La. firm's workboat pact: $8.7M

Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors of Houma, La., was awarded an $8,731,775 firm-fixed-price contract for planning, scheduling, engineering, construction, testing and delivery of an inland z-drive workboat. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work will be performed in Olmsted, Ill., with an estimated completion date of March 9, 2022. Fiscal 2019 civil works and civil construction funds in the amount of $8,731,775 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers of Louisville, Ky., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 10/31/19)

Mobile gets 1.3% of new LCS pact

General Dynamics Mission Systems of Pittsfield, Mass., was awarded a $90,686,673 cost-plus-incentive-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price contract for sustainment of the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Integrated Combat Management System and associated combat system elements. The work includes development, integration, test and delivery of future combat system baseline upgrades for in-service ships; supporting ship integration, installation and checkout; developmental test/operational test; developing training and logistics products; providing field technical support for the combat system; providing hardware engineering and equipment procurement; providing life-cycle supportability engineering; and providing fleet support for fielded baselines. Work will be performed in Pittsfield (79.4%); San Diego (19.3%); and Mobile, Ala. (1.3%), and is expected to be completed by October 2024. This contract includes options, which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $393,837,142. Work is expected to be complete by October 2024. Fiscal 2018 other procurement (Navy) funding in the amount of $1,013,124 will be obligated at the 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. The Naval Sea Systems Command of Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 10/31/19)

Navy eyes 'mini-carrier' for F-35Bs

The U.S. eyeing the past for a possible solution to its current aircraft carrier woes. Borrowing an idea employed in WWII, the sea-service is looking at retrofitting smaller ships used to transport Marines. Instead of troops, the proposed “mini-carriers” would support a squadron of F-35B vertical and/or short take-off and landing (V/STOL) fighter jets. “I have a demand for carriers right now that I can’t fulfill,” Navy Secretary Richard Spencer said Oct. 30. Aircraft carriers are the centerpiece of the Navy’s forward-deployed military, but are very expensive. USS Gerald Ford costs about $12B, and still has some fixes to be made. In WWII, the Navy augmented the fleet with escort carriers, sometimes known as “Baby Flattops.” They were smaller, carried fewer aircraft, but cheaper and quicker to build. The Marines have been studying modern applications. They are looking to see if an “amphib” assault ship (LHA) could be adapted. The initial idea would remove troops from a Marine Expeditionary Unit and replace them with additional F-35Bs. Current LHAs are designed to carry nine F-35Bs, but may be adapted to have more than 20, Spencer said. “They’ve already marked it out [on an LHA]. They did it as a cerebral exercise,” he said. (Source: Washington Time 10/30/19) (Source: Washington Time 10/30/19) Gulf Coast Note: Huntington Ingalls Industries at Pascagoula, Miss., began building LHAs again in 2008 with the first-in-class USS America (LHA 6). The America class has no well deck but its focus was on aviation. USS America (LHA 6) was delivered in April 2014. The second ship in the America class, Tripoli (LHA 7), is currently under construction and successfully completed acceptance trials on Oct. 30. In June 2016, Ingalls was selected to build LHA 8. https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/oct/30/navy-weighs-adding-extra-fighter-amphibious-ships-/

Navy CR planning looks 'dismal'

The Navy is planning for the possibility of a one-year continuing resolution (CR) while the U.S. Senate remains stalled in its appropriations process. Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer, speaking to reporters at a Heritage Foundation breakfast Oct. 30, said the sea-service has planned for the current stopgap CR in effect through Nov. 21, and is evaluating what a potential full-year CR may look like. "All of them are dismal," he said. CRs restrict the Defense Department's budget to the previous fiscal year levels and precludes the services from spending money on new programs. In September, DoD said the current CR would interrupt several programs, including the Navy's Advanced Helicopter Training System that was tentatively scheduled to be awarded in the first quarter of FY 2020. Navy also intended to purchase its first future frigate FFG(X), in FY-20, with a design and construction contract expected in July, according to the its FY-20 budget books. Last month, the Senate failed to pass a minibus spending package due to disagreements over the Trump administration's push to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. (Source: Inside Defense 10/30/19) https://insidedefense.com/daily-news/navy-planning-one-year-cr

Austal PSA for LCS 18: $21.5M

Austal USA of Mobile, Ala., is awarded a $21,529,121 cost-plus-fixed-fee task order N69316-20-F-4000 against a previously awarded basic ordering agreement (N00024-19-G-2318) to accomplish advance planning, material procurement and work in support of the post shakedown availability (PSA) of the Littoral Combat Ship USS Charleston (LCS 18). This effort encompasses all of the manpower, support services, material, non-standard equipment and associated technical data and documentation required to prepare for and accomplish LCS 18's PSA. The work to be performed will include correction of government responsible trial card deficiencies, new work identified between custody transfer and the time of PSA, and incorporation of approved engineering changes that were not incorporated during the construction period which are not otherwise the building yard's responsibility under the ship construction contract. Work will be performed in Seattle, Wash., and is expected to be completed by September 2020. FY 2020 Navy operation and maintenance; FY-14 Navy shipbuilding and conversion; and FY-19 other Navy procurement funding in the amount of $14,700,000 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. Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion, and Repair Gulf Coast of Pascagoula, Miss., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 10/30/19)

Aalund new IPC president

Niels Aalund was elected president of the International Propeller Club (IPC) at the 93rd International Convention and Conference in New Orleans on Oct. 17. Aalund will serve a two-year term, commencing Oct. 17. Aalund, a maritime subject matter expert and executive, currently serves as an Officer and as Senior VP of the West Gulf Maritime Association (WGMA). WGMA communicates and coordinates with various governmental entities throughout the West Gulf, providing a forum for discussions and exchange of information between member companies. (Source: Maritime Logistics 10/28/19) https://www.maritimeprofessional.com/news/aalund-named-international-propeller-club-352186

LHA 7 completes acceptance trials

PASCAGOULA, Miss. - Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) announced Oct. 30 the successful completion of acceptance trials of the amphibious assault ship Tripoli (LHA 7), the second ship in the America class. LHA 7 spent three days in the Gulf of Mexico with the Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) performing vital test procedures, including a full power run of the main propulsion system. HII-Pascagoula is currently the sole builder of large-deck amphibious warships for the Navy. The shipyard delivered its first amphibious assault ship, the Iwo Jima-class USS Tripoli (LPH 10), in 1966. Since then, HII has built five Tarawa-class ships, eight Wasp-class ships and the first in a new class of ships, USS America (LHA 6). The third ship in the America class, Bougainville (LHA 8), is currently under construction, and will be the 16th large-deck amphibious ship built at Ingalls. HII is America’s largest military shipbuilding company. (Source: HII 10/30/29) https://newsroom.huntingtoningalls.com/releases/photo-releasehuntington-ingalls-industries-successfully-completes-acceptance-trials-for-amphibious-assault-ship-tripoli-lha-7

53rd WEG operations south of Destin

EGLIN AFB, Fla. - NW Florida residents may experience additional aircraft noise when the 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group conducts boat operations in the Gulf of Mexico and flight operations over Eglin’s east and west land ranges between Nov. 4-7. Ground-based smoke simulators will be activated on Eglin’s eastern range as well as in the Gulf of Mexico some 20 nautical miles south of Destin Pass. Smoke generators may produce large amounts of smoke visible to the public. Each day, fighter aircraft will release munitions between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. south of Destin in the Gulf of Mexico, and over the western land range. The drops will be conducted within a cleared safety area, which includes boat surveillance in the GoM. Notices to mariners will be issued prior to missions. (Source: Eglin AFB 10/28/19)

NCBC scores well on FEP

GULFPORT, Miss. – Months of preparation paid off for Naval Construction Battalion Center (NCBC) Gulfport, Miss., having earned an overall installation score of 89 percent for the Final Evaluation Problem (FEP) it participated in Oct. 15-17. FEP is a Commander Naval Installations Command (CNIC) assessment designed to inspect the command, control, communications and Navy security departments and emergency operations response on all Navy installations. Installations are slated to undergo an FEP assessment once every three years. The FEP is the final phase in a three-step evaluation process, which includes the command assessment of readiness and training (CART), regional assessment (RAS) and the final evaluation problem. FEP is essentially a rigorous three-day assessment that includes evaluating administration and record-keeping, the emergency operation center, and the capabilities of the security and fire departments onboard an installation. The assessment can involve situations such as recovering from natural disasters like tornados or flooding, to handling improvised explosive devices or active-shooter training scenarios. Inspectors from U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Commander, Navy Installations Command, and Navy Region Southeast all came to Gulfport to evaluate the base on its security and emergency operations readiness. (Source: NCBC Gulfport 10/24/19)

CG working two spills in south LA

NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard was responding Oct. 28 to a crude oil discharge in Pass A Loutre Wildlife Management Area, La. Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received a report at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday (Oct. 27) of crude oil leaking from a storage tank owned by Whitney Oil and Gas. The maximum potential for the spill is estimated to be 2,520 gallons, but the discharge was contained before all the contents of the tank entered the water. The remaining crude oil has been drained from the tank, securing the source of discharge. The CG and Whitney are working to determine the actual amount of oil discharged. Currently, there is three hundred feet of containment boom, one oil skimmer, and two oil spill response boats on scene. OMI Environmental Solutions has been contracted to clean up the spill. There have been no reports of impacts to wildlife at this time. Additionally on Monday, the CG was responding to an oil sheen in Breton Sound, La. The CG received a report from the National Response Center at 11:20 a.m. Sunday of a 10 mile by 3 mile oil sheen northeast of Breton Island. The source of the spill was determined to be a damaged and inactive wellhead, owned by Texas Petroleum Investment Company. TPIC has assumed control of the spill. OMI Environmental Solutions, American Pollution Control Corp., and Clean Gulf Associates are the Oil Spill Response Organizations to clean up the spill. (Coast Guard 10/28/19)

SECNAV: HII misled Navy; GA praised

NORFOLK, Va. - Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer minced no words Oct. 27 when asked about the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford’s ongoing engineering issues with its Advanced Weapons Elevator, after visiting the ship while undergoing sea trials off the Virginia coast. The Navy was kept in the dark by Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) leadership about the severity of those engineering issues, SECNAV told reporters. The Ford left HII’s Newport News Shipyard on Friday headed to open water three months later than originally expected. That’s because its expected 12-month post shakedown maintenance period slipped three additional months, mainly due to the weapons elevators, but included other technological-related snafus. The repeated delays and cost overruns to date, drew the ire of House Armed Services Committee’s readiness subcommittee member Rep. Elaine Luria (D-Va.) who called the carrier a “$13-billion nuclear-powered berthing barge.” Spencer said he understands Congress’ role of oversight, but felt the representative’s comments went too far. SECNAV praised the work of civilians and sailors working together “to knock down these problems.” Spencer’s ire is with HII’s “senior management, the board of directors” and the shipyard for not communicating the problem up front. HII originally promised the ship’ post-shakedown availability by July 15, Spencer said, and telling the Navy they were “fairly confident they’re going to get all the elevators done.” But that changed in March, according to SECNAV, when “all of a sudden” the shipyard informed Navy that the elevators wouldn’t be completed until sometime in 2021 or 2022. “That was a bit of a gut blow,” he said. Sometime after that the “Navy came in and did what we should have done earlier” and “took control of the situation completely” and “got the issues knocked down.” HII didn’t comment directly on SECNAV’s statements, bit called the carrier a “first-in-class ship” that has had “many unique challenges.” according to Beci Brenton, spokeswoman for HII. “Some of the newer technologies have been more challenging than anticipated,” she said. Spencer said he believes the ship and program have turned a corner in recent months, and that the worst is history. “The major technologies that we put on board this ship are working,” Spencer said. He cited the ship’s Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and its companion, the Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) are “signed off and fully functional.” (Source: Reuters 10/27/19) Gulf Coast Note: General Atomics’ (GA) Electromagnetic Systems division at Tupelo, Miss., produces EMALS and AAG programs. SECNAV was asked when Ford may be deployable. He wouldn't commit to an exact timetable, but said it was "going to be way before 2024, I guarantee that." https://defaeroreport.com/2019/10/27/secnav-huntington-ingalls-leadership-misled-navy-on-ford-elevator-issues/

Study-video: Desolate GoM sea floor

Above the plugged Macondo wellhead at the site of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, oily substances cover a yellow cement cap, covering the 11 stars memorializing those workers killed in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM)blowout. Normally-found marine life - sea cucumbers and whip corals - is vacant. Crabs seem to have black shells and show sluggish behavior, according to a recently released 2017 video by Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON) researchers assessing recovery efforts. The video was taken seven years after 4M barrels of oil gushed from the wellhead into the Gulf. Mark Benfield, a professor of oceanography and coastal sciences at LSU, led monitoring of visible marine life for a year after the disaster. He found the lack of vitality seen in the video "disturbing." Benefield to NOLA.com: "Given the amount of time that's passed, I figured that the site would look normal or well into recovery. … I was surprised." Researchers published a study in August about the health of the site. The video-study was only possible because researchers were near the site of an unrelated project. No one is funding research into the impact of the Deepwater Horizon spill on the sea floor, according to Craig McClain, director of LUMCON. Getting money for deep sea research can be difficult because it's "out of sight, out of mind," he said. But damage to the sea floor ecosystem can permeate through the food chain, to commercial fisheries, and disrupt the process of the seas pulling carbon from the air and storing it in deep waters. (Soure: NOLA.com 102719) https://www.nola.com/news/environment/article_f0b00ae6-f672-11e9-b106-6f10ec51579a.html

CG rescues trio & dog

NEW ORLEANS – The Coast Guard rescued three people and a dog from a fishing vessel, Tiger Lilly, taking on water about 25 nautical miles south of Morgan City, La., Oct. 26. The Coast Guard received a VHF distress call around 4:30 a.m. and launched an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans to the rescue. The aircrew arrived at 6:23 a.m. and hoisted the people and dog, and then transported them to the airport in Patterson, La., where emergency medical services were waiting. One person was reported to be treated for mild hypothermia, but all were reported in stable condition. (Source: Coast Guard 10/26/19)

Giant salvinia reappears in MS bay

RANKIN COUNTY, Miss. - The highly invasive Giant salvinia plant that reservoir officials hoped had been eradicated reappeared in Pelahatchie Bay, some 15 miles NE of Jackson, officials announced Oct. 25. The Giant salvinia was first found in the bay in 2018 and the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District has been fighting with it ever since. There were no live salvinia plants found since May, PRVWSD officials said. The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, and Mississippi State University use various techniques, including flamethrowers, to kill the plant. “Raising the lake back to normal levels this week did exactly what it was designed to do, help us determine if any salvinia remained in the bay by exposing it,” PRVWSD General Manager John Sigman said. “Unfortunately, we did not get the answer we were hoping for. On the first day of the assessment, salvinia was found in one area and we began steps to handle it.” The infested area was sprayed. Nearly 3,000 feet of additional boom were added to increase containment. The PRVWSD board held an emergency meeting Oct. 25 and made a decision to close some areas of the bay to boating. (Source: WAPT 10/26/19) Giant salvinia (Salvinia molesta), a floating fern from southern Brazil, is currently one of the more problematic aquatic plants. It damages aquatic ecosystems by outgrowing and replacing native plants that provide food and habitat for native animals and waterfowl. Additionally, it blocks out sunlight and decreases oxygen concentrations to the detriment of fish and other aquatic animals. https://www.wapt.com/article/dreaded-giant-salvinia-reappears-at-reservoir/29590020

Ala. firm gains OBO pacts

The U.S. Department of State has awarded design-build contracts for new U.S. embassies and consulates that will provide secure, sustainable, and resilient platforms for U.S. diplomacy around the world. B.L. Harbert International of Birmingham, Ala., has been awarded design-build contracts for the U.S. Embassy in Windhoek, Namibia; U.S. Consulate General in Casablanca, Morocco; U.S. Consulate General in Chiang Mai, Thailand; and the U.S. Consulate General in Merida, Mexico. Since the start of the state’s Capital Security Construction Program in 1999, the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) has completed 162 new diplomatic facilities and has an additional 51 projects in design or under construction. (Source: U.S. State Department 10/25/19) B.L. Halter has had its hands in on multiple Gulf Coast projects: The 21,200-square-foot Troop Medical Clinic at Eglin AFB, Fla., that serves the Army’s 7th Special Forces Group. The design-build of a 55,420-square-foot Group Support Battalion (GSB) and a 81,650-square-foot Group Support Troop Battalion (GSTB) for the 7th SFG Complex at Eglin AFB; a Dual Bay Hangar expansion for Airbus-Mobile, Ala., designed to support completing work on A320 and A220 commercial aircraft. The Lafayette, La., VA outpatient health clinic; and Gulf LNG at Pascagoula, Miss., to name but a few.

MSU grad named top ECCC alumnus

Mississippi State University petroleum engineering graduate Randy J. Cleveland of Fort Worth, Texas, was recently honored as Alumnus of the Year by East Central Community College, also his alma mater. Cleveland retired this year as VP Americas for ExxonMobil Production Co., after a 35-year career in the oil and gas industry. A 1983 MSU graduate, he was saluted by the land-grant institution’s James Worth Bagley College of Engineering as alumnus of the year in March. Cleveland and his wife Nina have established the Randy and Nina Cleveland Endowed Professorship and have an endowed scholarship in their names among other support. They were instrumental in the re-establishment of MSU’s petroleum engineering program several years ago. At MSU, Cleveland has served as a board member for both the MSU Foundation and the Dean of Engineering Advisory Council in the Bagley College. (Source: MSU 10/25/19)

TD17 forms in western GoM

Tropical Depression (TD) 17 formed Friday morning (Oct. 25) in the western sector of the Gulf of Mexico and is expected to bring heavy rains to SE Louisiana. Some severe storms may be possible, according to the National Weather Service and National Hurricane Center. If the TD strengthens into a Tropical Storm, it will be called Olga. As of 9 a.m. (CT), it was 320 miles SW of Lake Charles and moving northward at 16 mph with winds of 35 mph. The center of the storm is anticipated to make landfall in Louisiana Friday night or early Saturday. The system is expected to merge with a cold front Friday before making landfall. At that point, it will become a post-tropical low pressure system with gale-force winds, the NHC announced. The Air Force Reserve unit at Keesler AFB, Miss., the Hurricane Hunters, are scheduled to take a closer look at the system when they fly into its center later Friday, forecasters said. The system will enhance rainfall for parts of the South this weekend. Flash flood watches are in effect for most of Mississippi and parts of Alabama, Louisiana, Arkansas and Tennessee. The hurricane center said that the system and associated front will bring gale-force winds (behind the front) to the north-central Gulf Coast both today and Saturday. (Source: NOLA.com & AL.com 10/25/19)

5 civilians complete CELP at Stennis

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. - Five Naval Oceanography civilian employees addressed a local audience at their graduation Oct. 21 after spending two years in the Commander, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command’s (CNMOC) Executive Leadership Program (CELP). CNMOC established CELP in 2012 with the purpose of building a foundation for personnel leadership development and preparing participants for potential placement in key leadership positions. This class is the fifth to graduate from the program, with 26 personnel completing it to date, about one percent of Naval Oceanography’s workforce. On the day of graduation, the class presented their capstone project focused on how Naval Oceanography can increase and improve their leadership seminars. Graduation does not complete their participation in the program, as one of their requirements is to continue to serve as mentors to the incoming CELP cohorts. The 2019 class included six Naval Oceanography civilians, and an additional member from Naval Information Forces, while the 2020 class has six civilians and the program’s first participation from two Navy officers. Naval Oceanography defines and applies the physical environment, from the bottom of the ocean to the stars, to ensure that the Navy has the freedom of action to deter aggression, maintain freedom of the seas and win wars. (Source: CNMOC 10/24/19) https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=111262&utm_source=phplist3968&utm_medium=email&utm_content=text&utm_campaign=Headlines

AG Hood to sue CoE in fed court

Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood, who is a candidate for governor, announced that the state plans to sue the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in federal court over the economic and environmental effects from the openings of the Bonnet Carré Spillway that caused damages to the Mississippi Sound. Hood has notified the Corps that the state will be filing a suit in 60 days. He said coastal cities and counties might join the state as plaintiffs. The Corps opened the spillway for a record 143 days this year to relieve Mississippi River flooding, sending trillions of gallons of river water into Lake Pontchartrain and the Sound beyond. It’s crystal clear liability,” he said. “Mississippi doesn’t need to be a dumping ground. It’s just about put our seafood industry out of business.” The Bonnet Carré Spillway poured nearly six trillion gallons of fresh water into the Mississippi Sound. Now thousands of oysters and other wildlife are dying. Mississippi oyster farmers are seeing mortality rates up to more than 90 percent. The CoE has broad legal immunity over the spillway, but Hood said he does not believe it will apply in this case. (Source: Sun Herald 10/24/19) https://www.sunherald.com/news/politics-government/article236602353.html?#storylink=cpy

NOLA invited to apply for WIFA loans

DALLAS – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Oct. 22 that the Sewerage and Water Board (SWRB) of New Orleans is among 38 projects, across 18 states, that have been invited to apply for Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loans. Together, 38 projects will be applying for some $6B in loans to help finance $12B-plus in water infrastructure investments and potentially create about 200,000 jobs. SWRB is invited to apply for $112M to fund the Sewer System Evaluation and Rehabilitation program. This program aims to minimize sanitary system overflows, reducing polluted discharges into Lake Pontchartrain and improving public health. Repair to the sewer system will also help New Orleans to comply with an existing consent decree regarding sanitary sewer overflow violations. EPA’s WIFIA loans allow communities across the country to implement projects to address national water priorities. (Source: EPA 10/22/19) https://www.epa.gov/wifia/wifia-selected-projects

Q-LNG 400 launched from VTHM

PASCAGOULA, Miss. - A few weeks after being named, the Q-LNG 4000 was launched from the docks of VT Halter Marine. The Q-LNG 4000 is America’s first offshore Liquefied Natural Gas Articulated Tug and Barge (LNG ATB) unit. The Q-LNG 4000 barge is designed to carry 4,000 cubic meters of LNG. Its tug, the Q-Ocean Services, is scheduled to launch in late October. “We are equally pleased that the ATB unit is Jones Act compliant, meaning she was constructed in America, owned by an American company, crewed by Americans under an American flag,” said Shane J Guidry, CEO of Q-LNG Transport. “We are equally pleased that the ATB unit is Jones Act compliant, meaning she was constructed in America, owned by an American company, crewed by Americans under an American flag.” LNG ATB Unit is anticipated for delivery in the first quarter of 2020. (Source: VT Halter Marine 10/16/19) https://vthm.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/VT-Halter-Marine-launches-first-US-flagged-offshore-LNG-bunkering-barge-for-QLNG.pdf

NOLA firm's $12M repairs pact

Pontchartrain Partners of New Orleans was awarded a $12,221,180 firm-fixed-price contract for emergency erosion repairs. Bids were solicited via the internet with two received. Work will be performed in Texas City, Texas, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 14, 2020. FY 2018 flood control and coastal emergencies, civil works funds in the amount of $12,221,180 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston, Texas, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 10/21/19)

Missing boater search in NWF*

NEW ORLEANS – The Coast Guard and Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission are searching for a person in the water near Alligator Point, Fla., early on Oct. 21. Coast Guard Sector Mobile, Ala., received a report about 6 p.m. Sunday, from F&WCC that they discovered a partially submerged 49-foot vessel about four nautical miles south of Alligator Point, which is 45 miles south of Tallahassee, Fla. Crews from CG Station Panama City located two of three people early Monday after searching overnight. One of the vessel’s crew was found unresponsive, and the other was taken to a local hospital by EMS. CG assets included an MH-65 from New Orleans; as MH-60 helicopter from Clearwater, Fla.; two response boat crews from CGS Panama City; and Florida F&W. Anyone with information are asked to call CG Sector Mobile’s command center at (251) 441-5976. (Source: Coast Guard 10/21/19) (*NWF = Northwest Florida)

Browfields grant applications

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is accepting applications for its FY 2020 Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Grant program. The deadline to submit an application is Dec. 3 at 10:59 PM (CT). These grants may be used to address properties contaminated by hazardous substances and/or petroleum. The proposals must be submitted through www.grants.gov, using the applicant tab.  

For more information on the guidelines, please visit:

Assessment Guidelines

Revolving Loan Fund Guidelines

Cleanup Guidelines

A brownfield is a property for which the expansion, redevelopment or reuse may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant. There are estimated to be more than 450,000 brownfields in the U.S. Under the EPA Brownfields Program, more than 30,150 properties have been assessed, and more than 86,100 acres of idle land have been made ready for productive use. In addition, communities have been able to use Brownfields grants to leverage 150,120 jobs and more than $28 billion of public and private funding. (Source: EPA 10/18/19)

CG, Samaritan aid boaters

NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard and a good Samaritan vessel helped establish communications, dewater, and escort the Pleiades fishing vessel that was taking on water, with three people aboard, about 35 nautical miles south of Timbalier Island, La., in the Gulf of Mexico on Oct. 17. The CG received an Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon activation alert at 8:49 a.m. that correlated with broken radio communications received at CG Sector New Orleans. The CG was unable to communicate with the Pleiades due to distance and heavy weather. The CG issued an urgent marine information broadcast asking nearby boaters to help; and launched a HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft to assist with locating and establishing communications. The good Samaritan offshore supply vessel Brad Dartez responded and assisted with radio communications. Crews from Air Station New Orleans, Aviation Training Center Mobile, Ala., and CG Station Grand Isle, La., assisted by providing an engineer, rescue swimmer and three dewatering pumps. A 45-foot Response Boat crew from CGS Grand Isle, as well as the good Samaritan vessel, escorted the Pleiades back to Port Fourchon, La. (Source: Coast Guard 10/17/19)

CG adjusting GC port conditions

NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard is adjusting port conditions in the Gulf Coast (GC) region due to a forecasted tropical storm. Port conditions change based on weather forecasts, and current port conditions can be viewed on the following Coast Guard homeport webpages:

• Sector Mobile, Alabama: https://homeport.uscg.mil/port-directory/mobile
• Sector New Orleans: https://homeport.uscg.mil/port-directory/new-orleans

The Coast Guard is reminding the public of these important safety messages: Stay off the water. Hurricanes and tropical storms can be deadly and our ability to conduct rescues can be diminished or non-existent at the height of a storm. Be prepared, stay informed and heed storm warnings.

5% ship coms work for MS

BAE Systems Technology Solutions and Services of Rockville, Md., is awarded a $7,930,867 modification (P00050) to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00421-15-C-0008). This modification exercises an option to provide engineering and technical services for integrated communications and information systems radio communications to Navy ships in support of the Ship and Air Integration Warfare Division of Naval Air Warfare Center's Webster Outlying Field. Work will be performed in Saint Inigoes, Md. (60%); California, Maryland (30%); Bath, Maine (5%); and Pascagoula, Miss. (5%), and is expected to be completed in October 2020. Fiscal 2020 Navy shipbuilding and conversion funds in the amount of $2,300,000 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 10/17/19)

Vicksburg maintenance pact

South Dade Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Inc of Plantersville, Ala., was awarded a $11,600,230 firm-fixed-price contract for mechanical maintenance services. Bids were solicited via the internet with five received. Work will be performed in Vicksburg, Miss., with an estimated completion date of April 30, 2025. FY 2020 operations and maintenance; and civil works funds in the amount of $11,600,230 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg, Miss., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 10/17/19)

DOE approves Plaquemines LNG

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued an order Oct. 16 approving Venture Global Plaquemines LNG to export domestically produced liquefied natural gas (LNG) from its Plaquemines (La.) LNG project located on the Mississippi River in Plaquemines Parish, some 20 miles from the Port of New Orleans. Under the order, Plaquemines LNG will have authority to export up to 3.4B cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of natural gas and LNG from the proposed project. Plaquemines LNG is authorized to export this LNG by oceangoing vessel to any country with which the U.S. does not have a free trade agreement (FTA), and with which trade is not prohibited by law or policy. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission authorized Plaquemines LNG site on Sept. 30. DOE has also approved 38.06 Bcf/d of exports in the form of LNG and compressed natural gas to non-FTA countries. Among one of eight LNG export projects is under construction by Venture Global’s Calcasieu Pass (La.) project, which recently reached a final investment decision after having received its final regulatory approvals from the FERC and DOE this year. The U.S. is the top natural gas producer in the world. (Source: Work Boat 10/17/19) https://www.workboat.com/news/offshore/doe-approves-lng-exports-from-louisiana-project/

CNO addresses seapower symposium

VENICE, Italy - Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Mike Gilday gave the keynote address at the 12th Regional Seapower Symposium (RSS) in Italy on Oct. 17. The symposium's theme this year is “Shaping our Navies for the Blue Century,” with an aim to identify the possible future of modern navies, considering both conflicts and threats of the maritime domain. “I’m committed to advancing our relationship and our shared values of democracy, free and fair trade, the rule of law,” Gilday said during his remarks. “Combined with a robust constellation of allies and partners who desire to build and strengthen the international economic order, we are operating towards the same end - continued security and stability that results in a Free and Open maritime commons.” Gilday provided the keynote address where he spoke to maritime representatives from around the globe and stressed the importance of security and stability, which enables prosperity. (Source: CNO 10/17/19) https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=111199

Storm system to skirt Gulf Coast

MIAMI - The National Hurricane Center says thunderstorms and showers off the coast of Mexico are likely to develop into a storm that will threaten the U.S. Gulf Coast this weekend. There is an 80 percent chance the low-pressure system, near the Bay of Campeche off the Mexican coast, will develop into a tropical/subtropical storm by Thursday night. It is expected to move northeast from the Mexican coast toward Florida’s Big Bend area. The system will approach the Gulf Coast on Friday or Saturday with gusty winds and rough seas. Heavy rain is possible through the weekend. (Source: The AP 10/17/19)

Update: GC ends search for pilot

NEW ORLEANS - The U.S. Coast Guard and Mexican Navy (Secretaria de Marina) are searching the Gulf of Mexico Oct. 17 for the pilot of a small overdue aircraft that likely crashed in the Gulf on Thursday. The missing pilot is Steven Schumacher of Missouri. He was the lone passenger of the Piper Aztec twin engine plane (tail # N778PA). Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received a report from Schumacher’s family around 10:30 p.m. on Oct. 16 that Schumacher did not reach his Wednesday 8:30 p.m. destination at Gonzales, La. Schumacher’s last known position was 380 nautical miles south of Louisiana and 300 nautical miles east of Corpus Christi, Texas. An online flight tracker’s last contact with the plane indicated it was about 50 feet above the water. A CG Aviation Training Center Mobile (Ala.) HC-144 Ocean Sentry air crew is involved with the search. (Source: Coast Guard 10/17/19) UPDATE: The Coast Guard suspended its search Oct. 20 for a small private aircraft and pilot in the Gulf of Mexico. CG crews searched more than 62,565 square-nautical miles for some 21 hours, but were unable to find the aircraft or pilot. (CG 10/20/19)

OPC program to be restructured

The Coast Guard announced Oct. 14 its 25-ship Offshore Patrol Cutter program will be restructured. With a total value of $10.5B, the OPC is a high procurement priority. The contract to build these mid-size cutters was awarded to Eastern Shipbuilding Group of Panama City, Fla., in 2016. After restructuring, the CG will now only offer ESG options to build four of the $421M ships. The remaining 21 will likely be put out for re-bidding. ESG had previously out-bid larger and more experienced defense contractors. Industry observers began wondering if ESG bit off more than it could chew. After the ward, ESG’s shipyards were leveled by Hurricane Michael in October 2018. On June 30, ESG requested “extraordinary cost and schedule relief” from the Department of Homeland Security. Acting DHS Secretary Kevin McAleenan granted the relief last Friday. Department of Homeland Security crafted an agreement where almost everybody actually won. Eastern Shipbuilding Group survives as an operational concern, and the Offshore Patrol Cutter Program advances. (Source: Forbes 10/14/19) https://www.forbes.com/sites/craighooper/2019/10/14/us-coast-guard-reorganizes-troubled-105-billion-25-cutter-program/#b73e54c2eda8