Pascagoula AWS mod pact 9%

Lockheed Martin’s Rotary and Mission Systems of Moorestown, N.J., is awarded a $20,583,568 fixed-price-incentive (firm target) and cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to previously-awarded contract (N00024-14-C-5104) to exercise options for ship integration and test of the Aegis Weapon System (AWS) for AWS baselines through Advanced Capability Build (ACB) 12. The contract provides for Aegis shipboard integration engineering; Aegis test team support; Aegis modernization team engineering support; ballistic missile defense test team support and AWS element assessments. The contract will cover the AWS ship integration and test efforts for five new-construction DDG 51-class ships, the major modernization of five DDG 51-class ships, and the major modernization of six CG 47-class ships, as well as the integrated combat system modifications and upgrades for all current ships with all AWS baselines up to and including ACB 12. Work will be performed in Bath, Me. (41%); Moorestown, N.J. (17%); Pascagoula, Miss., (9%); Norfolk, Va., (8%); Camden, N.J. (8%); San Diego (6%); Corona, Calif. (5%); Deveselu, Romania (3%); Mayport, Fla. (2%); and various places below one percent, and is expected to be completed by November 2019. FY 2013 Navy shipbuilding and conversion; FY-17, and FY-19 other Navy procurement; and FY-19 Navy operations and maintenance funding in the amount of $17,260,714 will be obligated at time of award; $2,036,071 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Sea Systems Command of Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 11/30/18)

Weeks Marine dredging: $17M+

Weeks Marine of Covington, La., was awarded a $17,418,500 firm-fixed-price contract for dredging. Two bids were solicited with two bids received. Work will be performed on Carolina and Kure beaches in North Carolina, with an estimated completion date of May 15, 2019. FY 2019 Army operations and maintenance Army funds in the amount of $17,418,500 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers of Wilmington, N.C., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 11/30/18)

Navy validates FFG(X) requirements

The Chief of Naval Operations and the Navy's acquisition chief recently validated requirements for the future frigate program (FFG(X)), according to officials. Validation is a big deal because the Navy has been selling its engagement with industry over 2018, and throughout the process. The frigate process is a new one for the Navy, having brought industry in early on discussions on how these requirements “may play out, using their expertise to, really, discover the art of possible before we set the requirements," Vice Adm. William Merz, the top requirements officer, told the Senate Armed Services’ Seapower Subcommittee on Nov. 27. The Navy remains on track to publish a draft Request For Proposals to industry in the spring, and a final RFP at the end of the fiscal year, Sept 30. The Navy is holding an open competition to design and construct the next frigate. But it’s previously awarded multiple contracts to five major shipbuilders - including Huntington Ingalls Industries of Pascagoula, Miss. and Austal USA of Mobile, Ala. - to mature their designs. The Navy anticipates and to award a construction contract in FY 2020, and to purchase 20 ships. Prior to the FY-19 defense policy and spending bills being enacted, Navy acquisition exec Hondo Geurts said in May that he didn’t believe Congress adding two additional Littoral Combat Ships than the Navy requested would change the number of frigates the service wants to buy. He affirmed on Nov. 27 that is still the case. (Source: Inside Defense 11/28/18)

ASNE looking for exec director

The American Society of Naval Engineers (ASNE), headquartered in Virginia, is looking for an Executive Director. ASNE is a non-profit organization, and professional engineering society for engineers, scientists, and allied professionals who conceive, design, develop, test, construct, outfit, operate and maintain complex naval and maritime ships, submarines and aircraft and their associated systems and subsystems. (Source: (Source: Maritime Jobs 11/29/18)

Industry input: Navy changes course

The Navy is moving away from its future vision of a program that would produce one ship hull for five mission sets, following feedback from the shipbuilding industry, and is now weighing use of two or more designs. Industry provided feedback on the Navy’s Common Hull Auxiliary Multi-Mission Platform (CHAMP) concept, which would produce a new reconfigurable-hull construction for use in strategic sealift, aviation intermediate maintenance support, medical services, command and control, and submarine tending. Industry input indicated that the use of two or more new, modified, or conversion designs may provide a more affordable and ultimately more operationally effective solution to CHAMP, according to Navy spokesperson Colleen O'Rourke. The Navy plans to issue Request for Proposals by the end of December, and may award multiple contracts for industry studies. A concept design option could be awarded in FY 2019 and a preliminary design option could be ready in FY-20, she confirmed. Two shipbuilders – Austal USA of Mobile, Ala., and General Dynamics’ NASSCO in San Diego – confirmed they sent white papers to the Navy advocating studies on how existing hulls could be modified to be suitable for one or more CHAMP missions. The duo suggested the Navy has the foundations for four of CHAMP's five mission sets - strategic sealift mission may require a clean-sheet design, says a NASSCO executive. The Navy's most recent cargo ship design, the Watson class, is more than two decades old. Huntington Ingalls Industries declined comment, citing potential competition. Congress has authorized and appropriated $36M - double the request - for CHAMP to accommodate accelerating its procurement time line. Tom Wetherald, director of business development at General Dynamics NASSCO, said the company's Expeditionary Sea Base (ESB) could be an entry point for industry studies on a hull to execute the aviation maintenance or submarine tending missions. Austal exec Larry Ryder suggested a modified version of the Mobile-based Expeditionary Fast Transport (EFT) could satisfy CHAMP's medical and command and control missions. Both NASSCO's ESB and Austal's EPF are still in production. (Source: Inside Defense 11/29/18)

AV tech may lead to uncharted waters

Still-developing technology and markets for autonomous vessels (AV) may take this young sector into uncharted waters, according to a pair of leading-edge providers told attendees Nov. 28 at the International Work Boat Show in New Orleans. Mating solar energy panels and electric drives to autonomous patrol boats raises the prospect of small picket vessels, which are designed to provide advanced warning for larger ships; and are equipped with powerful sensors, said Chris Allard, CEO of Alabama-Louisiana based Metal Shark shipyards. Metal Shark introduced its first Defender-class patrol vessel equipped with ASV Global technology. Autonomous functions will complement navigation bridge crews that extend their eyes and ears with sensors, said Michael Johnson, founder/CEO of Sea Machines of Boston. Sea Machines is working with Maersk on trialing autonomous technology in that role on a crewed containership in the Baltic. Allard and Johnson both say the technology can apply as a smart autopilot, alerting human operators to changing vessel conditions and external factors. (Source: Work Boat 11/28/18)

Cat Marine at NOLA workboat show

Caterpillar Marine will showcase its latest U.S. EPA Tier 4 Final and IMO Tier III Marine solutions optimized with Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology at the 2018 International Workboat Show in New Orleans this week. (Source: Maritime Propulsion 11/27/18)

Assessing Ala. coast's dolphins’ health

In September, health assessments were performed for the first time on common bottlenose dolphins off the coast of Dauphin Island, Ala., and Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL) researchers were part it. The assessments are part of ongoing efforts by marine scientists to understand the impact of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill on the dolphin population in the northern Gulf of Mexico. A major focus was placed on the dolphin in Louisiana’s Barataria Bay because of the spill. Since then, the Consortium for Advanced Research on Marine Mammal Health Assessment (CARMMHA), led by the National Marine Mammal Foundation (NMMF), has expanded that focus of dolphin health assessment research to the Alabama coast. Dr. Ruth H. Carmichael, a senior marine scientist, is part of the CARMMHA project to understand the impact of the spill on dolphin diets and how they may have changed. As part of the Alabama assessments, DISL researchers helped collect a variety of samples from dolphins. They were also satellite-tagged to study movements over time. Project data will be “important to protect dolphin health, conserve habitat, and support dolphin recovery in years to come,” concluded Carmichael. (DISL 10/2018)

Gulf Island Shipyards on a roll

Gulf Island Shipyards, with facilities in Houma, Jennings and Lake Charles, La., has been on roll. The company’s upcoming projects have benefitted from a diverse collection of impressive new-build contracts. At Houma, there’s a transformation project that involves the former casino boat Kanesville Queen, that includes adding a 60-foot mid-body and paddlewheel to become Memphis-based American Queen Steamboat’s 362-foot, 245-passenger American Countess. In May, Gulf Island was awarded a $63.5M Navy contract for design and construction of a steel hulled towing, salvage and rescue ship (T-ATS). The new boat will also be built in Houma. In 2017, the National Science Foundation awarded Oregon State University a grant of $121.88M for construction of the first of three regional class research vessels. In the summer, the grant was supplemented with an additional $88M that allowed Gulf Island to proceed with the contract for the second vessel for the University of Rhode Island. A third is anticipated to be awarded in 2019. Other projects include an order for 10 Robert Allan-designed 98-foot Z-Tech tugs, a ferry for North Carolina, two towboats for an unnamed owner and a Great Lakes tug. (Source: Work Boat 11/27/18)

Brown’s wingman ship commissioning

The Navy’s newest guided-missile destroyer, the future USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116), is scheduled to be introduced to the active fleet Dec. 1 during a commissioning ceremony in South Boston. The ship arrived at Flynn Cruiseport Boston via Castle Island on Nov. 26 in preparation for the ceremony. The ship, which was built in Bath, Maine, is the namesake of the late Capt. Thomas J. Hudner Jr. A Fall River, Mass., native. Hudner was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1951 about four months after he intentionally crash-landed his plane into a snowy mountain in an attempt to save his wounded wingman, Ensign Jesse Brown of Hattiesburg, Miss., during the Korean War. Brown was the first African-American naval pilot and the first to be killed in combat. Before Hudner died in November 2017, at age 93, he wrote a letter to then-Navy Secretary Ray Mabus asking him to consider naming a new destroyer after Brown. The future USS Thomas Hudner will be the 66th Arleigh Burke-class destroyer to be commissioned into the Navy. The destroyer’s commanding officer, Cmdr. Nathan Scherry, and the ship’s 310 officers and enlisted personnel will accept the duties of running and maintaining the destroyer as the commissioning pennant is raised for the first time around 9 a.m. (CT) Saturday, officials said. (Source: Boston Globe 11/26/18) A previous ship (FFT 1089) had been named for the Mississippi native. It was decommissioned at NAS Pensacola, Fla., and afterwards was commissioned into the Egyptian Navy. Prior to decommissioning, the ship was homeported at the former Naval Station Mobile, Ala. The commissioning ceremony on Saturday will be live-streamed at https://www.navy.mil/ah_online/live/ah-live.asp

$10M pact for sub support vessel

Offshore Service Vessels of Cut Off, La., was awarded a $10,493,750 firm-fixed-price contract with reimbursable elements for the West Coast Naval Special Warfare submarine support vessel MV Alyssa Chouest. The vessel will be utilized to launch and recover submersibles, divers and small craft. This contract includes a 12-month base period, three 12-month option periods, and one 11-month option period. If all options are exercised this would bring the cumulative value of the contract to $54,238,356. Work will be performed in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and at sea, and is expected to be completed July 9, 2020. If all options are exercised, work will continue through June 8, 2024. FY 2019 Navy working capital funds in the amount of $2,415,000 will be obligated at the time of award, and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured with 50 plus proposals solicited via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with six offers received. The Navy’s Military Sealift Command of Norfolk, Va., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 11/21/18)

Shark to showcase ’40 PB’ in public

JEANERETTE, La. – Louisiana-Alabama shipbuilder Metal Shark will be showcasing an array of products and technology at this year’s International Workboat Show at the Morial Convention Center in New Orleans from Nov. 28-30 at the 2018 International Workboat Show. Metal Shark has selected this year’s Workboat Show to give the public its first look at the U.S. Navy’s newest Defiant patrol boat, the “40 PB.” The next-generation Defiant X patrol boat platform represents the latest evolution of Metal Shark’s mono-hull pilothouse series of vessels equipped with “Sharktech” autonomous technology developed in concert with developer L3 ASV, according to Josh Stickles, Metal Shark’s VP of marketing. Metal Shark’s display will be located in Hall E, Booth 3381 of the Morial Center in New Orleans. For more information visit www.workboatshow.com. (Source: Metal Shark 11/26/18) L3 Technologies acquired ASV Global in September 2018. The acquisition enhances L3’s spectrum of unmanned maritime capabilities, including integrated anti-submarine warfare (ASW) solutions, future surface combatant unmanned off-board sensors, and integrated unmanned surface and undersea vessel (USV/UUV) operations. The new company will be known as L3 ASV. Based in Broussard, La., and the United Kingdom, L3 ASV delivers surface vessels in a range of sizes, currently from 10 to 42 feet, with proprietary software and control systems and proven unmanned system autonomy architectures.

Mobile extends cruise line contract

MOBILE, Ala. - Alabama's only cruise ship will continue docking at the Port of Mobile, Ala., according to Mayor Sandy Stimpson. The city extended its contract with Carnival Cruise Line to keep offering trips aboard Carnival Fantasy from Alabama’s Port City. Stimpson announced the new deal in tweets Nov. 26. It means the 855-foot-long ship will continue cruising from Mobile through November 2019. The ship cruises primarily to the western Caribbean from Mobile. (Source: The AP 11/26/18)

Alabama firm delivers 4th contract tug

Master Marine of Bayou La Batre, Ala., announced delivery of the 67-foot towboat Rick Pemberton to Waterfront Services of Cairo, Ill. - the fourth of a four-boat contract. The boat was designed by Entech Designs of Kenner, La. The towboat is powered by a pair of Laborde Products’ Mitsubishi 803 hp Tier 3 diesel marine engines, and electrical power. Laborde has a facility in Covington, La.. Schuyler Maritime of Broussard, La., provided 11-inch x 18-inch rubber fendering along with the push knees, fleet deck with MMI-installed weld caps between all fenders. R.S. Price & Son Inc. of Fairhope, Ala., provided Mitsubishi mini-split heat pump HVAC system on all interior spaces, and Blakeney Marine of Theodore, Ala., provided all custom woodwork and interior finishes. (Work Boat 11/25/18)

CG rescues 3 & dog in south Miss.

NEW ORLEANS – The Coast Guard rescued three people and a dog after a boat capsized near Bayou Herron, Miss., in the early morning of Nov. 23 in south Jackson County. CG Sector Mobile (Ala.) received a report at 11:32 p.m. Thursday of a capsized vessel with three people in the water with a dog. CG Air Station New Orleans launched a MH-65 Dolphin helicopter/crew that located the survivors and hoisted all board, including the dog. Survivors were transported to Mobile Airport in reportedly good health. (Source: Coast Guard 11/23)

Metal Shark partners for ‘cays’ support

JEANERETTE, La. - Alabama and Louisiana-based shipbuilder Metal Shark has partnered with the Bahamas National Trust (BNT) to support the preservation of the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park. Created in 1959 as the world’s first protected area and home to the second-largest coral barrier reef in the western hemisphere, the park spans 176 square miles in the Bahamas region – a chain of more than 365 islands also known as “cays.” BNT is a non-profit entrusted with the preservation and management of the Bahamas national park system. Through its partnership with the BNT, Metal Shark will support the park’s full-time staff and volunteers by providing boats, technical assistance, and funding in support of research, conducting wildlife inventories, and patroling the park’s waters to guard against poaching and damage to the ecosystem. BNT is working with Metal Shark to optimize the designs of several popular Metal Shark vessels to allow for long-term service to the region with a minimal environmental footprint. Those vessels range from patrol boats for fisheries enforcement and customized landing craft for habitat restoration, mooring maintenance, and other projects. Beyond providing boats and technical resources, Metal Shark will use its social media to support the region with charitable donations from employees, friends and vendor partners. Metal Shark has launched a crowd-sourcing campaign to help support the park’s needs. (Source: Metal Shark 11/20/18)

LCS 16 arrives in San Diego from Ala.

SAN DIEGO - The Independence variant Littoral Combat Ship Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Tulsa (LCS 16) arrived at Naval Base San Diego on Nov. 21 after completing its maiden voyage from the Austal USA shipyard in Mobile, Ala. Prior to arriving at its new homeport in San Diego, Tulsa made multiple port calls and completed a successful transit through the Panama Canal. “Every day at sea … we trained together as a team, conducting a myriad of drills while getting to know our ship even better,” said Cmdr. Drew Borovies, the ship’s commanding officer. Tulsa is scheduled for commissioning on Feb. 16, 2019, in San Francisco. The Navy accepted delivery during a ceremony in Mobile on April 30. “The (mine countermeasures warfare package) is vital to ensuring continued access and maneuverability in the littoral battlespace,” said Capt. Matthew McGonigle, commander, COMLCSRON ONE. Tulsa will be the squadron’s second LCS slated for the newly forming MCM division. (Source: LCS Squadron One 11/22/18)

Cebrian assumes leaders role at NGI

STARKVILLE, Miss. - A senior marine scientist with research experience in coastal ecosystems and human impact on coastlines has been named associate director of Mississippi State University’s Northern Gulf Institute (NGI). Just Cebrian, a former senior marine scientist with the Dauphin Island (Ala.) Sea Lab, which is an NGI research partner, will serve as the lead scientist for a group of MSU employees supporting the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). He also will work as an MSU research professor. NCEI hosts and provides public access to one of the world’s most significant archives for environmental data. NGI operates under the umbrella of MSU’s Office of Research and Economic Development and is a NOAA Cooperative Institute, a partnership of six academic institutions, and NOAA, to address national strategic research and education goals. MSU leads this collaboration, partnering with the universities of Southern Mississippi and Alabama-Huntsville; Louisiana State and Florida State; Dauphin Island Sea Lab; and NOAA scientists at various labs and operational centers in the Gulf of Mexico region. (Source: Mississippi State 11/19/18)

Red tide spreads to Ala. Gulf coast

PENSACOLA, Fla. - The Alabama Department of Public Health is cautioning beachgoers that red tide has spread into Baldwin County’s coastal waterways. "(W)ater samples collected from Alabama Point to Little Lagoon Pass in Baldwin County indicate the presence of red tide cells in the low to medium range," according to a media release. In Northwest Florida, the amount of red tide in coastal waters has increased over the last week. New data found: Low concentrations in the Santa Rosa Sound near the Bob Sikes Bridge and at Pensacola Beach; and medium levels at Navarre Beach in Santa Rosa County. Humans can recover from red tide symptoms rather quickly, but the toxins that the organism produces can injure or kill marine life. FWCC reported multiple fish kills for Okaloosa, Walton, Bay and Franklin counties. Winds from the south and east may push red tide offshore in the coming days. Red tide in the Gulf is not unusual. Severe red tides have been occurring since the mid-1900s. (Source: WEAR 11/21/18)

CG: Vessel captain in waters off Ala.

NEW ORLEANS – The Coast Guard and local agencies in Alabama are searching for a person in the water near Dauphin Island on the morning of Nov. 20. Coast Guard Sector Mobile, Ala., received a report around 7:20 a.m. from the fishing vessel Captain Johnny that the captain of a vessel, Thi Ban Lee, had fallen overboard near the northwestern end of Dauphin Island, Ala. Lee was wearing black pants, red socks, and a camouflage jacket. Among others participating in the search are CG Air Station New Orleans MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and two CG Station Dauphin Island response boats, CG Cutter Gannet, Lower Alabama Search and Rescue, Daphne (Ala.) Search and Rescue, Alabama State Troopers helicopter, and the North Baldwin (Ala.) Sherriff’s Search and Rescue. (Source: Coast Guard 11/20/18)

NFWF awards $280M+ to Gulf states

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) announced Nov. 19 to award more than $280M from its Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund (GEBF) to 21 new projects in the states of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Texas. Developed in consultation with state and federal resource agencies, the projects are designed to remedy harm and reduce the risk of future harm to natural resources affected by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. This was the sixth round of awards from the GEBF. To date, NFWF has awarded nearly $1.3B or more than half of available funds. The GEBF projects complement previously announced or currently under consideration by the Natural Resource Damage Assessment and RESTORE Act programs. NFWF approved the award of more than $48.7M for eight new projects in Alabama; more than $53M for seven new projects in Florida; $161.4M to support restoration of the Terrebonne Basin barrier island system in Louisiana; nearly $140M for 18 projects in Mississippi; and more than $19.1M for five projects in Texas. (Source: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation 11/19/18)

Sources sought for COE deck barge

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Marine Design Center (MDC) will be releasing a sources- sought notice for the construction of the Mat Boat, a 188- x 74- x 100-foot deck barge for the Mat Sinking Unit at Vicksburg on the Mississippi River. The barge is to be built to American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) Rules for Service on Rivers and Intracoastal Waterways. The sources-sought notice is only for the construction of the barge, and not for the final product. The sources-sought notice will be released on the FedBizOpps.gov website. (Source: Marine Link 11/20/18)

$9M Halter contract for survey ship

VT Halter Marine of Pascagoula, Miss., was awarded a not-to-exceed $9,000,000 undefinitized contract action for functional design engineering, procurement of long-lead time material, and limited advanced production to support the Oceanographic Survey Ship (T-AGS 67). Work will be performed in Pascagoula (85%); Pittsburgh, Pa. (13%); and New Orleans (2%); and is expected to be completed by May 2019. FY 2018 Navy shipbuilding and conversion funding in the amount of $6,750,000 will be obligated at time of award, and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. 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 11/19/18 - awarded Nov. 16)

Austal USA delivers 10th EPF

MOBILE, Ala. - The Navy accepted delivery of its 10th Expeditionary Fast Transport USNS Burlington (EPF 10) from Austal USA’s shipyard Nov. 15 at Mobile, Ala. EPF’s are non-combatants designed to operate in shallow-draft ports and waters, increasing operational flexibility. USNS Burlington will be owned and operated by the Military Sealift Command, and will support a variety of missions including overseas contingency operations, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, special operations forces, and is capable of interfacing with roll-on/roll-off discharge facilities, as well as on/off-loading vehicles such as a combat-loaded Abrams tank. Each vessel includes a flight deck. Burlington was constructed by Austal USA which is currently in production on Puerto Rico (EPF 11) and Newport (EPF 12). Austal was awarded a contract in October 2018 to support construction of EPF 13, which is planned to commence fabrication in 2019. (Source: Team Ships Public Affairs 11/16/18)

Navy Lodge offers holiday discounts

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Navy Lodges are offering 20 percent off holiday room reservations at select facilities between Nov. 22 and Jan. 2, 2019. Participating Navy Lodges for the promotion include: Gulfport, Miss.; Memphis, Tenn.; Pensacola, Mayport, and Jacksonville in Florida; Annapolis, Bethesda and Patuxent River Maryland.; Fort Worth and Corpus Christi, Texas; Lemoore, El Centro, Port Hueneme, Moffett Field and Monterey, Calif.; Great Lakes, Ill.; Fallon, Nev.; Washington, D.C.; New London, Conn.; New York; Newport, R.I.; Everett and Whidbey Island, Wash.; Kings Bay, Ga.; and Norfolk and Little Creek-Fort Story, Va. As an added bonus, dogs and cats up to 70 pounds can stay at most Navy Lodges when traveling with owners. Guests need to contact the specific Navy Lodge regarding pet policies. Reservations need to be made online at navy-lodge.com or dodlodging.com to receive the discount. (Source: Navy Exchange 11/19/18)

Miss. plans for RESTORE funds

Mississippi is planning to spend $37.8M in this year’s federal installment of BP oil spill RESTORE Act monies. The plans focus primarily on economic, environmental, and transportation projects. RESTORE Act allocates 80 percent of the penalties from the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill across five Gulf Coast states. The biggest Mississippi project is $12M for mud and sand dredging of coastal waters to create new marshland across the three coastal counties. The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality said the money will add to three previous efforts to use dredge spoils, including one that has built about 220 acres of marsh. The project is slated to begin in 2019. Some of the other monies include $6M for artificial breakwater structures in Hancock County to prevent marshland erosion. The work has already cost $56M, and includes six miles of breakwater and 46 acres of oyster reefs; $5M to fund a worker skill program, including one in unmanned drone technology, at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College; $1.35M for the Mississippi Aquarium in Gulfport. $650,000 to set up a program in conjunction with the Nature Conservancy to collect discarded oyster shells and return them to Mississippi oyster reefs; and $400,000 to market Mississippi seafood. (Source: The Associated Press 11/15/18)

Environmental spill into Dulac marsh

NEW ORLEANS – The Coast Guard, state, and federal agencies are responding to a crude oil spill of an estimated 1,680 gallons into an unnamed marsh in the Lake Paige Oil and Gas Field near Dulac, La., which began Nov. 15. The spill is from a flow line owned by Texas Petroleum Investment Corporation (TPIC). A pollution response team from Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Houma, La., and contracted personnel from Environmental Safety and Health - an oil spill response organization hired for cleanup - responded to the spill with hard boom and sorbents. Additionally, the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, and Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries representative arrived on scene Nov. 16 to re-evaluate the discharge and plan cleanup operations. Officials determined that in-situ burning is the best option to remove the oil. A plan for in-situ burning is scheduled for 9 a.m. Monday, Nov. 19. The source of the spill has been secured. The incident is under investigation. (Coast Guard 11/18/18)

CG having busy weekend

NEW ORLEANS – The Coast Guard medically-evacuated a 64-year-old woman from the cruise ship Norwegian Breakaway at 9:15 a.m. on Nov. 17 in the Gulf of Mexico some 230 nautical miles off shore of Southwest Pass, La. Eighth Coast Guard District watch-standers launched a Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans MH-65 helicopter/crew to the scene. They hoisted the woman, who was suffering from abdominal pain, and transferred her to West Jefferson Medical Center in New Orleans in fair condition. Also over the weekend, the CG and a good Samaritan vessel assisted in the rescue of 15 people Nov. 18 from a liftboat near on Grand Isle, La. The CG received a report at around 3:16 a.m. from the134-foot liftboat Ram XVIII was taking on water about 23 nautical miles west of Southwest Pass, La. The CG launched a 45-foot Response boat/crew. The good Samaritan vessel, Starfleet Guardian, embarked six people from the liftboat. The CG Station Grand Isle boat/crew embarked the remaining nine and transferred them to Starfleet Guardian which took them to shore. The vessel had a 45-degree list and no power, causing it to be unable to self-correct. A steel tank filled with soap fell overboard causing a hazard to navigation. The liftboat had some 13,900 gallons of diesel onboard. There are currently no current reports of discharge. The CG issued an urgent safety marine information broadcast for the tank and liftboat. The CG Marine Safety Unit at Houma, La., had plans to attend to the liftboat later on Sunday. The cause is under investigation. (Source: Coast Guard 11/17-18/18)

NCBC dining hall contract: $16.89M

EMR Inc. of Niceville, Fla., was awarded $16,897,000 for firm-fixed-price task order (N6945019F1000) under a previously awarded multiple award construction contract (N69450-17-D-0507) for renovations to Colmer Dining Facility (Bldg. 367) at Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport, Miss. Renovations include expansion of cold storage areas, improvements to electrical and mechanical systems, updated parking and architectural components. In addition, a temporary kitchen facility composed of modular units will be placed in service at a separate location. The contractor shall provide all labor, supervision, engineering, materials, equipment, tools, parts, supplies and transportation to perform all work described in the request for proposal. Work will be performed in Gulfport, and is expected to be completed by November 2021. FY 2019 Navy operations and maintenance contract funds in the amount of $16,897,000 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One proposal was received for this task order. Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southeast of Jacksonville, Fla., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 11/16/18)

GC determines sailboat not in distress

NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard was responding Nov. 14 to a sailboat adrift in the Gulf of Mexico about 80 nautical miles south of Cape San Blas, Fla. Coast Guard Sector Mobile, Ala., received a call around 2 p.m. from crew aboard the NOAA ship Gordon Gunter that a 30-foot white sailboat named My Time appeared to be adrift. The Gordon Gunter crew reported My Time appeared to have electronics in operation, sails stowed, but had not responded to radio calls or the ship’s horn. Due to rough waters, the NOAA vessel was not able to deploy their small boat for further investigation. Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, Fla., launched a Sikorsky HH-60 helicopter and crew to investigate, but due to deteriorating weather turned back to base. CG Cutter Marlin crew and an Aviation Training Center Mobile HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft have plans to launch as weather permits. Anyone with information regarding this case is requested to call the Sector Mobile Command Center at (251) 441-6211. (Source: Coast Guard 11/14/18) UPDATE Nov. 18: The sailing vessel My Time was determined not be in distress after a CG Aviation Training Center Mobile, Ala., HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircrew identified a person at the helm actively sailing the vessel. No indications of a distress situation were observed.

LA oystering rebound; Others suffering

Louisiana’s oyster fishery is one of the bright spots in restoration of oyster habitats along the Gulf of Mexico since the 2010 BP oil spill, according to an assessment report released Nov. 14 by The Nature Conservancy. Along the Alabama and Mississippi coasts, oyster harvests have plummeted over the past decade, the report detailed. Louisiana’s oyster populations were decimated by oil disaster, but harvests have made positive strides toward recovery. The largest oil disaster in North America killed an estimated 8.3B oysters, mostly along Louisiana, according to a legal settlement reached with BP. The recent federal fisheries assessment indicates Louisiana’s oyster harvests are nearly as high as they were in 2009 - 15M pounds. Current prices are good: The average annual price per pound for Louisiana oysters is about $6, according to the assessment. Before the spill, a pound went for $3.40. In Alabama and Mississippi, a series of factors have taken a toll on oyster populations. About 13 years ago, Mississippi was harvesting nearly a half million sacks of oysters. Recent harvests were less than 10,000 sacks, according to the report. Alabama’s oyster fishery has been in decline since the 1950s, but recently has amplified reef restoration projects, oyster planting efforts, and improved monitoring. The conservancy is backing a host of oyster restoration projects across the Gulf region. (Source: NOLA.com 11/14/18)

Austal USA unaffected by HQ’s hacker

Australia's chief cyber security director said Nov. 12 that the investigation into the hacking of defense contractor Austal Ltd – parent company of Austal USA shipyard in Mobile, Ala. - could take years. He also rejected a local media report from the Australian Broadcasting Corp. that the Australian Cyber Security Centre had concluded the attack originated from Iran. Earlier this month, Austal Ltd said hackers had breached its defenses to gain access to ship designs and staff identification information. The attack triggered an investigation by ACSC unit. Austal makes defense vessels for several markets, including the United States. The company said its Austal USA shipyard-business was not affected by the breach. (Source: Marine Link 11/13/18)

Farmers exploring ways to GoM

Midwest soybean farmers, facing global marketplace challenges, are exploring containerized shipping on inland waterways as a more viable way to get products to export facilities near the Gulf of Mexico (GoM). Those farmers are showing interest in a new vessel design that would allow the transport of shipping containers throughout the inland waterways’ system. American Patriot Holdings of Miami has been testing two self-propelled container vessel design concepts for use on the Mississippi River. It’s been designed for the non-locking segments of the river, and its tributaries, and would transport up to 2,375 TEUs between Plaquemines (La.) Port Harbor and Terminal District - the complex on the Lower Mississippi River closest to the Gulf of Mexico - and Memphis and St. Louis. The liner would be able to travel at 13 mph upriver, compared to a traditional barge flotilla that would move at between four and five mph, a study concluded. At 13 mph, the round-trip from Plaquemines Parish to Memphis would be six days, and 10 days round trip to St. Louis. (Source: Work Boat 11/12/18)

Shark completes 2nd NOLA ferry

JEANERETTE, La. - The Metal Shark shipbuilding company announced Nov. 12 that both new 105-foot passenger high speed aluminum catamaran ferries, constructed for the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA), have been completed and ready to enter service. The first was completed and delivered to New Orleans in July. The second vessel is now complete at Metal Shark’s Franklin, La., shipyard where it passed Coast Guard inspections in October. The new RTA 1 and RTA 2 ferries will replace the decades-old ferries currently operating, and will provide new standards in comfort, safety, and efficiency, according to the company. The USCG Subchapter “T” compliant ferries are powered by twin 715-horsepower Cat C-18 Tier 3 diesel engines. (Source: Metal Shark 11/12/18)

Ala., Miss. rivers-mussels research

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - More than 70 percent of freshwater mussels are imperiled by human development around rivers’ ecosystems, yet little is known about how biodiversity within species of mussels influences its function as filters. A nearly $1.8 million project from the National Science Foundation, led by the University of Alabama, hopes to identify the processes and mechanisms that underlie patterns of biodiversity in mussels. This will better arm managers of environmental resources to make informed decisions for conservation and restoration efforts to benefit the ecosystem. Dr. Carla Atkinson, a UA assistant professor of biological sciences, is leading the project. The research team will also include Dr. Jeff Lozier, a UA associate professor of biological sciences, and two researchers from the University of Mississippi: Drs. Colin Jackson, professor of biology, and Ryan Garrick, associate professor of biology. The project is one of 10 funded through the NSF’s Dimensions of Biodiversity program. Atkinson’s team will study mussels from seven rivers, five in Alabama, one each in Tennessee and Mississippi. They seek to understand how different species of mussels in the same watershed perform different functions, seeing how environmental factors such as placement, temperature and water flow influence their roles in the river. (Source: University of Alabama 10/25/18) Mussels play a key role in aquatic environments and are considered to be "ecosystem engineers" because they modify aquatic habitat. During its feeding process, mussels "clean" the water they live in by removing phytoplankton and the bacteria and fungi from non-living organic particles that are removed from the water.

Kirby agrees to buy CGBM fleet

HOUSTON - Kirby Corp. announced Nov. 12 the signing of an agreement to acquire most of CGBM 100 LLC's (CGBM) inland marine tank barge fleet for an undisclosed amount. Under the agreement, Kirby will acquire 27 of CGBM's 10,000 barrel inland marine tank barges which have a total capacity of approximately 270,000 barrels. The closing of the acquisition is expected to occur in the 2018 fourth quarter and is subject to customary closing conditions. CGBM is HQ’d out of Kenner, La. (Source: PR Newswire 11/12/18) Gulf Coast Note: Kirby Corp. of Houston conducts operations in two business segments: Marine Transportation and Distribution and Services. The marine segment operates as a major tank barge operator in the U.S., transporting bulk liquid products throughout the Mississippi River System, Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, all three U.S. coasts, and Hawaii. Kirby’s Inland Marine sector has river operations centers in Baton Rouge, La., and Greenville, Miss. Its Distribution and Services segment is HQ’d in Houma, La. CGBM 100 of Kenner, La., charters a fleet of tank barges that are capable of transporting 10,000 barrels of liquid bulk products throughout the Gulf Coast region.

CG medevacs man from Lake Borgne

NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard medically evacuated a 52-year-old male from a fishing vessel on Lake Borgne, La., on Nov. 11. Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received a report at 7 a.m. about the man, who was reportedly going in-and-out of consciousness. The CG diverted an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter/crew from CG Air Station New Orleans. The crew hoisted the man aboard around 9:40 a.m., and transported him in stable condition to University Hospital in New Orleans. (Source: Coast Guard 11/11/18) Lake Borgne is located immediately east of Chalmette, La.

La. yard to build 6 towboats

Master Marine Inc. of Houma, La., signed a contract to build six 67-foot Subchapter M-compliant towboats designed by Entech Designs of Kenner, La. The shipyard has laid the keels for the first two vessels that will be working for Osage Marine Services of St. Louis. The remaining four will be operating in the lower Mississippi River system for an undisclosed customer. (Source: Work Boat 11/09/18)

CG suspends search near Ft. Jackson

NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard began searching for a person in the water near Fort Jackson, La., in the early morning of Nov. 10. Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received a report at 5:41 a.m. of a vessel with three people aboard taking on water near mile marker 20 on the Mississippi River. The vessel sank. Two of the three people swam ashore. The missing person is a 27-year-old male who was last seen wearing a camouflage jacket. Entities involved in the search: MH-65 Dolphin helicopter/crew from CGAS New Orleans.; 45-Foot Response Boat/crew from CGS Venice, La.; Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Office; state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries; and the Coast Guard Cutter Sailfish. Additionally on Saturday, the CG is searching for a possible person in the water in relation to an unmanned kayak found on Lake Pontchartrain, about a half-mile north of the Southern Yacht Club. CGS New Orleans received a report of the camouflaged Ocean Kayak at 12:36 p.m. and launched CG personnel to search the area. for a possible missing person. (Source: Coast Guard 11/08/18) UPDATE: The Coast Guard suspended its search for a person in the water near Fort Jackson, La., on Nov. 11. Coast Guard crews from multiple units diligently searched 167 square-nautical miles for about 22 hours, but were unable to locate the individual, according to Cmdr. Michael Wolfe, a search and rescue mission coordinator at Coast Guard Sector New Orleans. (Coast Guard 11/11/18)

OP/ED: Silica standards for maritime

Workers who do sandblasting for repairing and refurbishing of ship components are the subject of a new Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standard that now includes the maritime industry. Employers and employees in the industry need to be aware of the new OSHA requirements that are designed to protect workers from the hazards of exposure to breathable silica dust. The new application of the "Respirable Crystalline Silica" standards requires all covered maritime employers to assess current exposures. Industry companies now covered by respirable crystalline silica standards should immediately conduct a review of written safety program(s). The programs and employee training should be updated, as necessary, to meet the silica standard requirements; determine whether any worker exposed to silica dust might be at or above a defined “action level” - 25 micrograms of silica per cubic meter of air on average over an 8-hour day. If silica dust is in the workplace, companies must take steps to protect workers from exposure - in excess of the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 50 micrograms of silica per cubic meter of air on average over an 8-hour day. As of June 23, a respirable crystalline silica standard has been adopted to cover all employers in the maritime and general industries. There are currently 28 OSHA-approved state plans. States are allowed to implement their own occupational safety and health programs pursuant to agreements with the U.S. Department of Labor. (Opinion/Editorial by Tom Davis, a partner in Poyner Spruill LLP’s litigation section in Charlotte, N.C.) (Source: Maritime Link 11/09/18)

T-EPF 11 christening in Alabama

The Navy will christen its newest Expeditionary Fast Transport, the future USNS Puerto Rico (T-EPF 11), during a 10 a.m. CST ceremony Nov. 10 at the Austal USA shipyard in Mobile, Ala. The principal speaker is U.S. Rep. Jenniffer González-Colón, resident commissioner of Puerto Rico. Supreme Court Associate Justice Sonia Soto-Mayor will serve as the ship’s sponsor, and will christen the ship by breaking a bottle of sparkling wine across the bow. EPF class ships are designed to transport 600 short-tons of military cargo for up to 1,200 nautical miles at an average speed of 35 knots. The ship is capable of operating in shallow-draft ports and waterways, interfacing with roll-on/roll-off discharge facilities, and on/off-loading of combat-loaded Abrams main battle tank (M1A2). It also has a flight deck for helicopter operations, and an off-load ramp to allow vehicles to quickly drive off the ship. The EPF program delivered its ninth ship late last year, USNS City of Bismarck (T-EPF 9). Delivery of USNS Burlington (EPF 10) is planned for mid-November. Puerto Rico (EPF 11) and Newport (EPF 12) are currently under construction at Austal's shipyard. (Source: Defense Department 11/08/18)

Keel laid on research vessel in La.

Construction began Nov. 8 in Houma, La., on Oregon State University’s (OSU) research ship, which is designed to advance coastal environment sciences, and support research of ocean acidification, hypoxia, and sea-level rising. Officials from shipbuilder Gulf Island Shipyards in Louisiana, OSU, and the National Science Foundation (NSF) gathered for a keel-laying ceremony that marks the start of fabrication. The vessel Taani will be the first in class of Regional Class Research Vessels funded by the NSF. Taani (pronounced “tahnee”) means “offshore” in the language of the Siletz people, a native American tribe based in the Great North West . The ship is tentatively scheduled for delivery to OSU in the spring of 2021, and be fully operational after a year of outfitting and testing. Former OSU President John Byrne, also a former National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) administrator, and his wife, Shirley, are the ship’s ceremonial sponsors, and had their initials inscribed into the ship’s keel. (Source: Marine Link 11/08/18)

LPD aids in spacecraft recovery tests

The San Antonio-class amphibious warship USS John P. Murtha (LPD-26) completed a series of recovery operation practice tests with NASA for the Orion spacecraft that is anticipated to get the space agency’s back into the business of launching astronauts. Its crew and NASA officials conducted several test recoveries during day and night hours off the West Coast, according to a U.S. 3rd Fleet. The first Orion unmanned mission, dubbed Exploration Mission-1, is expected to launch in late 2019. It will be an unmanned operation. The Navy plans to send San Antonio-class ships, such as Murtha, out to retrieve the spacecraft after splashdown following its 280,000-mile expedition. Orion is designed to reach deep-space destinations, including Mars, according to NASA. San Antonio “amphs” have well decks that designed to launch and recover amphibious craft and small rigid-hull inflatable boats (RHIB), which the Navy will use to get the Orion spacecraft back to the ships. (Source: USNI News 11/07/18) Gulf Coast Note: USS John P. Murtha is one of 11 LPDs delivered to the Navy. Since 2000, the LPDs have been built, and are under construction, at either Avondale, La., or Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Pascagoula, Miss., shipyard.

Dems’ win & questions on DoD policy

WASHINGTON – Democrats’ gains in the U.S. House in the Nov. 6 midterm elections will likely shake up defense policy in 2019 and raise the possibility of tumultuous fights over President Donald Trump and his agenda. With control of the lower chamber, Democrats will assume leadership of the House Armed Services and House Appropriations committees, presenting challenges to Trump’s defense spending plans. “Tomorrow will be a new day in America,” said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who takes the leadership role in January. For the GOP, the loss of the House was blunted by additional seats won in the Senate, ensuring that Democrats will still have limited ability to slow Trump nominations. In the House, Democrats have promised to put their priorities on domestic spending, and defense will have to take a backseat. But, will Congress be able to agree upon any defense budget at all, which may raise lengthy impasses on spending and potential government shutdowns. Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) will become the House Armed Services Committee’s chairman. He has vowed more scrutiny of military personnel and planning. He has criticized the FY-2019 defense budget ($716B) as being too high, and is a supporter of another base closure round, and a smaller military footprint around the globe. He’s also opposed to Trump’s proposed 355-ship Navy, and production of the B-2 bomber and F-22 fighter (production of Raptors ended almost a decade ago). Amid new changes, Congress will see old faces: Former GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney won an open Utah Senate seat; and Obama and Clinton-era State Department official Tom Malinosky won a congressional seat in New Jersey. (Source: Defense News 11/07/18) Gulf Coast Note: In Mississippi, incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker won re-election with 58% of the vote; in the state’s special election for its second U.S. senator, the results appear headed for a run-off between Democrat Mike Espy (40.7%) and fill-in senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (41.5%). A third party candidate with 16% will push the top two vote-getters into a run-off. In Florida, incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson lost to current GOP governor Rick Scott. Florida now has two GOP senators (Marco Rubio). In Alabama, incumbents were all re-elected in U.S. House races (6 GOP, 1 Dem). There were no U.S. Senate races (1 GOP, 1 Dem). In Louisiana’s U.S. House races, all incumbents won (5 GOP, 1 Dem). There were no U.S. Senate races (2 GOP).

Naval Warfare Center digging out

On Nov. 1, Naval Support Activity Panama City, Fla., best known for housing a division of the Naval Surface Warfare command, issued an “all clear” order that signaled that the base was returning to routine operations three weeks after Hurricane Michael. Yet, everyone knows it’s going to take a lot more time for key tenant commands to become fully operational. NSAPC is about 30 miles west of Mexico Beach, where the "Cat 4" hurricane made landfall Oct. 10. The Naval Surface Warfare Center “sustained moderate to severe damage to approximately 25 percent of its facilities,” said Naval Sea Systems Command spokesperson Colleen O’Rourke. About 1,400 workers have returned to work. The base is the Navy’s premier command for developing mine-countermeasure, special warfare, amphibious, and maneuvers systems for coastal and littoral regions. But it’s also the home to the Navy Diving and Salvage Training Center, and Navy Experimental Diving Unit, both of which also sustained damage. The Experimental Diving Unit avoided destruction and has returned to full operational capacity. The storm did not spare the dive and salvage training center, the largest diving facility in the world, which trains more than 1,200 personnel from all services, and Navy dive specialties. Carla McCarthy, deputy Public Affairs Officer for the Pensacola-based Naval Education and Training Command headquarters, estimated a full return to training won’t happen until at least January. In the interim, staff is "exploring and already implementing various training alternatives" and tweaking advanced courses that were in progress or slated to begin over the next two months. Some of those courses have been canceled and will be rescheduled; others will graduate early. “A small number of advanced students will remain to assist with clean up and will begin training in January.” (Source: Navy Times 11/06/18)

DISL marine environmental awards

The 7th annual Marine Environmental Awards luncheon, hosted by the Dauphin Island Sea Lab Foundation., will be held Nov. 6 at the Battlehouse Moonlight Ballroom in Mobile, Ala. This year's keynote speaker is the award-winning fisheries scientist, Dr. Steven Murawski of the University of South Florida. He specializes in population and ecosystem dynamics with more than 40 years of professional experience. Murawski has been actively involved in assessing the environmental impacts of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and its implications for fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico. Dr. Murawski has served as Principal Investigator for the Center for Integrated Modeling and Analysis of Gulf Ecosystems (C-IMAGE). The DISL Foundation will recognize Ben Raines of AL.com and Leave Only Footprints for their contributions to marine environmental sustainability in the Alabama Gulf Coast region. (Source: DISL 10/18)

Mississippi-Gulf Coast Defense Forum

Mississippi is establishing itself as a center for excellence in naval technology and defense innovation, while the Gulf Coast has been home to critical missions that drive new technologies and partnerships. Supporting these missions requires new thinking from community, industry, and military leaders to forge innovative partnerships and ideas for communities and bases across America. On Dec. 2-3 in Gulfport, Miss., there will be a Mississippi-Gulf Coast Defense Forum to bring key leaders from the Pentagon (including Assistant Secretary Phyllis Bayer of the Energy, Installations & Environment division of the U.S. Navy; Gulf Coast defense communities, and industry leaders to explore issues and partnerships that will define the future of all Gulf Coast defense communities. (Source: Defense Community 11/18)

Oil terminal may affect Mid-Barataria

Docking facilities for a proposed 20M barrel crude oil export storage terminal for post-Panamax ocean-going vessels and barges to be berthed there may reduce by as much as 17 percent of the land-building ability of Louisiana’s proposed $1.4B Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion just downstream on the Mississippi River, warns Bruce Lelong, project leader with AECOM, the state contractor overseeing engineering and design of the diversion for the state Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority in an Aug. 30 email sent to subcontractors. “I expect it will have significant and potentially adverse impacts to MBSD,” he wrote an an e-mail to subcontractors, and citing a 2012 study completed by the Water Institute of the Gulf for the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority about an earlier plan to build a coal export facility on the same property. The oil terminal is being proposed by the Plaquemines Port and Harbor District, Tallgrass Energy LP, and Drexel Hamilton, a Philadelphia-based investment firm, and would be operated by Tallgrass. The Plaquemines Parish Council has approved the issuance of up to $650 million in revenue bonds to underwrite Drexel Hamilton’s recently created Plaquemines Liquids Terminal LLC. (Source: NOLA.com 11/01/18)

ESG resumes operations post-Michael

Eastern Shipbuilding Group of Panama City, Fla., has resumed operations at both of its two main shipbuilding facilities weeks after Hurricane Michael, the most powerful storm to ever make landfall in the Florida Panhandle, on Oct. 10 and scattering its workforce. “Our employees are a resourceful and resilient group,” said ESG President Joey D’Isernia. More than 80 percent of ESG’s workforce has been able to return to work. ESG has worked with its federal, state, and commercial partners over the last two weeks to provide updates on the shipyard and projects under construction. Power was restored to ESG’s Nelson Facility on Oct. 21, and the Allanton Facility on Oct. 24. All of the ESG personnel currently working on the Coast Guard’s Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) contract have returned to work. The Offshore Patrol Cutter contract is the largest project in the Coast Guard’s 228 year history. (Source: Marine Link 11/02/18)

Proposed GC export terminals growing

Magellan Midstream Partners LP of Houston became the latest company on Nov. 1 to join a group of prospectors looking to build an oil export terminal on the Gulf Coast designed to load Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) supertankers. Oil exports are rapidly expanding, but volume is constrained due to the limited capability to load giant vessels that can carry some two million barrels of crude oil. Numerous companies and pipeline operators have already announced proposals to be looking into finances and ground-breaking projects. Magellan is considering a potential VLCC export terminal for Corpus Christi, Texas. Other Texas and Louisiana projects have been proposed, including Tallgrass Energy LP. (Source: Maritime Logistics 11/02/18) Gulf Coast Note: Tallgrass Energy had previously announced plans to develop the proposed Seahorse Pipeline from Cushing, Okla., to the St. James, La., refining complex, as well as a separate export-capable liquids terminal strategically located near the mouth of the Mississippi River. The proposed Plaquemines Liquids Terminal (PLT) is a joint development project with Drexel Hamilton Infrastructure Partners in concert with the Plaquemines Port & Harbor Terminal District. The terminal is expected to be fully operational in 2020 and permitted for up to 20M barrels of storage. PLT will have the ability to fully load and unload Post-Panamax vessels and barges on its multiple deep-water docks. Tallgrass anticipates building a separate offshore pipeline extension to give PLT added capability of loading VLCC in 2021.

Pensacola ferry operator walks

PENSACOLA, Fla. – The Gulf Islands National Seashore round-trip ferry service from downtown Pensacola to Pensacola Beach and Fort Pickens is looking for a new operator after the contracted service provider, Gulf Coast Maritime Service, announced he was walking away from that contract after 2018. The company claimed high operation costs and the low ridership cost them hundreds of thousands of dollars. The park service said it is committed to finding a new operator for 2019. (Source: WEAR 10/31/18)

US still committed to LCS for SE Asia

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - The American Navy is still committed to resuming rotational deployments of its Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) to Southeast Asia, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson told USNI News in Singapore, but would not specify when deployments would restart. The Navy is refocusing on ensuring that the follow-on deployments of LCS incorporate the lessons learned from earlier deployments, he told reporters. The U.S. and Singapore agreed in 2011 to rotational deployments of up to four LCS to Singapore. By 2018, it was envisioned up to four LCS would be operating there. However, issues with the LCS program have led to only three single-ship deployments being carried out to date. The Navy planned for two LCSs to be deployed in Singapore this year, but a readjustment of the LCS program led to shifting schedules. (Source: USNI News 11/01/18) Gulf Coast Note: Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship USS Coronado (LCS 4) completed a 14-month deployment to Southeast Asia having departed Singapore in November 2017. LCS 4 was the first Independence-variant LCS to deploy to the US 7th Fleet as part of an initiative to deploy multiple LCS to the region in just a few years. Indy class LCS are homeported at San Diego, and built at Austal USA shipyard in Mobile, Ala.

VT Halter scores multiple barge deal

VT Halter Marine of Pascagoula, Miss., was awarded a Navy contract Sept. 17 (but only recently publicly announced) for detailed design and construction for two firm,  and up to four optional, Auxiliary Personnel Lighter Small APL-67 Class berthing barges. Naval Sea System Command awarded both APL-67 and APL-68 hull numbers with anticipated deliveries for the second and third quarter of 2020. If all options of contract exercised, the four remaining vessels (APL 69-through-72), with associated supplies and services, the contract award would be in excess of $244M. The options could be exercised for delivery during FYs 2019 to 2022. APL(S) Barracks Craft (Berthing Barge) are used by the Navy to house crewmembers when ships are under repair or modification. (Source: Marine Link 11/01/18)