40% Miss. mod pact: $24.7M

Lockheed Martin’s Rotary and Mission Systems of Moorestown, N.J., is awarded a $24,735,518 cost-plus-incentive-fee modification to previously-awarded contract N00024-15-C-5151 to exercise options for ship integration and test of the Aegis Weapon System (AWS) for AWS baselines through Advanced Capability Build 16. Work under this modification will be performed in Pascagoula, Miss. (40% percent); Moorestown (40%); District of Columbia (5%); Bath, Maine (5%); Norfolk, Va. (5%); and San Diego (5%), and is expected to be completed by September 2024. FY 2016 Navy shipbuilding and conversion funding in the amount of $2,065,979; and FY-18 Navy research, development, test and evaluation funding in the amount of $108,751 will be obligated at time of award, and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. FY-18 Navy operations and maintenance funding in the amount of $286,174 will be obligated at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Sea Systems Command of Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 08/31/18)

New riverboat coming to NOLA

American Cruise Lines new 190-passenger riverboat American Song has passed sea trials and is on its way to New Orleans in early September. ACL describes the new boat as the first modern riverboat in U.S. history. Its inaugural cruise from New Orleans to Memphis, Tenn., will leave the dock on Oct. 6. The vessel will cruise a full eight-day schedule of the Lower Mississippi River for the remainder of 2018; and will reposition to the West Coast in 2019. (Source: Work Boat 08/30/18)

Disturbance may enter GoM

Forecasters from the National Hurricane Center are tracking a disturbance Aug. 31 that's expected to move into the Gulf of Mexico next week. It has a 10 percent chance of developing into at least a tropical depression within the next five days. It is too early to predict where it may make landfall, but the five-day outlook from the NHC has it entering the Gulf and impacting anywhere from Southeast Louisiana to Florida. (Source: NOLA.com 08/31/18)

La. firms dredge, storm risk pacts

Mike Hooks LLC of Westlake, La., was awarded a $24,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for a 27-30 inch cutter-head pipeline dredge for dredging mobile district navigation projects in Alabama, Mississippi and Florida. Bids were solicited via the internet. Three were received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 30, 2019. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile, Ala., is the contracting activity. Additionally, BIS Services LLC of Kenner, La., was awarded a $14,734,253 firm-fixed-price contract for hurricane and storm damage risk reduction system in Lake Pontchartrain and vicinity. Three bids were received. Work will be performed in New Orleans with an estimated completion date of March 9, 2020. FY 2014 and FY-18 Army operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $14,734,253 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers of New Orleans is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 08/30/18)

P’cola firm construction pact: $17.5M

Whitesell-Green Inc. of Pensacola, Fla., is awarded $17,559,000 for firm-fixed-price task order N6945018F0727 under a previously awarded multiple award construction contract (N69450-16-D-1109) for the renovation of the Fleet Readiness Center Southeast’s Building 101 at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Fla. The work to be performed provides for renovation, to include demolition, of the north half of the space and quarterdeck (Area A) and renovation of administrative areas in the south half (Area B). Project also includes construction of a vestibule at the main entrance with incidental site work. The contractor shall provide the labor, supervision, engineering materials, equipment, tools, parts, supplies and transportation to perform all work described in the request for proposal. The task order also contains one planned modification, which if issued would increase the cumulative task order value to $17,615,859. Work will be performed in Jacksonville, and is expected to be completed by January 2021. FY 2018 Navy working capital funds in the amount of $17,559,000 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Three proposals were received. Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southeast of Jacksonville is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 08/30/18)

$10.5M PC minesweeping gear pact

Technical Systems Integration of Chesapeake, Va., is awarded a $10,585,142 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for depot-level repair, overhaul, and modification for the MK-105 magnetic minesweeping gear. The MK105 Magnetic Influence Minesweeping System is a high-speed catamaran hydrofoil towed behind an MH-53E helicopter, and used to sweep magnetic influence mines. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value to $54,044,081. Work will be performed in Panama City, Fla., and is expected to be completed by August 2019. FY 2018 Navy operations and maintenance funding in the amount of $2,657,763 will be obligated at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website. Three offers were received. Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Beach, Fla., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 08/23/18)

Gov. signs BP monies legislation

UPDATE: Less than an hour after the BP oil spill restitution monies bill passed the Mississippi House, Gov. Phil Bryant signed the $200M per year infrastructure bill and celebrated the end of what he called a historic special session. (Source: AP 08/29/18)

Read more here: https://www.sunherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article217522100.html#storylink=cpy

Previous blog: Mississippi state senators approved a bill by a 42-8 vote that divides up to $700M in BP oil spill restitution monies during the late night of Aug. 28's special session. They also set aside more than $100M overall for special state-wide projects. The measure moves to the House for more debate and potential wrangling Aug. 29. "I think it's safe to say the majority of benefits are to the coast," Senate Finance Committee Chairman Joey Fillingane (R-Sumrall) told The Associated Press. BP is paying a total of $750M to Mississippi, through 2033, to make up for lost tax revenue from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Lawmakers have already spent $52.4M, but about $100M remains in the bank, and 15 annual payments of $40M per year is to begin in 2019. Mississippi is likely to get more than $2.4B from multiple sources to pay for environmental and economic damages from the spill. Senate Bill 2002 would give at least 72 percent of the monies to the Gulf Coast counties of Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, and parts of George, Stone and Pearl River. Twenty-eight percent would go the rest of Mississippi’s 76 counties on projects some lawmakers have deemed as pork. Most of those projects are spread across the state. A Jackson senator complained the bill only included two projects for his region worth a little more than $1M. The largest monies include new roads in Rankin and Madison counties - $8M apiece. Many projects are in the districts of influential committee chairmen, claimed Sen. David Blount (D-Jackson). "These projects are being decided based on backroom deals," Blount, who opposed the bill, told The AP. About $27M would go to coast projects while $9M would remain in a state savings account. Some House members oppose the division, arguing that the coast has no special claim to the money because the area was supposed to replace lost tax revenue that would have been spent in state budgets. Rep. Tracy Arnold (R-Booneville) is circulating a proposal to divide the monies between cities and counties based on their share of Mississippi's population. Mississippi Gulf Coast leaders have repeatedly called for ways to ensure the monies are used for high-impact projects. (Source: The Associated Press 08/29/18)

FSC will draw from destroyer designs

The Navy plans to buy its first Future Surface Combatant in 2023 – a large warship to support the Arleigh Burke Flight III combat system and pull portions from the Arleigh Burke-class (DDG-51) and Zumwalt-class (DDG-1000) destroyer designs. The future combatant – which hasn’t been identified as a cruiser or destroyer - will be larger, and more costly, than the Arleigh Burke Flight III design; but will have room to grow into for decades ahead, according to Surface Warfare Director Adm. Ron Boxall’s OPNAV N96 memorandum told about to USNI News on Aug. 28. The FSC refers to a family of systems for a destroyer-like combatant, Littoral Combat Ship, future frigate, large unmanned surface vessel, and medium size Unmanned Surface Vessel, and alongside an integrated combat system that will be a common to all those ships. Navy leadership just recently signed an initial capabilities document for the family of systems that are to define what the future surface force would be required to do, and how each of those four platforms could contribute to the mission requirement. With the ICD signed, the Surface Warfare directorate will now begin diving into the finer details of each platform. First up for the Navy will be the large combatant, according to Boxall. After adding the Flight III design, Boxall said the resulting war-fighting capability is one the Navy can use for years. The frigate program mandated bidders use mature parent designs – Independence or Freedom class. The Austal USA shipyard of Mobile, Ala., builds the Independence LCS. “A lot of people in the world make frigates,” Boxall told USNI; but not many make large combatants. With the large combatant, the Navy is starting with the DDG-51 Flight III capability development document (CDD) and conclude a finished product as a “modified Flight III CDD.” Once the first large combatant is designed and purchased in a 2023 “block” – following the FY 2018-22 current block buy of Flight III DDGs from Ingalls Shipbuilding of Pascagoula, Miss., and General Dynamics Bath (Maine) Iron Works, which spans from FY 2018-22 – new blocks will be planned every five years. (Source: USNI News 08/28/18) Gulf Coast Note: HII-Pascagoula launched the future USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121) in mid-July. DDG 121 will be the 70th destroyer of its class to join the fleet. It is being configured as a Flight IIA destroyer. HII-Pascagoula is also currently in production on future destroyers Paul Ignatius (DDG 117), Delbert D. Black (DDG 119), Lenah H. Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123), and Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125) – all part of the five-ship multi-year procurement.

Enviro consultant to head CPRA

A North Carolina environmental consultant with a history in state government and private wetland restoration, and a Bachelor of Science degree in geology from the University of Alabama, has been selected by Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards for the position of executive director of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority. Michael Ellison is principal consultant of Arrowwood Research of Cary, N.C., which provides state/federal policy analysis and strategies for implementing ecosystem restorations. Ellison will take the executive role being vacated by Michael Ellis, who is leaving CPRA, for a VP of strategic environmental affairs position with U.S. Sugar in Florida. The governor also announced that Bren Haase, chief of the CPRA's planning and research division, has been promoted to deputy executive director. (Source: NOLA.com 08/27/18)

Metal Shark still delivering to CG

Coast Guard stations in Alaska are being re-equipped with five new 29-foot small response boats from the Metal Shark shipbuilding firm in Jeanerette, La. The new vessels are replacing older 25-foot Defender class boats. The deliveries from Louisiana began May 17 when CGS Ketchikan received a pair followed by the Valdez on June 19; and two deliveries to CGS Juneau on June 27. The new small response boats will operate in coastal waters on missions including search and rescue, law enforcement, ports, waterways and coastal security, drug and migrant interdiction and environmental protection and response, according to the CG’s 17th District command. The updated design, also known as Response Boat-Small II, was revamped with more emphasis on ergonomics and crew comfort to improve endurance. The CG contracted with Metal Shark in the fall of 2011 to replace its aging Defenders. The first of the vessels arrived to the CG’s Special Missions Training Center at Camp Lejeune, N.C. in June 2012. (Source: Work Boat 08/27/18)

DoD funding '19 goes back to House

The U.S. Senate voted Aug. 23 to fund its portion of the Defense Department’s FY 2019 budget – the largest increase in 15 years. The measure would fund a 2.6 percent military pay raise, the largest in nearly a decade. The Senate’s version of the budget still has to be reconciled with a House-passed measure. Currently, the appropriations act includes highlights for Mississippi include $500M for the advance procurement of the LPD Flight II amphibious transport dock; $350M for construction of the LHA 9 amphibious assault ship – both built at HII-Pascagoula. Also, $42.2B for procurement of military aircraft, including $10M above the budget request to upgrade UH-72 Lakota helicopters for the Army. The Lakotas are built in Columbus, Miss., by Airbus; $15M to enable the Air Force to continue development of long endurance platforms to meet urgent operational demands from Combatant Commanders. The project will also involve work done in Columbus, according to U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.). $218M – up from a $35M request - for the Army’s high performance computing modernization program, which are critical for the viability of the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) that directly affects the Mississippi State University (MSU) high performance computing program; $69M to support Army research at ERDC involving several projects, such as polymer development at the University of Southern Mississippi, advanced 3D printing technology, and next generation unmanned systems research at MSU. Additionally, $30M for the National Guard Counterdrug Schools, which is a “very important initiative” for the Regional Counterdrug Training Academy at Naval Air Station Meridian, according to a release by the senator. (Source: Y’all Politics 08/24/18)

NSWC collaborates in MSSE program

PANAMA CITY, Fla. – Ten engineers from Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City, Fla., are kicking off a collaborative first year Master of Science in Systems Engineering (MSSE) degree program at Florida State University-Panama City. NSWCPC, along with the Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering of the Florida A&M-Florida State University College of Engineering in Tallahassee, and the FSU-Panama City campus have collaborated to introduce the program. The purpose of the program is to provide opportunities for students to pursue an advanced degree in an interdisciplinary area of broad relevance to the private sector and the Defense Department. Courses will include curriculum related topics such as autonomous systems, maritime systems, and cyber-security to name but a few. A majority of the students enrolled this fall are NSWCPC civilian employees. Systems engineering is an interdisciplinary field of engineering that focuses on how to design and manage complex engineering systems. (Source: NSWC Panama City 08/24/18)

CG medevacs man from GoM

NEW ORLEANS – A Coast Guard Station response boat and crew from Panama City, Fla., medically evacuated an injured man about 9:50 a.m. (Saturday) Aug. 25 from the vessel Green Banana about 50 nautical miles south of Panama City in the Gulf of Mexico. The man had sustained lacerations to his leg. The response boat arrived on scene, with an emergency medical technician aboard, about 11:20 a.m. and transported the injured man to emergency services personnel at the Panama City Marina around 12:30 p.m. The man was reported in poor condition, according to the Coast Guard. (Source: Coast Guard 08/25/18)

Bollinger delivers 30th FRC

LOCKPORT, La. - Bollinger Shipyards of Lockport, La., has delivered the 154-foot USCGC Robert Ward, the 30th Fast Response Cutter (FRC), to the U.S. Coast Guard. The CG took delivery Aug. 21 at Key West, Fla. The FRC program is a model program for government acquisition and has surpassed all historical quality benchmarks for vessels of this type and complexity, according to Ben Bordelon, Bollinger President/CEO. The vessel’s commissioning is scheduled for February, 2019 in California. (Source: Bollinger Shipyards 08/21/18)

Pearl logjam project set to start

Government funding from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's National Fish Passage Program and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will soon be put into action for clearing a logjam – from refrigerators to a house boat - on the Mississippi side of the Pearl River south of Bogalusa, La. The logjam is keeping threatened fish from swimming upstream. Clearing the jam will reduce riverbank erosion that threatens to fill in deep-river habitat of threatened Gulf of Mexico sturgeon, according to Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Jack Montoucet. The logjam, about 40 miles north of New Orleans, marks the eastern boundary between Louisiana and Mississippi. It has trapped much sand, and complicates the job that “at best might be compared to a giant, dangerous game of pick-up-sticks - pulling out one log or piece of debris at a time without disturbing the rest,” said Glen Constant, head of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's southeast region office in Baton Rouge. “If a big chunk broke loose, it could threaten boats or camps downriver.” The cleanup is tentatively scheduled to begin Aug. 28 and continue throughout September. (Source: The Associated Press 08/25/18)

Dupre Marine ‘CONNECT's

Marine software company Helm Operations announced that Houma, La.-based Dupre Marine Transportation is the first company to go operational with its Helm CONNECT Personnel software package for crew management and payroll. Dupre Marine is just one of several companies that have signed up for CONNECT since it was launched in June. (Source: Marine Link 08/24/18)

El Coqui enters service for Crowley

One of the first LNG-fueled combined container and roll-on roll-off (ConRo) vessels, El Coquí, entered domestic service for Crowley Marine in July. El Coqui and its sister ship Taíno, under construction VT Halter Marine’s Pascagoula, Miss., shipyard, feature a wide range of the newest technologies, including advanced integrated bridge systems (IBS) and ancillary electronic systems from Mackay Marine. The firm is a N.C.-based corporation with Gulf Coast offices in Mobile, Ala., and New Orleans. Its project integration team worked in concert with Crowley and VT Halter’s architects and engineers to develop the bridge suite for the two new Commitment Class vessels. El Coquí is operating on Crowley’s U.S. to Puerto Rico service, and Taino will follow suite later this year. This new generation of ConRo transport vessels accommodates 2,400 twenty-foot-equivalent container units plus a varied portfolio of 400 cars and large vehicles loaded in dedicated weather-tight decks. (Source: Marine Link 08/25/18)

Firms to optimize Gulf Coast assets

HOUSTON - Enterprise Products Partners (EPD) and American Midstream Partners (AMID) announced Aug. 23 they have entered into an agreement under which AMID may choose to purchase a 25 percent interest in Enterprise’s Pascagoula, Miss., natural gas processing plant. The purchase option is subject to certain conditions, including AMID completing modifications to some facilities on its High Point pipeline system that will provide incremental natural gas volumes with access to the Pascagoula plant. The High Point pipeline system delivers offshore natural gas production to the Enterprise-operated Toca Gas Plant in St. Bernard Parish, La., for processing services. As the result of the pending modifications to High Point, Toca plant owners have voted to discontinue operations. EPD is one of the largest publicly traded partnerships and a leading North American provider of midstream energy services to producers and consumers of natural gas, NGLs, crude oil, refined products and petrochemicals. The partnership’s assets would include some 50,000 miles of pipelines; 260M barrels of storage capacity for NGLs, crude oil, refined products and petrochemicals; and 14B cubic feet of natural gas storage capacity. (Source: The Associated Press 08/23/18)

'Sea Giraffes' join the Navy

‘Sea Giraffes’ are protecting Navy ships – and a new floating military base – in worldwide support of special operations and combat missions. Onboard warships, the Sea Giraffes radar systems are continually conducting surveillance around the ship – scanning the air and surface – looking for possible threats. When a threat is inbound, Sea Giraffes spot it early, which gives personnel and weapons systems the maximum amount of time to respond with counter-measures or threat data to nearby fighters to respond. Every second counts to reducing risk. The Sea Giraffe AMB Multi Mode Radar will now also be joining the Navy’s Expeditionary Sea Base (ESB) class ship USNS Hershel "Woody" Williams (ESB 4). ESBs are floating sea bases used to enhance combat power. ESBs are based on Alaska class crude oil carriers built by General Dynamics. The ESBs are currently designed around providing four key capabilities: Aviation, berthing personnel, support for equipment staging, and those needs for command and control. Their Expeditionary Transfer Dock (ESD) siblings focus more on vehicle staging areas and vehicle transfers to shore. Now the new compact, low weight Sea Giraffe AMB will be onboard as well. It’s an advanced radar system that can resist attempts to jam its signals and remain accurate in close-in environments. USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB 3) was the first Expeditionary Sea Base delivered; and Miguel Keith (ESB 5) is under construction. In addition to the ESB, Saab’s Sea Giraffe AMB radar (a.k.a. AN/SPS-77) is currently deployed on Independence-class Littoral Combat Ships, which were built by Austal USA in Mobile, Ala. The Navy has decided to purchase more ‘Giraffes’ for the Coast Guard. In 2017, Sea Giraffe MMR was first selected for the Coast Guard’s newest class of ship, the Offshore Patrol Cutter. (Source: Fox News 08/22/18) Gulf Coast Note: The Coast Guard selected Eastern Shipbuilding Group of Panama City, Fla., to build its first Offshore Patrol Cutters with an option for eight more. In June, ESG successfully conducted its Final Critical Design Review with the CG for the OPC program. The first hull is estimated to be deliver in 2021.

HII partnering with 3 area schools

PASCAGOULA, Miss. - Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding is partnering with three area high schools to construct talent development laboratories to bolster each of the school’s technical programs, especially in shipbuilding. “We are helping local schools create state-of-the-art career training facilities,” said HII-Ingalls President Brian Cuccias. HII staff will be partnering with the schools and instructors to teach students how to weld, use machinery and other shipyard crafts. Once the three programs are up and running, there may well be an opportunity for growth at other schools, he eluded. The three schools include Moss Point (Miss.) High School and Alma Bryant High School in Irvington, Ala., will have development labs completed in this school year. Pascagoula High School’s will be completed in 2019. In addition to the renovations to the facilities, HII-Ingalls will provide the schools with safe and modern welding equipment, ensuring industry standards are met, which will provide an easier transition from student to professional. HII-Ingalls is also providing all of the necessary safety equipment and will use training modules to ensure proper use and fitting. (Source: HII-Ingalls 08/23/18)

PC engineer earns STEM award

PANAMA CITY, Fla. – Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City (NSWCPC) electrical engineer Jose E. Fernandez has been selected by Great Minds in STEM (GMiS) for a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Hero Award. The STEM award recognizes the work of America’s top engineers and scientists for outstanding technical accomplishments and identifies and showcases achievements of the nation’s most talented engineers and scientists within the Hispanic community. Fernandez is responsible for developing, evaluating, and demonstrating new sonar technologies for the Navy. He is considered the Navy’s premier expert in the design of Synthetic Aperture Sonars (SAS) for the detection of underwater mines and unexploded ordnance. He has more than 30 years experience enhancing the capability of mine detection with developments and implementation of novel processing techniques. The GMiS Hero Award will be presented to Fernandez at the 2018 HENAAC Conference in Pasadena, Calif., on Oct. 18. (Source: NSCWPC 08/23/18)

2019: Big test for reorganized LCS

Four Littoral Combat Ships – two west-coast based LCS that were built at Austal USA’s shipyard in Mobile, Ala. - are among four on track to deploy in 2019, Vice Adm. Richard Brown, commander of Naval Surface Force Pacific, told Defense News in an Aug. 16 interview. It is not clear when those deployment dates will be since the surface warfare community is still piecing together advanced training and maintenance needs for the ships to deploy with the anti-surface warfare (ASW) mission package and newly-formed blue-and-gold crews. Blue-and-gold crews will replace the three crews for two LCS hulls. In the new model, one crew mans the ship while the other trains ashore then switching at the end of a set period of time. The Navy now has semi-permanently assigned one of the three mission packages – ASW, anti-submarine warfare, mine countermeasures - to future LCS. Anti-submarine warfare should be ready to go in 2019; and mine counter-measures in 2020. All four of the LCS will deploy with the ASW configuration. Those scheduled for 2019 deployments are the Austal-built trimaran variant hulls USS Montgomery (LCS 8) and USS Gabriel Giffords (LCS 10) based in San Diego; and the mono-hulled USS Detroit (LCS 7) and USS Little Rock (LCS 9) out of Mayport, Fla., Brown said. Getting the LCS to the fleet will likely lead for more calls from combatant-commanders’ requests for the ships. Adm. Kurt Kidd, head of the U.S. Southern Command and one of the highest ranking surface warfare officers in the military, has called for using the ships in the neglected counter-narcotics mission to augment the Coast Guard. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told lawmakers in April he was reviewing options for the LCS mission. “We don’t have the answer yet, sir, but we’re working it,” SECDEF told Defense News. (Source: Defense News 08/22/18)

CG searching Lake Ponchartrain

NEW ORLEANS -The Coast Guard is searching for the owner of a capsized vessel reported in Lake Pontchartrain in Louisiana in the evening of Aug. 22. CG Sector New Orleans received a report at 7:30 p.m. from Jefferson Parish Police Department about a white-hulled vessel capsized a quarter mile east of Treasure Chest Casino in Lake Pontchartrain. Those involved in the search include GC Station New Orleans' 45-foot Response Boat and crew; CG Air Station New Orleans' MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and aircrew; and the Kenner Police Department. Anyone with information is requested to contact Sector New Orleans at (504) 365-2200. (Source: 08/22/18)

Delivery of first NA-built LNG barge

MORGAN CITY, La. - Conrad Industries (CNRD) announced Aug. 20 the successful completion and delivery of the Clean Jacksonville, the first LNG bunker barge built in North America. The Clean Jacksonville was constructed in Orange, Texas, at Conrad Orange Shipyard. A successful gas trial execution took place in Port Fourchon, La. CNRD is headquartered out of Morgan City, La. The vessel will enter service for TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico in the Port of Jacksonville, Fla., where the vessel will bunker two Marlin Class containerships operating on LNG fuel between Jacksonville and San Juan, Puerto Rico. (Source: Conrad Industries 08/20/18)

La. native trains joint IW students

PENSACOLA, Fla. - A Lake Charles, La., native Al Sharlow, who has served his country for 42 years on active duty and as a federal civilian, is a force multiplier for the Center for Information Warfare Training (CIWT) at Pensacola’s Corry Station. He currently serves as a program management analyst for CIWT developing Learning and Development Roadmaps for enlisted information warfare (IW) sailors, which outlines education and training milestones for each enlisted rating and at each pay-grade. He also serves as a trusted agent for government contractors and supports the development of rate training manuals and non-resident training courses. CIWT is responsible for training enlisted cryptologic technicians, information systems technicians, intelligence specialists, electronics technicians, cryptologic warfare, information professional, intelligence, and foreign officers to prepare them to wage battle, and assure the nation’s success in this burgeoning warfare arena. As a member of one of the Navy’s most relied-upon assets, Sharlow and the staff know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes, serving as a key part of the IW community in its mission to gain a deep understanding of the inner workings of adversaries and developing unmatched knowledge of the battlespace during wartime. (Source: CIWT 08/21/18)

Hospital ship to deploy off Colombia

The Defense Department announced Aug. 21 that the Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort would be deploying in the fall, marking the sixth hospital ship deployment to the region since 2007. Teams of U.S. service members and medical professionals will be working with America’s partner-nation of Colombia and elsewhere, to provide much-needed medical assistance, relieving the pressure of increased population flows on partner national health systems, according to a DoD media release. Its deployment is to reflect the U.S. commitment and solidarity with the Americas. Working with partner-nations, the hospital ship will provide life-saving treatment and medical care to thousands. (Source: DoD 08/21/18) Gulf Coast Note: Personnel from Naval Hospital Pensacola, Fla., and some of its branch clinics in La., Miss., and Fla., are no strangers to deploying with USNS Comfort. Dr. Chris Lewis, a Navy Pulmonary Medicine specialist at NHP, was among the internal medicine personnel to deploy in USNS Comfort during its Haitian recovery effort in 2010. On a four-hour notice, NHP corpsmen, laboratory technicians and pediatricians deployed in 2017 with USNS Comfort following the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria. They remained on duty for three months. In 2015, 19 personnel from NHP deployed with Comfort as part of the Continuing Promise humanitarian deployment for six months through Caribbean, and Central and South American countries. Although no orders have been cut for Navy medical and other personnel within the Gulf Coast region, Navy Medicine is in the process of identifying Comfort’s mission-needs and available personnel.

Gulf Coast Defense Forum

The Mississippi Gulf Coast Defense Forum, an all-day forum that will bring together key leaders from the Pentagon, Gulf Coast defense communities, and industry leaders to explore issues and innovative partnerships that are defining the future of the five-state Gulf Coast defense communities. ‘Building Strong Defense Communities Along the Gulf Coast’ forum is being hosted by the Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission and Mississippi Gulf Coast Alliance. Mississippi has established itself as a center for excellence in naval technology and defense innovation. The Gulf Coast is home to critical missions that are driving new technologies and unique partnerships from Louisiana to Tallahassee, Fla. Supporting these missions requires new thinking. That leaves the community, industry and military leaders to begin forging innovative partnerships to be models for other communities and installations across the country. The forum is Dec. 3-4 in Gulfport, Miss., at Courtyard Marriott and Gulfport Beachfront. (Source: Association of Defense Communities 08/2018)

MS guv’s ride for wounded warriors

The Governor’s Ride for Wounded Warriors of Mississippi motorcycle event will be held Sept. 22. The fifth annual “Ride” will be from Richland to Gulfport from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event begins at Southern States Utility Trailer Sales in Richland. Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant will be leading the way on his bike. There will be a brief stop in Hattiesburg, and riders will continue on to Jones Park in Gulfport. Proceeds from the “Ride” will go to the Mississippi Wounded Warrior Project, an organization that works solely off (Info: 601-482-4131). (Source: WWoM (August 2018). WWoM is not affiliated with the national Wounded Warrior Project.

CPRA wants Congress to step up

With $780 million in local and state funds spent or dedicated to construction of parts of the Morganza to the Gulf hurricane levee system, Louisiana’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority board voted unanimously Aug. 15 to request Congress grant the levee project "new start" status that would make it eligible for federal money. The CPRA also asked that Congress begin appropriating the 65 percent federal share of the project's $10.3B construction cost. About 45 percent of the Morganza levee system, from Larose to Golden Meadow hurricane levee westward to Gibson, has completed its first-lift standards with earthen levees raised to 10 feet, and floodwalls, surge gates, and lock structures to 18 feet. Congress has authorized construction of the levee project three times: In 2000, 2007, and 2014. In December 2014, Congress authorized it at a cost of $10.3B, but didn’t appropriate funding for construction. “We'll be in excess of $800 million and still zero appropriations from the United States Congress for a federal project protecting over 200,000 people," said Terrebonne Parish Levee and Conservation District executive director Reginald Dupre. (Source: NOLA.com 08/20/18) The primary purpose of the Morganza to the Gulf of Mexico proposed project is hurricane and storm damage risk reduction. The area is significantly affected by tides emanating from the Gulf of Mexico, according to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' website. Deterioration of coastal marshes as a result of saltwater intrusion, land subsidence and the lack of interchanges from the Mississippi River have steadily increased storm surge inundation over time.

Engineer OKs Miss. River deepening

A $237.7 million plan to deepen the main channel of the Mississippi River by five feet to a 50-foot depth, for 256 miles from Baton Rouge to the Gulf of Mexico, was recommended for approval this month by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ senior civil engineer James Dalton. He concluded that the 5-foot increase in the river's depth will result in average annual benefits of $127.5M to the nation's economy. Dredging will allow for the larger Panamax vessels that pass through the widened Panama Canal, to reach as far north as Baton Rouge - as long as they fit below the Crescent City Connection Bridge in New Orleans. The final proposal, which must be approved by the Office of Management and Budget and Congress, represents a major expansion from the December 2016 tentative public plan. Congress must find funding for the project over future budgets. The project will deepen the main shipping channel an extra five feet as it passes through four of the nation's top 15 ports measured by tonnage: Plaquemines Port’s Harbor and Terminal District; Port of New Orleans; Port of South Louisiana; and Port of Greater Baton Rouge. Those ports handle more than 500M tons of cargo annually, including 60 percent of the nation's grain, and connected to 14,500 miles of inland waterways. In his approval memo, Dalton wrote that the project will now cost $237.7M compared to the 2016 estimate of $88.9M. Dalton’s memo was sent to R.D. James, assistant secretary of the Army for public works, on Aug. 3. (Source: NOLA.com 08/2018)

HII apprentice school graduates 110

PASCAGOULA, Miss. - Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division in Pascagoula hosted a graduation ceremony Aug. 18 to graduate 110 from the company’s apprentice program. The Ingalls’ Apprentice School has produced more than 5,000 graduates since 1952. The program offers a comprehensive two- to four-year curriculum, in partnership with the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, for students interested in shipbuilding careers. More than 60 faculty and staff deliver 15 programs and more than 120 course offerings to provide and educational foundation needed to meet the challenges of a shipbuilding career. Today, more than 1,700 apprentice alumni fill some 50 different types of jobs at Ingalls and 850 have goin on to management and professional roles throughout the shipyard. Huntington Ingalls Industries is America’s largest military shipbuilding company. (Source: HII 08/20/18)

Navy-Biloxi unit earns flagship award

BILOXI, Miss. - The Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit (CNATTU) at Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi was named the Medium Shore Command winner of the 2017 Navy Community Service Campaign’s Drug Free Flagship Award on Aug. 14. CNATTU Keesler received the award for the command’s volunteer work promoting drug use reduction programs in local schools and with organizations to address the dangers of drug abuse and the importance of being drug free. Some 800 Navy and Marine Corps volunteers within the command performed 3,623 volunteer hours from July 2016 through June 2017. Some 500 hours went directly to education of area youth about the dangers of drug use and the promotion of a drug-free lifestyle. The CDF program is designed to strengthen the local community through education, promotion of health and fitness, encouragement of alternatives to drug use and the promotion of anti-drug lifestyles. CNATTU Keesler trains service members in the electronic calibration of shipboard and aviation equipment, meteorological and oceanographic observing and forecasting, and the maintenance and repair of meteorological equipment. (Source: CNATTU Keesler 08/16/18)

Miner to lead Applied Geosciences

BATON ROUGE, La. – In September, Michael Miner will bring his expertise to The Water Institute of the Gulf as the director of the newly formed Applied Geosciences team. Whether it’s offshore sand sources needed for barrier island restoration or use of dredge material for rebuilding coastal wetlands, these resources have been at the center of Miner’s career. Born and raised in New Orleans, Miner received a bachelor’s and master’s degree in geology from the University of Mississippi, where he studied the subsurface geology of southern Mississippi and Louisiana. He completed his Ph.D. at the University of New Orleans with work focused on coastal and evolution of the Mississippi River delta plain and inner-continental shelf. In 2010, he joined the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and worked extensively on the Marine Minerals Program, which manages federal offshore sediment resources for beach and barrier island restoration projects. The Water Institute of the Gulf is a not-for-profit, independent applied research and technical services institution. (Source: Water Institute of the Gulf 08/02/18)

Fish net hearing around Cat Island

BILOXI, Miss. – The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (MDMR) will hold a public hearing Sept. 6 regarding a proposed fish net ban within one mile around Cat Island, a barrier island off the state’s Gulf Coast. The 6 p.m. hearing will be in the auditorium of the Bolton Building at 1141 Bayview Avenue in Biloxi. At its July meeting, the Commission on Marine Resources approved a ‘Notice of Intent’ to update, modify and change listed sections of Title 22 Part 5. A complete copy of Title 22 Part 5 and the proposed changes is available at www.dmr.ms.gov. (Source: MDMR 08/09/18)

MS Red Snapper rec fishing to close

BILOXI, Miss. – Red Snapper recreational fishing season will close in Mississippi just before mid-night Aug. 17. Preliminary estimates from the Tails ‘n Scales reporting system indicate the annual catch target for recreational fishing is projected to be reached by the weekend. The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources has the authority to reopen the recreational Red Snapper fishery if finalized landings indicate additional harvest would remain within the quota allowed under the Federal Exempted Fishing Permit. (Source: MDMR 08/15/18)

Navy UUV exercise in MS sound

GULFPORT, Miss. –The Navy is getting a major exercise together featuring Underwater Unmanned Vehicles (UUV) operating in the Mississippi Sound. Naval Oceanography command, based at Stennis Space Center, is taking part in Naval Undersea Warfare Center's annual Advanced Naval Technology Exercise (ANTX) on Aug. 16. Navy personnel were preparing for a virtual demonstration at the University of Southern Mississippi's new Marine Research Center on Aug. 15. "This is the first time that the ANTX … has been performed on the Gulf Coast,” said Lt. Travis Miller, spokesperson for the Naval Oceanography Mine Warfare Center. On Aug. 16, “we're going to go out and test a few technologies that further the capabilities of our Underwater Unmanned Vehicles,” Miller told WLOX-TV, which will compare a new technology that allows the Navy command to communicate with a UUV and change the direction and the remote operation of it underwater. The exercise gives military and civilian personnel an opportunity to work together in a low risk environment. (Source: WLOX 08/15/18)

GoM parcel bids less than 1%

Oil companies bid on less than 1 percent of the parcels offered in a second 2018 U.S. auction of Gulf of Mexico exploration leases Aug. 14. Exxon Mobil Corp. was awarded 25 blocks, the largest, followed by BP Plc with 19, and Hess Corp. and Equinor with 16 apiece. Smaller companies, including Talos Energy Offshore, Houston Energy, and W&T Offshore were among the top 10 high bidders. In total, 23 firms bid in the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management's auction. In all, there was $178M worth of high bids, up from $124M in March. Companies submitted bids for 144 parcels offered, less than 1 percent of the 14,575 available blocks, and fewer than the spring auction (148 bids). Exxon bid $40.5M for its parcels, the most of any company, while Hess submitted the highest bid for a single block: $25.9M. (Source: Marine Link 08/15/18)

‘Pay for success’ environmental bonds

A $40M project to rebuild 835 acres of wetlands, and reduce storm surge flooding, at Port Fourchon, La., could become a test for a "pay for success" environmental bond program that may provide construction funding to Louisiana and entice businesses to fund bonuses to bond buyers and contractors if the work works to reduce the loss of wetlands. The "environmental impact bonds" wetland restoration project is a joint proposal of the national Environmental Defense Fund and Quantified Ventures, an investment advisory firm. QV developed a similar performance-based environmental bond program in 2016 for DC Water, the public water system for the nation’s capitol. If the program gets positive vibes among investors, Louisiana may be able to use it to build projects earlier than anticipated as part of its coastal Master Plan, which should reduce construction and interest costs that would only cost over in the future. (Source: NOLA.com 08/15/18)

Shipbuilders: Speed up construction

QUANTICO, Va. – The Navy should accelerate the production of its two newest class of amphibious ships to avoid creating a old construction line and to get the ships it needs cheaper, an industry official Jon Padfield of Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) told Marine and Navy officials last week. HII joined with shipbuilding officials from Austal USA of Mobile, Ala., and General Dynamics in promising that the industry is capable of making large increases in construction for the Navy to reach its cited goal of a 355-ship fleet. Speaking on the last day of the Seabasing Operational Advisory Group’s session at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Padfield said the “amphibious ship availability doesn’t seem to be getting any better and may be getting worse,” despite the Navy’s committed requirement for 38 amphibs, USNI News reported. The goal could get more difficult, according to Padfield, unless the Navy moves up its planned construction start for LHA-9, the fourth America class amphibious assault ship, and the second and third of the LPD-17 Flight II replacements for aging LSDs. HII-Pascagoula, Miss., built the first in-class ship America (LHA 6), which is in the fleet; christened LHA 7 Tripoli in September 2017; and is scheduled to start work on Bougainville (LHA 8) in late 2018. But there will be a several-year gap between before the planned start for LHA-9, which would force HII to close the line. In order for that not to happen “we need to accelerate LHA-9,” he said. A quicker rate of production saves money by improving the shipbuilder’s efficiency, Padfield said. The Navy also could save money by moving up production of LPD-31 and 32 amphibious transport dock ships, the second and third of the Flight II ships, formerly called LX(R). HII recently received funding for LPD-30. Austal USA’s Larry Ryder and General Dynamic’s Tom Wetherald criticized the Navy’s proposed Common Hull, Auxiliary Multi-purpose Platform (CHAMP) concept to replace MSC’s fleet, which includes widely different type of ships. CHAMP is okay for large Maritime Prepositioning Ship ships, but the duo suggested the expeditionary transport dock and expeditionary sea base ships built at GD’s NASSCO shipyard in San Diego would be better fits for other types. He joined Ryder in proposing variations of Austal USA’s expeditionary fast transports as more reasonable forms for other MSC ships. (Source: USNI News 08/14/18)

La. firm: $7.5M sub tug trackers

Alpha Marine Services of Galliano, La., is awarded $7,506,772 modification under a previously awarded firm-fixed-price, reimbursable elements contract (N32205-15-C-2100) to exercise Option 3 for the time charter of three U.S. flagged tracker-like tugs each at Naval Submarine Base, Kings Bay, Ga., and Naval Station Mayport, Fla. Work will be performed in Kings Bay and Mayport; and is expected to be completed Aug. 31, 2019. Working capital funds in the amount of $616,995 are obligated at the time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Military Sealift Command of Norfolk, Va., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 08/14/18)

Austal completes trials of EPF 10

The Austal USA shipyard in Mobile, Ala., successfully completed acceptance trials in early August on the 338-foot expeditionary fast transport Burlington (EPF 10) in the Gulf of Mexico. The EPF is scheduled for delivery to the Navy this fall. It is the 10th of a 12-ship portfolio valued at more than $1.9B. Austal has delivered nine ships with three others under construction. The Spearhead-class EPF is designed to provide high-speed, high-payload transport capability for multi-missions with the fleet. Austal USA also has received contracts for 15 Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) with a combined value of more than $4B. Eight LCS have been delivered. Six others are in various stages of construction. (Source: Work Boat 08/13/18)

VT Halter launches newest Va. ferry

VT Halter Marine of Pascagoula, Miss., announced Aug. 13 the successful launch of the Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT) newest ferry, the Powhatan. The 270-foot vessel is to be delivered later this summer. In November 2016, VT Halter was awarded the contract for the design, construction and delivery of the new 499-passenger/70-vehicle ferry, which will replace the current vessel, the Virginia, which was built in 1936. “We hope that the Powhatan delivers many years of great performance on par with the prior ferry, the Pocahontas that we had designed, built and delivered in 1995,” Ronald Baczkowski, CEO of VT Halter Marine, said in a media release. The Powhatan is part of Virginia’s six-year improvement plan for 2013-18 with $2.5M allocated for design and $25M for construction. The ferry will be part of the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry system, which transports about 936,000 vehicles annually and is the only 24-hour, state-run ferry in Virginia. (Source: Work Boat 08/13/18)

CG medevacs woman with injury

NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard medically evacuated a woman with a head injury near Petit Bois Island, Miss., on Aug. 12. Coast Guard Sector Mobile, Ala., received a report at 3:38 p.m. of a woman with a head injury head injury aboard a fishing vessel about three nautical miles north of Petit Bois Island. The CG launched a 45-foot response boat and crew from CG Station Pascagoula, Miss., to assist. The boat crew recovered the woman and transported her to emergency medical services at CGS Pascagoula. EMS transported her to Singing River Hospital in Pascagoula. (Source: Coast Guard 08/13/18)

GAO: US needs nat’l maritime strategy

The federal Department of Transportation (DOT) should complete its congressionally-mandated national maritime strategy to sustain the U.S.-flagged commercial cargo ships’ competitiveness and long-term viability, upon which the Defense Department (DoD) relies on to ship its cargo, according to a Government Accountability Office (GAO). The report is entitled ‘Maritime Security, DOT Needs to Expeditiously Finalize the Required National Maritime Strategy for Sustaining U.S.-Flag Fleet’. DOT has drafted, but not issued, those strategies, according to the report. The GAO recommended DOT complete the national maritime strategy and establish timeframes for its issuance. DOT concurred. The government supports U.S.-flag vessels through a stipend from the Maritime Security Program. “These supports (stipends) have helped ensure that a sufficient number of U.S.-flag vessels are available to meet (DoD’s) cargo capacity needs,” the report indicated. DOT developed a draft strategy under the previous administration, but the current White House is reviewing that strategy. DOT has not established a timeline for finalizing the strategy even though it was to be completed by 2015. “Without establishing a timeline to complete this required strategy, DOT continues to delay providing decision-makers the information they need to determine how best to address the challenges facing the US-flag fleet,” the GAO said. A Maritime Administration working group recently estimated a shortage of more than 1,800 cargo-mariners in the case of a drawn-out military effort. (Source: Jane’s Defence Weekly 08/12/18)

Reef-building aboard Eglin AFB

EGLIN AFB, Fla. - The Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance (CBA) is setting up a reef-building competition on the Eglin Air Force Base recreational-area property as part its efforts to reduce shoreline erosion and create wildlife habitat along Choctawhatchee Bay. CBA’s project is the construction of a 1,400-foot reef at Post’l Point on Eglin at the edge of Boggy Bayou. CBA is attempting to get various military and civilian contractors working at Eglin to sign up to build part of the reef. Reef building has become an important part of CBA’s mission because the “reef breakwaters reduce shoreline erosion and create critical wildlife habitat, especially for young oysters,” Erika Zambello, CBA’s marketing director, told NW Florida Daily News on Aug. 11. CBA has been working with Eglin to create reef breakwaters in Alaqua Bayou and Bay Flats. The reefs, built with limestone rock and recycled oyster shells from seafood restaurants, “have already slowed or even reversed erosion,” Zambello said. In one recent project, local high school students, Northwest Florida State College’s baseball team, church groups, and members of AmeriCorps have assisted CBA, in partnership with Eglin, in building a 1,700-foot reef in Alaqua Bayou. (Source: NW Florida Daily News 08/11/18)

GoM lease sale set for Aug. 15

NEW YORK – The U.S. Interior Department will hold another federal auction of exploration leases in the Gulf of Mexico on Aug. 15. The second 2018 lease sale will test energy companies' appetite for acreage after the Trump Administration left royalty rates for deepwater parcels unchanged at 18.75 percent. Industry officials had call for lower royalty rates at 12.5 percent. The Gulf of Mexico has faced waning interest in recently while competition increased from other global basins and from onshore shale basins in Mexico’s waters of the GoM. Some companies may have bid on fewer parcels in the March 2018 auction while waiting to see if the Interior Department would cut royalties, said William Turner, a research analyst at Wood Mackenzie. In that auction, only 1 percent of 77M offered acres got bids. "The uncertainty is gone," said Imran Khan, senior manager at Wood Mackenzie. The clearer royalty rules may draw additional bids from such heavy-weights as Royal Dutch Shell and Chevron; and to smaller firms like LLOG, which is headquartered in Covington, La. (Source: Reuters 08/10/18)

Geocent to compete for $18.2M pact

Geocent LLC of Metairie, La., is awarded an $18,286,074 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee, multiple-award contract for engineering services and software development to support information operations and meteorology and oceanography systems. This is one of seven multiple-award contracts. All awardees will have the opportunity to compete for task orders during the ordering period. This two-year contract includes one, three-year option which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to an estimated $47,464,233. All work will be performed in San Diego and is expected to be completed Aug. 9, 2020. If the option is exercised, work will continue through August 2023. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated as task orders are issued using Navy research, development, test and evaluation; Navy operations and maintenance; and other Navy procurement funds. This contract was competitively procured via Request for Proposal N66001-17-R-0011 which was published on the Federal Business Opportunities website and the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command e-Commerce Central website. Nine offers were received and seven were selected for award. Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific of San Diego is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 08/10/18)

Bubrig appointed to coastal authority

Belle Chasse businessman Bill Bubrig has been appointed to Louisiana's Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, representing Plaquemines Parish, by Gov. John Bel Edwards on Aug. 9. The appointment comes in the midst of conflicts between CPRA and Plaquemines Parish President Amos Cornier III, who opposes Louisiana’s plans to build the Mid-Barataria and Mid-Breton sediment diversions on the west and east banks of the Mississippi River in his parish. Cormier believes the diversions will disrupt commercial and recreational fisheries and damage wetlands. State officials say the diversions are a cost -effective way of delivering sediment to open water and existing wetlands over decades; and that any environmental effects will be identified as part of required federal assessments before construction - with the possibility that the state would have to mitigate the effects. (Source: NOLA.com 08/09/18)

‘Supreme’ authenticates EPF-11’s keel

MOBILE, Ala. - A ceremony celebrating the keel authentication of the Navy’s 11th Spearhead-class of Expeditionary Fast Transport ship, the future USNS Puerto Rico (EPF 11), was held in Mobile at Austal USA’s shipyard, where the ship will undergo construction. The keel was said to be “truly and fairly laid” as it was authenticated by the ship’s sponsor, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, by welding her initials into the keel plate. EPFs are versatile, non-combatant vessels designed to operate in shallow ports and waterways, increasing flexibility for a wide range of missions, and a key enabler for rapid transport. EPFs are capable of interfacing with roll-on/roll-off discharge facilities and vehicles, such as a fully combat-loaded Abrams battle tank. Each vessel includes a flight deck to support day and night aircraft launch and recovery operations. (Source: Naval Sea Systems Command 08/09/18)

UM grad to preside over war court

A new judge has been assigned to preside over the U.S. war court at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, and the stalled trial of a Saudi man accused of plotting al-Qaida’s suicide bombing of the USS Cole (DDG-67) off the port of Aden, Yemen, in 2000. Seven American sailors were killed. Air Force Col. Shelley W. Schools, a graduate of the University of Mississippi’s law school in 1997, is to replace the retiring chief trial judge, Vance Spath, according to a memo obtained by McClatchy. It’s unclear when she will appear on the military commission’s bench. (Source: Miami Herald 08/09/18) Gulf Coast Note: Three senior enlisted personnel aboard the USS Cole at the time of the explosion were assigned to a command(s) at NAS Pensacola, Fla., or had family living in the NW Florida community. On April 19, 2002, USS Cole departed Northrop Grumman’s Ship Systems sector in Pascagoula, Miss., following a 14-month restoration project; and returned to its homeport in Norfolk, Va.

$2.5M MARAD grant for NOLA

About $5M in federal grant funding was awarded Aug. 8 to enhance existing marine highways serving ports in Louisiana, Virginia, New York, and Connecticut; and support for the development of new container-on-barge services in Kentucky and Rhode Island. U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao announced $4,872,000 in grants for six projects through the Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) Marine Highway program, including more than $2.5M for the Port of Baton Rouge and Port of New Orleans Container-on-Barge operations in NOLA. Marine Highways provide new modal choices for cargo shippers by reducing transportation costs while at the same time reducing road maintenance costs and improved safety. MARAD works with public and private stakeholders to support the expanded use of navigable waterways to relieve landside congestion, provide transportation options, and generate public benefits by increasing efficiency of its surface transportation system. Expanding the use of waterways also support jobs at American ports and shipyards. The Louisiana container-on-barge grant will be used to purchase marine terminal and handling equipment for efficient loading-unloading of container-on-barge operations in New Orleans. The existing service relocates empty containers in Memphis to meet export customer demand in Baton Rouge. This grant will allow the service to expand to NOLA’s France Road terminal and will allow northbound containers to be off-loaded as far north as Memphis. (Source: Marine Link 08/09/18)

Dillard to offer water m’gmt program

Dillard University students in New Orleans will have an opportunity this fall to prepare for water management jobs in government and the private industry with a new program being established. Dillard’s Urban Water Management Certificate Program is the first and only of its kind in Louisiana, according to a Dillard media release. The program is designed to teach students how to handle flooding, storm-water management, sinkholes, and sinking land caused by subsidence. Students will also learn how to protect cities from water-borne illnesses by providing clean and safe water to residents. (Source: NOLA.com 08/09/18)

SECNAV: Improve contractor relations

Navy Secretary Richard Spencer said he is pushing sea-service officials to improve on those often “antagonistic” dealings with defense contractors. “We’ve changed the dialog with our suppliers,” SECNAV told Bloomberg News Aug. 7 at an initiatives-review session. In some cases, relations between the Navy and contractors were not the healthiest they could have been, he said. But those contractors need to know that funding dollars don’t grow on trees, but he was a “responsible buyer” who understands contractors’ need to make a profit. “I was in business. I get it,” said Spencer, former vice chairman of the Intercontinental Exchange Inc. The Navy has to sit down with contractors and show them what resources are available and plans to deploy those funds. Huntington Ingalls Industries, General Dynamics, Raytheon, and Lockheed Martin are among the Navy’s biggest prime contractors. (Source: Bloomberg News 08/08/18) Gulf Coast Note: HII’s Ingalls shipyard in Pascagoula. Miss., builds multiple ships for the Navy and the Coast Guard’s National Security Cutter.

BIW’s Year 4 option for LCS plans

General Dynamics-Bath (Maine) Iron Works is awarded a $33,592,059 cost-plus-award-fee modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-14-C-4313) to exercise Option Year Four for the accomplishment of the planning yard support services for both variants of the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) class of ships. This option exercise is for planning yard services for both Freedom and Independence variant in-service ships. BIW is the sole planning yard providing engineering, planning, ship configuration, material and logistics support to maintain and modernize both variants. Work will be performed in Maine, and is expected to be completed by August 2019. Naval Sea Systems Command of Washington, D.C. is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 08/08/18) Gulf Coast Note: Austal USA of Mobile, Ala., builds the Independence variant of LCS. BIW builds the Freedom class.

‘One Lake’ project and oysters

The manager of one of the Gulf Coast’s largest oyster processors is wary of the proposed ‘One Lake’ flood-control project on the Pearl River near Jackson, Miss. “I have a lot of concerns about the project,” Jennifer Jenkins, whose family has owned Crystal Seas Seafood in Pass Christian, Miss., since 1966. Some 50 people listened to 30-minute presentation by engineers and lawyers Aug. 2 at the Infinity Science Center not from the Pearl River. It was given by lawyers and engineers for the Rankin-Hinds Pearl River Flood and Drainage Control District. “I still have a lot of concerns that it’s going to affect the oyster and seafood industry and parts of the lower Pearl River,” Jenkins told the Sun Herald. The likely-$350M project would use a low-head dam below Interstate 20 near Jackson to create a 1,500-acre lake. Its proponents claim it would reduce flooding in Jackson and surrounding counties. But others, like Jenkins, fear the project will restrict the flow of water that would normally make its way into the lower Pearl River Basin, which would harm river habitats, impact the salinity of the Mississippi Sound and threaten endangered animal species and the oyster industry. (Source: NOLA.com 08/06/18)

Weeks Marine: $112.8M contract

Weeks Marine Inc. of Covington, La., was awarded an $112,846,250 firm-fixed-price contract for Mississippi coastal improvements program, comprehensive barrier island restoration plan, and Ship Island Phase-Two. Bids were solicited via the Internet with three received. Work will be performed in Ship Island, Miss., with an estimated completion date of Sept. 11, 2019. FY 2014 civil works funds in the amount of $112,846,250 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers of Mobile, Ala., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 08/07/18)

Gulf Coast Navy energy winners

In an announcement Aug. 3, the Secretary of the Navy named Naval Air Station Whiting Field, Fla., as the recipient of the Department of the Navy Energy Excellence Award for 2018 in the Navy Small Shore category. The Navy’s annual Energy Excellence Awards program promotes excellence in the areas of energy security, new technology, innovation, program management and efficiency across the department. In addition to the SECNAV award winners, the following Gulf Coast states’ commands were recognized for their achievements in energy program management. At the Platinum level of achievement was NAS Pensacola; Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 3 of Gulfport, Miss. Gold level commands included NAS Meridian, Miss. At the Blue level was NAS/JRB New Orleans and Naval Support Activity Panama City, Fla. (SECNAV 08/03/18)

Entrust awarded $49M IT contract

Sentient Digital Inc., doing business as Entrust Government Solutions, of New Orleans is awarded a total $49,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for information technology (IT) engineering support services. IT services in this contract will assist Military Sealift Command’s (MSC) Command, Control, Communications, and Computer Systems (C4S) division (N6) in providing and sustaining Department of Defense (DoD) and the Navy compliant technical C4S solutions. Additionally, this contract will satisfy emerging requirements, enhance and develop IT capabilities in support of MSC’s mission and assist in the development of governance to ensure IT capabilities align to MSC N6’s strategic business support plan, MSC N6’s technical architecture road maps, DoD, and Navy mandates. The solutions primarily satisfy emergent cyber security mandates and technical refreshes for end of life hardware and software. Work will be performed in Norfolk, Va., and is expected to be completed Aug. 15, 2023. FY 2018 working capital funds in the amount of $10,000 will be obligated as the initial task order and will satisfy the minimum guarantee requirements. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured, with proposals solicited via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with eight offers received. The Navy’s Military Sealift Command, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 08/06/18)

IG, Navy spar over new MCM package

The Defense Department’s Inspector General has criticized the Navy's management of a new mine-countermeasures (MCM) detection system for Littoral Combat Ships, which prompted Navy officials to declare that three of seven parts of the MCM mission package had reached initial operating capability (IOC) this summer. That meant sailors were considered equipped and trained to conduct mission operations with the AN/ASQ 235 Airborne Mine Neutralization System, Airborne Laser Mine Detection System, and the Coastal Battlefield Reconnaissance and Analysis Block I system. When the Pentagon IG reviewed the three platforms, investigators found signs they weren't meeting requirements. Navy leaders hit back and challenged the findings. ALMDS and AMNS had "completed and exceeded expectations" for testing required by the LCS mine countermeasures mission package, and the COBRA successfully completed its first round of initial operational tests and evaluations to meet the requirements for IOC, the assistant secretary of the Navy told the IG. Navy officials argued that having training squadrons use the systems is the best way to identify and correct performance gaps. Those squadrons, working with ALMDS and AMNS, have not reported problems, Navy officials said; and shortcomings with COBRA have been corrected. The IG warned that: "Entering full-rate production without demonstrating a system can perform as required may require costly retrofits to fix undiscovered system deficiencies," and delay planned decommissioning of legacy ships, helicopters, and associated equipment if those deficiencies render the new system unable to perform full (MCM) missions. (Source: Military.com 08/03/18) Gulf Coast Note: Independence variant LCS are built at Austal USA in Mobile, Ala.

Austal ships clear major hurdle

Two Austal USA-built ships cleared their last hurdle last week before joining the fleet. The expeditionary fast transport Burlington and the Littoral Combat Ship Charleston both successfully completed acceptance trials, according to press releases from Naval Sea System Command and Austal USA. The Mobile, Ala.-based shipyard is coming to an end of building its 12 EPFs - Burlington is EPF-10; while EPF-11 Puerto Rico and EPF-12 Newport are under construction. There’s a way to go for LCS builds with additional contract awards expected out of the FY 2019 budget, which authorized three LCS, but it’s unclear which of two builders – Marinette, Wis., shipyard – would get those awards. LCS Charleston is the ninth of the Austal-built trimaran hulls to be constructed by Austal. Plans are for it to be delivered to the Navy by the end of 2018. The yard is also on various stages of construction for several other LCS: Cincinnati (LCS 20) is preparing for trials. Final assembly is underway on Kansas City (LCS 22) and Oakland (LCS 24), according to Austal. Modules for the future USS Mobile (LCS 26) are under construction in the manufacturing facility and construction on Savannah (LCS 28) commenced in mid-July.” (Source: Defense News 08/05/18)

HGIM makes bid to GulfMark

HOUSTON – Houston-based GulfMark Offshore, Inc. (“GulfMark”) confirmed Aug. 6 that it had received a non-binding, unsolicited proposal from HGIM Corp. (“Harvey Gulf”) of New Orleans to combine the companies through a merger in which GulfMark would acquire Harvey Gulf. Pursuant to the Harvey Gulf proposal, GulfMark stockholders would own 41.2 percent of a new company. Harvey Gulf emerged from bankruptcy July 2 as a private company. Its proposal represents an enterprise value of an unevaluated $900M. GulfMark’s public equity valuation, as of July 13, the day prior to its announcement of a proposed merger with Tidewater Inc. ("Tidewater") of Houston, is $337M. The GulfMark Board of Directors will review the Harvey Gulf proposal in compliance with obligations under its merger agreement with Tidewater. GulfMark’s board seems to believe that the Tidewater merger is in the best interest of stockholders and continues to recommend them to adopt the Tidewater merger agreement at a meeting this fall. (Source: Globe News Wire 08/06/18) GulfMark Americas has a sector office in Larose, La.

Woman ID'd from Lake Pontchartrain

NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard is searching for a missing person, after rescuing another, in Lake Pontchartrain north of New Orleans on Aug. 6. The missing person has been identified as 32-year-old Sadie Thibodeaux. Coast Guard Station New Orleans rescued 43-year-old Michael Lee Farley at 7:03 a.m. Monday, about a mile north of Lakeshore Drive in Lake Pontchartrain. Farley was reported in good condition and was transferred to CGSNO. Watchstanders received a report at 5:47 p.m. on Aug. 5 of an unmanned 34-foot sailing vessel, the Good Humor, with a dog and cell phones aboard in view of Lakefront Airport. CG crews and partner agencies searched throughout the night. Anyone with information is requested to contact Sector New Orleans at (504) 365-2200. (Source: Coast Guard 08/06/18) UPDATE: A woman's body was found in Lake Pontchartrain Aug. 7 following a mysterious Sunday boating accident, according to New Orleans Police Department. The body has not been identified. About 5:20 p.m., a boater observed a body in the water and notified those aboard a Department of Wildlife and Fisheries vessel, police said. (Source: NOLA.com 08/07/18) UPDATE 2: The Orleans Parish Coroner identified the woman's body recovered from Lake Pontchartrain Aug. 7 as Sadie Thibodeaux, 32. Her cause of death remains under investigation, the coroner's office said. (Source: NOLA.com 08/09/18)

Petters: ‘Exciting time' for shipbuilders

Congress and the Defense Department are in the middle of a two-year spending spree, and Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) leadership is positioning itself to grab as many construct awards as possible before the funding window closes – likely FY 2020. The FY 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) gained Senate approval this week ahead of HII’s quarterly earnings call July 2 by President/CEO Mike Petters. HII reported revenues of $2B. The increase was due to work at the company’s Newport News (Va.) Shipbuilding facility that builds carriers and parts of the Virginia-class submarines, he said. “This is the most exciting time I’ve seen in shipbuilding in 30 years,” Petters told USNI News. HII has “an offer in to the Navy” to build two aircraft carriers, 10 submarines, and is in a competition for a share of 10 destroyers. The Navy is evaluating bids for a new guided-missile frigate, with a contract award anticipated in 2020, Petters said. HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Miss., submitted a bid for the FFG-X work. Also, Congress and DoD are considering a multi-year plan for buying more San Antonio-class amphibious warships (LPDs). (Source: USNI News 08/02/18)

HII: $165.5M for first Flight II LPD

PASCAGOULA, Miss. - Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) announced Aug. 3 that its Ingalls Shipbuilding division in Pascagoula, Miss., has received a $165.5M cost-plus-fixed-fee advance procurement contract from the Navy to provide long-lead-time material and advance construction activities for amphibious transport dock ship LPD 30 - the first Flight II LPD. “This is a significant milestone as we embark toward a new flight of LPDs,” said Ingalls Shipbuilding President Brian Cuccias. Flight II LPDs will meet the requirements and needs of the Navy-Marine Corps team. Ingalls has a vendor base of some 400 companies in 30 states that will be involved in the LPD Flight II program. Ingalls already has delivered 11 of these San Antonio-class (LPD 17) ships to the Navy. Two more ships are under construction. (Source: HII 08/03/18)

Harvey Gulf’s new board

Harvey Gulf International Marine’s parent, HGIM Corp., announced the appointment of a new board of directors following the firm’s emergence from Chapter 11 proceedings. The seven-member board includes two current members and five new ones, each with expertise in areas suited to support the company’s operation and development. (Source: Work Boat 08/01/18) Harvey Gulf International Marine is HQ'd in New Orleans, and with an operations office at Port Fourchon, La.

La. ‘dead zone’ smaller … however

The annual summertime low-oxygen "dead zone" along Louisiana's Gulf Coast is dramatically smaller this year – 2,720 square miles - LSU researchers announced July 31, making it the fourth smallest dead zone since 1985. But, it’s 50 percent larger than the target size set in 2008 by a federal task force concerned about the effects of hypoxia on Gulf of Mexico fisheries. The 2018 dead zone is smaller than the 5,770 square mile average from 2014-18, and only a third the size of last year's largest ever dead zone (8,776 square miles). Source: NOLA.com 07/31/18)

HII $27.4M more for DDG 62

Huntington Ingalls Industries' Ingalls Shipbuilding of Pascagoula, Miss., is awarded a $27,469,298 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-17-C-4444) for the execution of USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) emergent repair and restoration. This effort shall provide for additional collision repairs as well as maintenance and modernization of USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62). Work will be performed in Pascagoula, and is expected to be completed by January 2020. FY 2018 Navy operations and maintenance, and FY-17 other Navy procurement funding in the amount of $20,621,275 will be obligated at time of award; and $19,981,782 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year (Sept. 30). Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 08/02/18)

CG ends search; bodies recovered

NEW ORLEANS – The Coast Guard is searching for two males around Central Public Beach near Dauphin Island, Ala., in the afternoon of July 2. Coast Guard Sector Mobile received a notification at 2:47 p.m. of a 17-year-old male and 40-year-old male last seen entering the water from the beach. Anyone with information can contact Sector Mobile at 251-441-6211. (Source: Coast Guard 08/02/18) UPDATE: The CG ended its search for the duo Friday. One body was recovered at 6:07 p.m. Thursday and the second at 8:28 a.m. Friday.

LCS-18 finishes acceptance trials

The ninth Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), the future USS Charleston (LCS-18), finished acceptance trials in mid-July, according to a Navy announcement Aug. 1. The Independence-variant ships (with even-numbered hulls) are built by Austal USA in Mobile Ala. The acceptance trials finished July 19 in the Gulf of Mexico after a set of demonstrations both in-port and underway for the Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV). The trials are generally the last milestone before a ship is delivered to the Navy. The Navy conducted tests to demonstrate the ship’s propulsion plant, ship-handling abilities, and auxiliary systems. While underway, LCS-18 demonstrated its bow thruster, twin boom extensible crane operations with an 11-meter rigid-hull inflatable boat, surface and air self-defense exercises; and it demonstrated ship handling and maneuverability with high-speed steering and anchor operations. “Another solid acceptance trial by the Navy and industry team in Mobile,” said LCS Program Manager Capt. Mike Taylor. After delivery, the ship is to undergo a post-delivery availability that covers crew training, certification, and familiarization exercises in the Port City. Afterward, LCS 18 will sail to its homeport of San Diego alongside other Independence ships. The previous LCS variant, the future USS Tulsa (LCS-16), was delivered in April and will be commissioned in San Francisco in February 2019. Austal USA is also building the future Cincinnati (LCS-20), Kansas City (LCS-22), Oakland (LCS-24), and Mobile (LCS-26). Austal also won contracts to build the future USS Savannah (LCS-28) and Canberra (LCS-30) in 2017. (Source: Defense Daily 08/01/18)

$45M flood control construction

Affolter Contracting Co of La Marque, Texas (W912EE-18-D-0003); B&K Construction Co. of Mandeville, La. (W912EE-18-D-0004); Circle LLC of Belle Chasse, La. (W912EE-18-D-0005); and Phylway Construction of Thibodaux, La. (W912EE-18-D-0006), will compete for each order of a $45,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for flood control construction along the Mississippi River and its tributaries. Bids were solicited via the Internet with 10 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 1, 2021. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers of Vicksburg, Miss., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 08/01/18)