising tides. The Air Force is looking at “climate vulnerability” as they plan and construct bases. These are examples how the Defense Department (DoD) overall is forging ahead with detailed plans to deal with climate change – under the radar of the Trump administration’s lack of emphasis across government. Insiders say a look beneath the surface shows DoD climate initiatives have continued mostly unimpeded from the political debate. DoD oversees some 800 military installations in 70 countries. SECDEF James Mattis has explicitly called climate change a threat to U.S. national security interests. One of the biggest risks is Naval Station Norfolk, Va., which houses the Atlantic Fleet, and could become a perpetual risk of flooding. Tom Hicks, a two-time acting Undersecretary of the Navy, said: “I don’t know what (superstorm Sandy) would’ve done for our forces” had it hit Norfolk. Hicks now serves as a founding principal of The Mabus Group, an advisory firm founded by former Navy Secretary and Mississippi governor Ray Mabus. The Pentagon has turned its attention to specific issues at specific bases. Military bases have extreme weather plans, and commanders are being encouraged to work with local communities to address shared issues regarding environmental impacts, according to a DoD spokesperson. (Source: Washington Times 06/04/18) Gulf Coast Note: Major storms along the Gulf Coast have devastated several military installations within the past15 years: Keesler AFB, Miss., in 2005’s Hurricane Katrina; 2014 at NAS Pensacola, Fla., from Hurricane Ivan. Additionally, Eglin AFB, Fla. - the largest AF base in the world - faces storm surges, sea-level rise and saltwater infiltration, which could cause problems with freshwater resources in the area. With the increase of extreme weather, Eglin may face costly damages in the future. Eglin was identified among the top five ‘Most Vulnerable Military Installations’ in an American Security Project as far back as 2012.

WorkBoat '18 conference in NOLA

The 2018 WorkBoat Conference and International WorkBoat Show will be held in New Orleans from Nov. 28-30 at the Morial Convention Center. The conference will be broken out across three days and presented alongside the WorkBoat Show. The conference will focus on five sectors: Maintenance & Repair; Tugs & Coastal Towing; Shipyards; Inland Waterways & Passenger Vessels; and Offshore. Each program is custom designed to provide high level education and networking opportunities in a comprehensive format. Companies interested in exhibiting should call (207) 842-5666. The conference and show are produced by Diversified Communications and WorkBoat Magazine. (Source: WorkBoat 05/18)

CG rescues duo from disabled craft

NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard rescued two pleasure-craft boaters from their disabled vessel June 2 near Southwest Pass, La. CG Sector New Orleans received a report around 7 a.m. from the motor vessel Master Dylan that the Leesure Ours, a 33-foot craft, was flashing a SOS signals. The disabled vessel had been stuck on a pipeline owned by Tennessee Gas Pipeline since 9 p.m. on June 1. CG Station Venice launched a 45-foot response boat and crew and CG Air Station New Orleans launched an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and crew. The aircrew hoisted the men aboard, and transported them to Boothville, La., where they were met by station personnel, who then transferred them to a local marina. The vessel's owner was making salvage plans. No injuries or pollution were reported. The cause of the incident is under investigation. (Source: Coast Guard 06/02/18)

Eastern delivering new tug to Va.

Eastern Shipbuilding of Panama City, Fla., is delivering the Rosemary McAllister, a second in a series of four 100-foot tugboats to McAllister Towing and Transportation Co. in Norfolk, Va. The tug is underway and expected in Chesapeake Bay, Va., early next week, according to McAllister officials. Its sister ship, Capt. Brian T. McAllister, was built by Horizon Shipbuilding of Bayou La Batre, Ala., and figured in the company’s financial difficulty and bankruptcy filing in October 2017, weeks after the tug was delivered. The Rosemary and a third hull that had been started at Horizon were transferred to Eastern Shipbuilding, which has had a long relationship of building boats for McAllister. The next two tugs are expected for delivery in 2019. The tugs are the first Tier 4 powered towing vessels on the Atlantic coast; and designed to handle the new generation of neo-Panamax container ships now regularly calling at New York and Norfolk. (Source: Work Boat 06/01/18)

LCS OTH missile awarded

The Norwegian-designed Naval Strike Missile has been officially selected to serve as the Littoral Combat Ship’s over-the-horizon (OTH) anti-ship weapon, according to a Defense Department contract announcement May 31. The $14.8M contract was awarded to Raytheon to purchase the first round of missiles that will be incorporated on both variants of the LCS – Independence and Freedom – as part of FY 2018 funds for OTH weapon research and development. The value could grow to $847.6M if all contract options are exercised. (Source: USNI News 05/31/18) Gulf Coast Note: The Independence variant of LCS is built at Austal USA shipyard in Mobile, Ala.

New ‘rebreather’ for Navy divers

A Navy diver hoisted a 60-pound life-support regulator onto his back, then donned a 30-pound helmet. Fellow divers connected the diving suit to an “umbilical” hose pumping in breathing gas and establishing communications with the surface. The diver descended into a large test pool at Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City (NSWC), Fla. - home to the Navy Experimental Diving Unit. His mission was to demonstrate the effectiveness of the MK29 Mixed Gas Rebreather - a prototype system that’s the first of its kind within the Navy diving community, and developed by NSWCPC. “This rebreather system is an awesome opportunity to enhance (diving) capabilities” said Office of Naval Research’s Command Master Chief Matt Matteson. Navy divers breathe an exact mixture of oxygen and nitrogen, but below 150 feet, nitrogen becomes toxic. This new solution is designed to replace nitrogen with helium. Buy, helium is expensive and hard to get because of worldwide shortages. MK29 solves these problems. Oxygen-helium is filtered through a carbon dioxide scrubber, which removes carbon dioxide and recycles the breathable gasses back to the diver reducing helium requirements by about 80 percnet, says Dr. John Camperman, a senior scientist overseeing its development at NSWCPC. Test results suggest it will be an major asset to Navy divers who can perform more dives, and stay underwater longer if surface supply gas is interrupted. The NSWCPC research team will conduct further MK29 tests this year, and hope to see the rebreather issued throughout the fleet by 2019. (Source: Seapower Magazine 05/31/18)

DOD LGBT Pride Month

WASHINGTON - Throughout the month of June, the Department of Defense joins the nation in observing Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month. DOD is committed to fostering an actively inclusive environment that values the diversity of its force, and recognizes service members and civilians who achieve optimal performance when each and every member is treated with dignity and respect. LGBT Pride Month recognizes the accomplishments of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, and acknowledges their continued struggle to achieve equality. DOD has demonstrated its commitment to gender equality and inclusion by repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in 2011, and instituting a 2016 policy change to enable transgender personnel to serve as their preferred gender. (Source: DOD 06/01/18)