La. Oyster/W&FC meetings

The Louisiana Oyster Task Force's Public-Private Oyster Seed Grounds committee meeting will be at 10 a.m. on Dec. 3 at UNO’s CERM Building, Room 236 at 2045 Lakeshore Drive in New Orleans. The meeting will be held in compliance with Louisiana’s Open Meetings Law as defined by Louisiana R.S. 42:11, et seq. The public is invited to attend. To listen in to the meeting via webinar register at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3913142495189041933. Secondly, the Louisiana Oyster Task Force meeting at 1 p.m. on Dec. 3 at the same above location. The public is invited to attend. To listen in to the meeting via webinar register at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1094966649850254093. Thirdly, Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission meeting will be held at 1 p.m. on Dec. 5 at the Wildlife and Fisheries building at 200 Dulles Drive in Lafayette, La. A live audio/video stream of this meeting will be available via Gotowebinar.com. To attend a live broadcast of the meeting, register at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4755965436903913228.

Open Ocean's GoM group webinar

The Open Ocean Trustee Implementation Group will hold its annual public meeting via an interactive webinar Dec. 12 from 12-1:30 p.m. (CT). The webinar is open to the public. During the meeting, Trustees will present updates on the Open Ocean Restoration Area’s first and second restoration plans, restoration projects, and monitoring and adaptive management activities. There will be an opportunity for Q&As after the updates are presented. Registration at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/9088539328514658317 Gulf Coast Note: After the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, federal and state agencies came together to form the Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment Trustee Council that studied effects of the oil spill, and continues to restore the Gulf of Mexico. Following settlements, the Trustees continue to work together as a Council. Trustees hold regular meetings and publish summary notes of those calls. https://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/2019/11/join-open-ocean-trustees-december-12-annual-meeting-webinar?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

La. firm to compete in land survey

Seaside Engineering & Surveying of Baker, Fla. (W9126G-20-D-6003); and Lowe Engineers of Robert, La. (W9126G-20-D-6004) will compete for each order of the $240,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for professional land survey architect-engineer in support of the Southwestern Division Department of Homeland Security Border Infrastructure Program. Bids were solicited via the internet with 12 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Nov. 26, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers of Little Rock, Ark., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 11/27/19)

Ala. yard to build 1,600-hp tows

Marine Chartering Associates of Houston has signed a contract with Master Marine of Bayou La Batre, Ala., to build a Subchapter M compliant 67-foot 1,600-hp towboat. There is an option for a second boat. The towboat design is from Entech Designs of Kenner, La. (Work Boat 11/26/19) https://www.workboat.com/news/shipbuilding/master-marine-to-build-1600-hp-towboat-for-marine-chartering-associates/

Austal: $7.9M LCS 24 mod pact

Austal USA of Mobile, Ala., is awarded a $7,993,893 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-11-C-2301) for littoral combat ships (LCS) industrial post-delivery availability (IPDA) support for LCS 24 (the future USS Oakland). This contract modification is for IPDA efforts for LCS 24. Austal USA will provide shipboard support to implement approved engineering change proposals, approved government-responsible deficiencies identified during test and trials, and crew-related activities and preventative maintenance. Austal will also provide program management support and logistics support for technical documentation affected by the work performed. Work will be performed in Mobile (80%); and Pittsfield, Mass. (20%), and is expected to be completed by October 2020. FY 2015 Navy shipbuilding and conversion funding in the amount of $3,000,000 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Sea Systems Command of Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 11/26/19)

Forest gets third of mod pact

Raytheon of El Segundo, Calif., is awarded a $403,301,277 modification (P00062) to a previously awarded cost-plus-incentive-fee contract (N00019-16-C-0002). This modification increases the scope of the contract to procure an additional seven System Demonstration Test Articles (SDTA) shipsets, 60 SDTA pod subsystems, 27 pieces of peculiar support equipment, one fatigue test pod and one static test pod in support of the initial operational test and evaluation phase of the Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band Program. Work will be performed in Dallas (33%); Forest, Miss. (33%); El Segundo (22%); Andover, Mass. (7%); and Fort Wayne, Ind. (5%), and is expected to be completed in December 2022. No funds are being obligated at time of award. Naval Air Systems Command of Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 11/25/19)

NOLA hopper dredge repairs

Detyens Shipyards of North Charleston, S.C., was awarded an $11,991,749 firm-fixed-price contract for dry dock and repair of the dredge Wheeler, labor, materials and equipment. Bids were solicited via the internet with two received. Work will be performed in North Charleston with an estimated completion date of Jan. 26, 2020. FY 2020 operations and maintenance, civil works funds in the amount of $11,991,749 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers of New Orleans is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 11/25/19) Gulf Coast Note: The hopper dredge Wheeler is operated by the New Orleans District of the Army Corps of Engineers. It is the largest hopper dredge in the Corps. Wheeler keeps waterway channels clear from Key West, Fla., to Brownsville, Texas. Although the dredge is maintained in a state of readiness for worldwide operations, it spends the majority of its time operating in the Southwest Pass of the Mississippi River.

MVSOT focus: De-escalating threats

PANAMA CITY, Fla. - Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City (NSWCPC) is developing ways to protect naval assets and war-fighting sailors. Maritime Vessel Stopping Occlusion Technologies (MVSOT) is a promising non-lethal tool for the war-fighter to slow down or stop an on-coming target vessel. The MVSOT team is focusing on technologies that limit or remove the ability of a propulsion system to provide thrust to a boat, but in reverse. “These technologies are persistent, but reversible, allowing the war-fighter increased standoff time and distance to de-escalate a potentially threatening situation,” said Dr. Michelle Kincer, NSWCPC materials engineer. The MVSOT program is working with vendors to test commercially available drogue lines for a near-term solution. Drogue lines utilize lengths of rope with sea anchors to restrict forward momentum of a target boat using drag forces. Testing has shown these products to be reliable, although limited to certain types of vessels. The program is developing next generation occlusion materials for a more all-in-one solution. These materials include synthetic hagfish slime and spider silk proteins that advance swelling, adhesive, and strength properties not available in current products. A common method of occlusion is to utilize material to wrap around propeller blades, allowing it to rotate but disrupting the blades from pushing the boat forward, said Kincer. NSWCPC has been collaborating with the University of Michigan, Utah State University, and Chapman University to characterize occlusion properties and produce synthetic hagfish slime intermediate filament proteins, and recreate the natural slime-like behavior. Hagfish secrete a slime substance as a defense mechanism against predators, and it can swell up to 10,000 times its original volume when it comes into contact with sea water. (Source: NSCWPC 11/21/19) https://www.navsea.navy.mil/Media/News/Article/2023638/promising-new-tool-protects-ships-sailors/

MS delivers 30th passenger vessel

JEANERETTE, La. - Alabama-Louisiana based shipbuilder Metal Shark (MS) has delivered its 30th passenger vessel since June 2017. The company’s newest ferry delivery, a 97-foot, 350-passenger, USCG Subchapter “K,” welded-aluminum, high-speed, low-wake catamaran, was handed off to its (unnamed) operator last week. The new passenger vessel is the latest delivery from Metal Shark’s Franklin, La., shipyard. Five 150-passenger catamaran ferries are currently in various stages of construction at the yard. In the past three years, passenger vessels built by Metal Shark have been delivered to Washington D.C., Florida, New Orleans, and multiple operators in New York. “Without fanfare, Metal Shark passenger vessels have been entering revenue service with America’s leading operators at the rate of approximately one per month,” said Metal Shark’s VP of Commercial Sales, Carl Wegener. “With 24 catamarans between 85-and-105 feet, and six monohull vessels larger than 45 feet, have been delivered in the past three years, (while) Metal Shark has become America’s leading passenger vessel builder. To achieve the high-volume production of passenger vessels, MS has adapted and incorporated the “now-proven serialized production methods” they initially developed to build patrol boat for the U.S. military, explained CEO Chris Allard. (Source: Metal Shark 11/25/19) https://www.metalsharkboats.com/metal-shark-reaches-milestone-with-latest-passenger-vessel-delivery/

Looking at LCS, USV ops support

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Navy is conducting war games and prototyping efforts to better understand how unmanned surface vehicles (USV) will fit into the fleet and how the Littoral Combat Ship will expand its presence around the globe. Program Executive Officer (PEO) for Unmanned and Small Combatants, Rear Adm. Casey Moton, described efforts that look at how to maintain and sustain both types of vessels, as well as how USVs will operate and contribute to a fight alongside manned ships. The Navy already has at its disposal two Large USVs as part of the Pentagon’s Overlord program - that took vessels and converted them to autonomous controls. The first two Overlord vehicles contributed to Phase 1 testing, ensuring the vessels could navigate autonomously while following the rules of the road at sea. Navy expects to buy two more Overlords in FY 2020, which will contribute – along with the first two – to Phase 2 testing. Moton addressed the LCS program, which currently has three ships operating forward: USS Montgomery (LCS-8) and USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS-10), operating out of Singapore; and USS Detroit (LCS-7) operating in the U.S. 4th Fleet’s waters. Ahead of Detroit’s first-time deployment, the Navy did “quite a few tabletops looking at LCS corrective maintenance, preventative maintenance,” he continued. The PEO worked with 4th Fleet and Naval Sea Systems Command’s Ship Maintenance and Modernization arm, SEA21. To supplement these war-gaming efforts to better understand overseas maintenance and sustainment, Moton said lessons learned from the ongoing deployments are being collected and disseminated by the Top Technical Issues forum. In collaboration with the Commander of Naval Surface Forces and Naval Supply Systems Command, the tech group is getting “almost real-time feedback from Montgomery and Gabrielle Giffords on where they need changes to their forward-deployed spares’ status, do we have the right contracting methods in place to reach back to (original manufacturers), what are things we can do to make the ship operators and (regional maintenance centers) more self-sufficient in their ability to do corrective maintenance? We are rolling all of those in as fast as we can, the lessons learned, and making improvements.” (Source: USNI News 11/21/19) Gulf Coast Note: The Montgomery and Giffords were built by Austal USA shipyard in Mobile, Ala. https://news.usni.org/2019/11/21/unmanned-vehicle-operations-global-lcs-support-informed-by-ongoing-

CNMOC’s survey ties with Bahrain

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. - In November 2017, a four-member team of naval hydrographers executed a joint cooperative survey of Mina Salman, Bahrain, with the Bahraini Survey and Land Registration Bureau (SLRB). Commander, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command (CNMOC) Rear Adm. John Okon said, “The Kingdom of Bahrain is a key and valued ally and together we accomplish strategic objectives in the region. Naval Oceanography has had a cooperative Hydrographic Survey agreement with the Kingdom of Bahrain for nearly 20 years.” Naval Oceanography defines and applies the physical environment, from the bottom of the ocean to the stars, to ensure the Navy has the freedom of action to deter aggression, and maintain freedom of the seas. Personnel from the Naval Oceanographic Office and Fleet Survey Team (FST), based at Stennis Space Center, Miss., execute hydrographic surveys around the world each year in fleet operational areas to provide environmental data to the fleet and partner nations. (Source: CNMOC 11/22/19) https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=111490

Wanna buy a retired CG cutter?

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama entered an order to auction off the retired Coast Guard cutter Bramble. The cutter will be sold at auction at 12 noon (CT) on Dec. 4. The auction will take place near the front entrance of the U.S. District Courthouse at 155 St. Joseph St. in Mobile, Ala. Bramble was the subject of a civil matter filed in August by several lien claimants. All further information on the case and the auction is referenced in #19- cv-00434, SD Alabama. (Source: Work Boat 11/21/19) https://www.workboat.com/news/government/coast-guard-cutter-to-go-on-auction-block-dec-4/?utm_source=marketo&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter&utm_content=newsletter&mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiT0RJeU5XSTRNell4WlROayIsInQiOiJVc0Q4K2Z4c0VCdE1WYVNDV2VzejhGWVRnOTFSczJcL0NJVGZvRnUwcm1HTkpKNnJha1VHa29EeVhMRjZQN083WHRuS0dFbEpiUXZ4YnU2ZEJ6WnU2RlRkbFhtQ2huVGlCV04yWWF1Z3ArbkxjcW9tRFNQV0N6UHNKdmdGVEc0eGgifQ%3D%3D

ESG launches first of 3 NYC ferries

Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG) of Panama City, Fla., celebrated its comeback from Hurricane Michael’s devastation 13 months ago with a splash Nov. 15 when it launched the Michael H. Ollis, the first of three ferries for the Staten Island Ferry fleet that the shipyard is building for the New York City Department of Transportation. The three new Ollis-class 320-foot double-ended ferries, which can carry 4.500 passengers, features four Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) 12-710 EPA Tier 4 marine propulsion engines, with two engines powering a Reintjes DUP 3000 P combining gear, and one 36 RV6 ECS/285-2 Voith Schneider propeller at each end of the vessel. Total installed horsepower is 9,980. The ferries will each have a crew of 16. Ship’s service power is provided by three EPA Tier 3 marine continuous duty diesel generator sets, Caterpillar C18 driving 480-V, 60 Hz, 3-phase generators rated at 425 kW. The approximate fuel oil capacity is 30,000 gals. ESG secured the $257M contract to build the three ferries in 2017. There was no increase in price following the hurricane damage, according to a NYCDOT spokesperson. New York City has operated Staten Island Ferry since 1905. The Michael H. Ollis is slated to be towed from the Gulf of Mexico to New York Harbor in August 2020 after sea trials are completed. (Source: Work Boat 11/21/19) https://www.workboat.com/news/shipbuilding/eastern-shipbuilding-launches-new-vessel-for-staten-island-ferry/?utm_source=marketo&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter&utm_content=newsletter&mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiT0RJeU5XSTRNell4WlROayIsInQiOiJVc0Q4K2Z4c0VCdE1WYVNDV2VzejhGWVRnOTFSczJcL0NJVGZvRnUwcm1HTkpKNnJha1VHa29EeVhMRjZQN083WHRuS0dFbEpiUXZ4YnU2ZEJ6WnU2RlRkbFhtQ2huVGlCV04yWWF1Z3ArbkxjcW9tRFNQV0N6UHNKdmdGVEc0eGgifQ%3D%3D

Rescued whale dies at IMMS

A young male pygmy killer whale, rescued from the shore of Cat Island in south Mississippi, was sickened and died Nov. 19, according to Mobi Solangi, executive director of the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies (IMMS) in Biloxi. The mammal had been recovering since its rescue Sept. 12, but was not eating Nov. 17 and started throwing up when veterinarians were examining it. The 185-pound whale went into convulsions around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday and died. “That was the only marine mammal that showed up live this year,” Solangi said, after hundreds of dolphins have washed up dead. Solangi believes the environmental stresses from the Mississippi River flooding and the Bonnet Carre Spillway opening could have caused or contributed to the death. The whale will be sent to the Mississippi State veterinary school for a necropsy. (Source: Sun Herald 11/20/19)https://www.sunherald.com/news/local/counties/harrison-county/article237579559.html

Fire causes minor damage to Iwo

A fire broke out on the Navy amphibious assault ship Iwo Jima in the late evening of Nov. 14 pierside at Naval Station Mayport, Fla. Eleven sailors were treated and released with minor injuries. Sailors aboard the ship reported smoke in the cargo hold at 11:45 p.m. Members of the crew, along with sailors from the guided-missile destroyer The Sullivans, Naval Station Mayport and Jacksonville fire departments, put the fire out about five hours later. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. (Source: Military.com 11/15/19) Gulf Coast Note: Fabrication work for Iwo Jima began at Ingalls shipyard in the fall of 1996. Iwo was christened by her sponsor, Mrs. Zandra Krulak, wife of General Charles C. Krulak, former Commandant of the Marine Corps, in Pascagoula, Miss., in March 2000. The commissioning crew made the ship's maiden voyage June 2001, accompanied by more than 2,000 WWII veterans - many of whom survived the Battle of Iwo Jima. She was commissioned a week later in Pensacola, Fla., on June 30, 2001.

CG searching for missing boater

NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard is searching for a possible missing boater in the Intracoastal Waterway west of the Harvey Locks near Amelia, La., on Tuesday (Nov. 19) afternoon. Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received a report of a 16-foot aluminum skiff adrift (at mile marker 86) in the waterway. The vessel’s Louisiana registration number is LA1741FC. Involved in the search is a special purpose craft boatcrew from CG Station Grand Isle; and MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from CGS New Orleans; and the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office. Anyone with information about the skiff or the potential for a missing boater is encouraged to call Coast Guard Sector New Orleans at (504)-365-2533. (Source: Coast Guard 11/19/19)

PC duo earn m’gmt excellence award

PANAMA CITY, Fla. - Two Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City (NSWCPC) employees were recently awarded the 2019 Program Management Excellence award. Wayne Vickers, Navy Enterprise Tactical Command and Control (NETC2) program manager, and Brian Snellen, NETC2 systems engineer, manage the $23M budget for NETC2, a deployable Tactical Operations Center. Managing the program is challenging, but when a Category 5 Hurricane Michael made it even more difficult in October 2018. NETC2 provides units with a tactical operations center comprised of a phone, computer, video teleconferencing, email, and other collaboration support enabling operations in littorals, on land, or in remote shore-based locations. After Michael, their schedule was greatly impacted due to the loss of facilities, personnel, and communications. They used a strategy to overcome those challenges by reviewing schedules and finding an alternate delivery window to Gulfport, Miss. “Luckily, we were serving in Gulfport,” which experienced Hurricane Katrina. The Mississippi unit was “very accommodating” and “allowed us to conduct a double delivery three months later, which brought us back into schedule alignment ... (and) actually saved money by conducting one delivery instead of two.” The hurricane “could have had negative impacts on many individuals and unit readiness world-wide, but their leadership and program management acumen ensured delivery to ensure war-fighting dominance.” said Capt. Aaron Peters, NSWCPC commanding officer. (Source: NSWCPC 11/18/19)

CG to oversee La. in-situ burn

NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard is scheduled to oversee an in-situ burn for a crude oil discharge in Delta Farms, La., from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, Nov.18. Marine Safety Unit Houma, La., received the initial report of an oil discharge in an unnamed canal southwest of Bayou Perot on Nov. 9. The source of the 340-gallon crude oil spill was from a flowline owned by Texas Petroleum Investment Company (TPIC). The source has been secured. A containment boom was deployed to prevent the spread of oil; however, the oil is trapped within the floating marsh, in an area inaccessible for mechanical recovery. In-situ burning involves the controlled burning of discharged oil. It is one of several response options aimed at reducing environmental impact when responding to spills in marshland habitats. OMI Environmental Solutions and T&T Marine Salvage have been contracted to conduct the in-situ burn. (Source: Coast Guard 11/16/19)

Ala. firm to build Alaska tug

Crowley Fuels has signed construction contracts to build a 55,000-barrel, articulated tug-barge (ATB) specifically designed to serve the Western Alaska market with delivery of clean fuel products. The 410-foot ATB consists of a tugboat and barge that are connected from the bow of the tug to a notch in the stern of the barge by a hinged connection system, allowing the two vessels to work as one. The tug will be constructed by Master Boat Builders of Bayou La Batre, Ala. The 350-foot barge will be built by Gunderson Marine of Portland, Ore. The ATB is expected to be delivered in January 2021. (Source: Marine Link 11/15/198)

Stennis: Space safety, licensing site

WASHINGTON – Earlier this month, U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker(R-Miss.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), introduced the Licensing Innovations and Future Technologies in Space (LIFTS) Act. The bill would modernize training for the federal commercial space licensing workforce and promote collaboration with academia and industry by creating a centralized training facility for safety and licensing personnel. The new facility would be located at the NASA Stennis Space Center in Hancock County, Miss. (Source: Sen. Wicker 11/06/19) https://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2019/11/wicker-hyde-smith-introduce-the-lifts-act

Avon to share $40M LCAC pact

Avon Engineered Fabrications of Picayune, Miss. (SPE7MX-20-D-0015); and SMR Technologies Inc., Fenwick, We.Va., (SPE7MX-20-D-0016), are sharing a maximum $40,328,925 firm-fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment contract for landing craft air cushion (LCAC) skirting systems. This was a competitive acquisition with two responses received. These are three-year base contracts with two one-year option periods. Locations of performance are Mississippi and West Virginia, with a Nov. 14, 2022, performance completion date. Using military service is Navy. Type of appropriation is FY 2020 through FY-23 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime of Columbus, Ohio. (Source: DoD 11/15/19)

NSWC launches search for airman

Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City (NSWCPC), Fla., began Nov. 15 a continuous 24-hour operation to recover the remains of Air Force Staff Sgt. Cole Condiff who made an “unplanned plane departure” from a C-130 over the Gulf of Mexico on Nov. 5, according to a media release. An NSWCPC crew launched the R/V Patriot equipped with Klein side-scan sonars, six unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), and three remotely operated vehicles (ROV). The side-scan sonar technology is monitored around the clock by multiple operators and will allow for more search time on station. “The death of Staff Sgt. Condiff is devastating and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and his unit,” said Capt. Aaron Peters, NSWCPC commanding officer. “We are hopeful that our efforts bring him home and offer some measure of relief to his family.” The UUVs will search the 29 square kilometers area and any data retrieved will be examined by the ROV. NSWCPC conducts research, development, test, and evaluation of mine warfare systems, mines, naval special warfare systems, diving and life support systems, and other missions that occur in the littoral or coastal regions. NSWCPC has been called to support similar recovery operations in the past. (Source: NSWCPC 11/15/19)

Metal Shark delivers 2 pilot boats

JEANERETTE, La. – Shipbuilder Metal Shark has delivered two new pilot boats to Belle Chasse (La.) Marine Transportation (BCMT). Designed in-house by Metal Shark and built at the company’s Jeanerette production facility, “Jet 1” and “Jet 2” are 45-foot welded aluminum Defiant-class monohull pilothouse vessels featuring an extensively proven hull design. The vessels feature a unique deck arrangement designed for pilots and customized to meet BCMT’s specific requirements. Both vessels were delivered and are now operating on the Mississippi River, providing service to BCMT’s Port of New Orleans clients. (Source: Metal Shark 11/14/19) https://www.metalsharkboats.com/november-14th-2019-two-new-metal-shark-pilot-boats-now-serving-port-of-new-orleans/

Bollinger delivers 36th FRC

LOCKPORT, La. - Bollinger Shipyards delivered the USCGC Daniel Tarr, the 36th Fast Response Cutter (FRC), to the Coast Guard Nov. 7 in Key West, Fla. The cutter is the first of three FRCs to be home-ported in Galveston, Texas. Tarr will be joined by cutters Edgar Culbertson and Harold Miller. FRCs are named for an enlisted Coast Guard hero who distinguished him or herself in the line of duty. The Tarr’s commissioning is scheduled for January 2020 in Galveston. Bollinger President/CEO Ben Bordelon said, FRCs “already in commission have protected our country by seizing multiple tons of narcotics, interdicted thousands of illegal aliens and saved hundreds of lives. The FRC program is a model program for government acquisition and has surpassed all historical quality benchmarks.” Bollinger has built more than 175 CG patrol boats. (Source: Bollinger 11/07/19) http://www.bollingershipyards.com/blog/bollinger-delivers-the-36th-fast-response-cutter-uscgc-daniel-tarr-to-the-u-s-coast-guard

Destroyer to be named for Cochran

JACKSON, Miss. - The Navy will name a ship after the late Republican U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran of Mississippi, who was a Navy veteran. Cochran’s successor, Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, said Nov. 13 that Navy Secretary Richard V. Spencer has decided that a future Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer will be called the USS Thad Cochran. Cochran served six years in the House before winning a Senate seat in 1978. As longtime chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, he oversaw federal spending. He was the 10th longest-serving senator in history when he resigned in April 2018. He was 81 when he died in May. Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are currently built at shipyards in Pascagoula, Miss., and Bath, Maine. The Senate Appropriations Committee approved a defense spending bill that recommends a $390M increase for materials for three new destroyers. “This is a fitting tribute to Senator Cochran, who was a giant in the United States Senate and one of the greatest champions Mississippi has ever known,” said Mississippi’s other U.S. senator, Roger Wicker. (Source: Stars & Stripes 11/13/19) https://www.stripes.com/news/us/navy-to-name-ship-after-the-late-sen-cochran-of-mississippi-1.607206 The Navy also agreed to name one of those new Arleigh Burke destroyers in honor of late U.S. Sen. Richard G. Lugar of Indiana, who died in April at the age of 87. He served as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee from between 2003-07, and ran for president in 1996. Lugar volunteered for the Navy and served from 1957-60, including as an intelligence briefer to then-Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Arleigh Burke.

EPA youth, educator award noms

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that its Office of Environmental Education is accepting applications for the 2020 Presidential Environmental Youth Awards (PEYA) and Presidential Innovation Awards for Environmental Educators (PIAEE). Winners will be invited to Washington, D.C., in mid-2020 to be honored by the agency and present their work in a poster session. Applications are due by January 15, 2020. (Source: EPA 11/07/19) https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-administrator-andrew-wheeler-calls-nominations-2020-presidential-environmental-0

Bollinger pact for ocean transport

LOCKPORT, La. - Bollinger Shipyards has been awarded a contract to construct an ocean transport barge for General Dynamics Electric Boat. The Ocean Transport Barge will transport submarine modules to Electric Boat’s Groton (Conn.) shipyard for final assembly and test. The detail design engineering will be performed at the Bollinger Lockport (La.) new construction, and the construction will take place at the Bollinger Marine Fabrication facility in Amelia, La. Delivery is scheduled for 2021. Bollinger Shipyards is a leading designer and builder of fast military patrol boats, ocean-going double hull barges, offshore oil field support vessels, tug boats, rigs, liftboats, inland waterways push boats, barges, and other steel and aluminum products from its new construction shipyards. Bollinger has 10 shipyards throughout Louisiana. Bollinger is the largest vessel repair company in the Gulf of Mexico region. (Source: Bollinger 11/13/19)

MS guv's reservoir idea "got merit"

Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant says the Army Corps of Engineers has to find an alternative to Louisiana’s Bonnet Carre Spillway that is used for Mississippi River flood-relief, which is extinguishing aquatic life and compromising ecosystems in South Mississippi. “We cannot stand by and let the Mississippi Sound be destroyed,” the governor told the Sun Herald on Nov. 12. Bryant has an idea for containing the river: Build a reservoir, like the one that’s working in Jackson, where the Ross Barnett Reservoir relieves flooding. Bryant’s idea is not off base, says a New Orleans engineer who has worked on river control structures. Dennis Lambert has become disillusioned with Louisiana’s proposal to build multi-billion-dollar river diversions that the state says will capture sediment to build up the disappearing coastline. Lambert says the diversion plans would sacrifice marine life and waters. He thinks Bryant’s idea, with some modifications, could solve both the flooding and land-loss problems. “Not a bad idea,” he said. “It’s got merit.” (Source: Sun Herald 11/13/19) https://www.sunherald.com/news/politics-government/article237294409.html?#storylink=cpy

NTSB report: Ram XVIII overturning

The National Transportation Safety Board has released a Marine Accident Brief on the Nov. 18, 2018, overturning of the elevated liftboat Ram XVIII in the Gulf of Mexico some 15 miles SSE of Grand Isle, La. Five crew and 10 offshore workers abandoned the vessel and were rescued. Three personnel suffered minor injuries during the evacuation. An estimated 1,000 gallons of hydraulic oil was released. The vessel was declared a constructive total loss at an estimated cost of $1.14M. The 215-foot liftboat was owned by Aries Marine Corp. of Lafayette, La. NTSB determined that the probable cause of the overturning was the industry practice of not regularly providing liftboat operators with adequate information about the seafloor composition, which resulted in the instability of the port leg due to unidentified conditions/hazards in seabed composition near the port leg landing site. (Source: Work Boat 11/12/19) https://www.workboat.com/news/offshore/ntsb-releases-report-on-2018-gulf-liftboat-accident/

Fabrication starts on NSC 10

PASCAGOULA, Miss. - Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division officially started fabrication of the U.S. Coast Guard’s newest Legend-class national security cutter (NSC) Calhoun (WMSL 759) on Nov. 12. The start of fabrication signifies that the first 100 tons of steel have been cut. "This is the 10th cutter in the class and a steady production line has allowed our shipbuilders to continually improve on how we build and deliver these technologically advanced cutters to the nation," said Jay Boyd, Ingalls' NSC program manager. NSC 10 is named for Master Chief Petty Officer Charles L. Calhoun, who was the first Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard. HII-Pascagoula has delivered eight Legend-class NSCs, two more are under construction and one additional is under contract. Stone (WMSL 758), the ninth NSC, is scheduled for delivery in 2020. (Source: HII 11/12/19) https://newsroom.huntingtoningalls.com/releases/photo-release-huntington-ingalls-industries-begins-fabrication-of-legend-class-cutter-calhoun-wmsl-759

4 new La. artificial reef sites

BATON ROUGE, La. - The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced Nov. 12 that the creation of the Lake Borgne Shell Pad, Grand Banks, West Karako Bay, and Cabbage Reef artificial reef sites has begun. The reefs will eventually boost the availability of fish by increasing a hard-bottom habitat allowing more opportunity for larval settlement and biological benefits. The newly-constructed artificial reefs will be created from 880 tons of limestone, 130 reef balls (perforated concrete domes) and more than 80 cubic yards of oyster shells. The sites will be deployed across a broad range of salinities, which are within the optimum range for popular recreational saltwater species like speckled trout, redfish, and flounder. The four reefs were presented to the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission on Nov. 7. All current inshore artificial reef sites are protected from oyster harvest. These reefs are being built through a partnership between LDWF and the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation. The artificial reef program will “provide a more productive fish habitat while enhancing recreational fishing in Lake Borgne and the Mississippi Sound,” said Kristi Trail, executive director of the foundation. The nearest launch location is Rigolets Marina in Slidell, La. (Source: La. WL&F 11/12/19) http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/news/43154

$53M in support of 15 MS projects

Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant announced Nov. 11 that more than $53M from the BP oil disaster relief fund will be going toward 15 projects designed to improve the ecosystem, boost tourism, improve the economy, and enhance natural resources on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Some of the 15 projects funded are new, while money is being added for ongoing projects. The state has already received $511M bringing the total received to $564M. The projects are funded through the RESTORE Act and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's (NF&WF) Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund. A list of some RESTORE fund projects: $7M, Marsh Creation and Restoration: Dredged material in three coast counties used for marsh restoration and creation; $5M, Beach Resilience: Native plants, sea oats and sand fencing to create dunes, slow erosion; concrete boardwalk extension to keep sand on the beach and off U.S. 90; $4M, Oyster Hatchery and Research Center: Production of oyster larvae and further development of aquaculture at the University of Southern Mississippi’s Cedar Point center in Ocean Springs. Total funding now $11.7M; $3M, Gulf Aquatic Food Research Center: Supports construction of a Mississippi State University laboratory for seafood safety testing and quality assurance; $1M, Supports development of USM’s combined degree program in ocean engineering and business, part of state’s Blue Economy initiative. NF&WF funding: $5.96M, Reef Fish Assessment: Data collected to assess red snapper and other reef fish in Mississippi and nearshore Gulf waters. Total funding now $12.9M; $3.39M, Oyster Restoration: Pilot program in the Mississippi Sound deploys cultch materials to test oyster survival for future restoration; $2.8M, St. Louis Bay Oyster Reef: Funds The Nature Conservancy’s efforts to restore and enhance the St. Louis Bay TNC oyster reef. (Source: Sun Herald 11/12/19) https://www.sunherald.com/news/local/article237275774.html?#storylink=cpy

CG ends search near Empire

NEW ORLEANS - Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received a report about 1:30 p.m. on (Monday) Nov. 11 of a sunken vessel some six nautical miles southwest of Empire, La. The CG and local agencies are searching for a Slidell, La., man, Mark Matherne, in the water. Matherne's boat was found sunk in the vicinity of Shell Island Bay. If anyone has any information please contact the Sector New Orleans command center at (504) 365-2544. (Coast Guard 11/11/19) Empire is located about 55 miles SSE of New Orleans. UPDATE: The CG ended its search Nov. 13 for a person in the water near Empire. CG crews searched more than 1,761 square-nautical miles for over 31 hours, but were unable to locate the missing man.

Navy, HII smoothing over Ford row

The Navy and Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) are sounding somewhat more united when it comes to preparing the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford for deployment. Navy Secretary Richard Spencer recently publicly criticized HII's senior management regarding the ship’s advanced weapons elevators, which were promised by July and still aren't completed. It was one of multiple technical challenges for the first-in-class ship. HII President/CEO Mike Petters addressed the issue Nov. 7 during a conference call about third-quarter earnings. Petters said he'd "spoken directly" with (SECNAV) and Assistant Secretary (James) Geurts, and we are aligned on the plan to get the ship ready for deployment as soon as possible.” SECNAV gave his endorsement. “Secretary Spencer agrees they are aligned and in a better place now,” said Cmdr. Sarah Higgins, his spokesperson. Geurts, Navy’s acquisition chief, recently told reporters he was pleased with the Ford’s progress during its last 90 days in the Newport News shipyard. (Source: Newport News [Va.] News 11/07/19) See previous story: https://gulfcoastshipbuilding.blogspot.com/2019/10/secnav-hii-misled-navy-ga-praised.html

Master Marine delivers two to St. Louis

Master Marine Inc. of Bayou La Batre, Ala., has delivered the first of two 67-foot Entech Designs towboats to Osage Marine Services of St. Louis. It’s Osage’s first newly built towboat and it has all of its USCG certificates for Subchapter M compliance. RIO Controls and Hydraulic of Marrero, La., will be supplying the steering system for the two main and four flanking rudders. Gulf Coast Air & Hydraulics of Mobile, Ala., will provide a pair of Quincy F325 reciprocating air compressors and ventilation fans. Schuyler Maritime of Broussard, La., will provide all 18-inch by 12-inch rubber fendering. (Source: Work Boat 11/07/19)

CG suspends Vermillion search

NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard and local agencies are searching for a person aboard an overdue vessel in Vermillion Bay, La., on Nov. 8. Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received a report from St. Mary Sheriff’s Department at 8:35 p.m. Thursday of an overdue vessel. It is a tan and white 17-foot Boston Whaler with a trawling system off the stern. The man aboard left Cypremort Point, and was scheduled to arrive at Marsh Island on Thursday afternoon. Anyone with information are requested to contact CGS New Orleans’ command center at (504) 365-2209. (Source: Coast Guard 11/08/19) UPDATE: The CG suspended its search for one person aboard an overdue vessel in Vermillion Bay, La., on Nov. 9.

Keel laid on first Flight III destroyer

PASCAGOULA, Miss. - In a historic milestone for the Arleigh Burke-class DDG 51 program, the keel of the first Flight III destroyer, the future USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125), was ceremoniously laid and authenticated here at the Huntington Ingalls Shipyard on Nov. 7. Ruby Lucas and Catherine B. Reynolds, ship sponsors, authenticated the keel by etching their initials into the keel plate. The official start of fabrication began in May 2018. The destroyer was named after an American hero, Medal of Honor recipient Jack Lucas. DDG 125 will be the first Arleigh Burke class destroyer built in the Flight III configuration. Flight III’s design contains modifications from earlier DDG 51 class ships to enable the SPY-6 radar, in association with Aegis Baseline 10, which includes larger electronically scanned arrays and the power generation and cooling equipment required to operate the powerful new radar. HII-Pascagoula's shipyard is also currently in production on the guided missile destroyers Delbert D. Black (DDG 119), Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121), and Lenah H. Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123), amphibious assault ships Tripoli (LHA 7) and Bougainville (LHA 8), and amphibious transport dock ships Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28) and Richard M. McCool Jr. (LPD 29). (Source: Team Ships 11/08/19)

T-EPF 12 to be christened at Austal

WASHINGTON - The Navy will christen its newest Expeditionary Fast Transport, the future USNS Newport (T-EPF 12), during a 10 a.m. CST ceremony on Nov. 9, at the Austal USA shipyard in Mobile, Ala., where the ship was built. Principal speaker will be Rear Adm. Shoshana Chatfield, president of the Naval War College in Newport, R.I. Mrs. Charlotte Marshall, a Newport native, will serve as the ship’s sponsor. In a time-honored tradition, she will christen the ship by breaking a bottle of sparkling wine across the bow. The ship honors the city of Newport, R.I. (Source: Chief of Naval Information 11/08/19) https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=111371

'Fishing for Our Future' website

BATON ROUGE, La. - The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council has launched a new addition to its website called 'Fishing for Our Future'. The new site is designed to educate stakeholders about release mortality and to promote best fishing practices to reduce the likelihood fish will die upon release. The site features a “discard dashboard” displaying information on the magnitude of discard mortality in the GoM. Data can be accessed on different species, time series, and modes of fishing. The dashboard, which currently houses information on red snapper, gag, and greater amberjack, will be updated and expanded as new data becomes available. The site makes recommendations and curates outreach materials developed by organizations across the Gulf Coast region. It also houses a comprehensive list of research relevant to discard mortality in the Gulf. Fishing for Our Future is a step towards facilitating a cultural change in offshore fishery to decrease discard mortality,” said Capt. Dylan Hubbard, chairman of the council’s Outreach and Education Technical Committee. The website can be found at: http://gulfcouncil.org/fishing-for-our-future/.

Weeks Marine $151M harbor pact

Weeks Marine Inc. of Covington, La., was awarded a $151,305,750 firm-fixed-price contract for Savannah (Ga.) Harbor expansion project, maintenance and dredging. Bids were solicited via the internet with four received. Work will be performed in Savannah with an estimated completion date of Feb. 1, 2022. FY 2020 civil construction, operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $151,305,750 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers of Savannah, Ga., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 11/07/19)

Shark producing multiple fireboats

JEANERETTE, La. - Alabama-Louisiana shipbuilder Metal Shark is significantly expanding its presence in the fireboat market with a diverse range of fireboats currently in production for multiple customers. Most notably, the company has announced a custom “70 Defiant” fireboat to be built for Canaveral Fire Rescue in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (Source: Metal Shark 11/06/19) https://www.metalsharkboats.com/november-7th-2019-metal-shark-building-multiple-fire-rescue-vessels-including-custom-70-fireboat-for-canaveral-fire-rescue/

LCS 22 completes acceptance trials

MOBILE, Ala. – The future USS Kansas City (LCS 22) successfully completed acceptance trials in the Gulf of Mexico. LCS 22 is the 11th Independence-variant littoral combat ship (LCS), built by Austal USA in Mobile, to reach this milestone. (Source: Austal USA 11/04/19) https://usa.austal.com/news/LCS-22-AT

T-EPF 12 christening at Mobile Nov. 9

WASHINGTON - The Navy will christen its newest Expeditionary Fast Transport, the future USNS Newport (T-EPF 12), during a 10 a.m. CST ceremony on Nov. 9 at Austal USA’s shipyard in Mobile, Ala. The principal speaker is Rear Admiral Shoshana Chatfield, president of the Naval War College in Newport, R.I. Mrs. Charlotte Marshall, a Newport native, will serve as the ship’s sponsor. In a time-honored Navy tradition, she will christen the ship by breaking a bottle of sparkling wine across the bow. (Source: CNO 11/06/19) https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=111371

HII-P'goula opens mobile dental clinic

PASCAGOULA, Miss. - Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) announced Nov. 6 that it has opened a new mobile dental clinic located beside the company’s HII Family Health Center in Gautier, Miss. Onsite dental offers convenient access to full-service dental care, including exams and X-rays. “The mission of Onsite Dental is to help employees be healthier and happier by making high-quality dental care more accessible,” said Edmond Hughes, Ingalls VP of human resources and administration. The new mobile unit, operated by Onsite Dental, offers comprehensive dental care with a dentist and dental hygienist on staff. HII also has an Onsite Dental clinic at its HII Family Health Center in Newport News, Va. The clinics have the ability to offer patients preventive, restorative, periodontal, endodontic, oral surgery, orthodontia and cosmetic dentistry. (Source: HII 11/06/19) HII is the largest ship-builder in the U.S.

NOLA, PC getting EPA grant funding

DALLAS - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced that $1.5M in competitive grants will be awarded to 50 organizations working to address environmental justice issues in their communities. As part of the announcement,borhood will use the funding to address water quality and flooding by two organizations within Region 6 in New Orleans will receive grant funding. The Southern United Neighbordood will use the funding for educating underserved areas and homeless individuals on disaster resiliency. The Sankofa Community Development Corporation plans to use the funding to train local high school students on the importance of wetland ecosystems, stormwater drainage systems and habitat restoration. The lone Region 4 grant recipient along the northern Gulf Coast is LEAD Coalition of Bay County, Inc. In Panama City, Fla., will use the funding indoor air monitoring to address environmental health impacts from Hurricane Michael. Project partners include Gulf Coast State College, Florida State University-Panama City, Bay County Public Library, Community Health Task Force, Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, Panama City Marine Institute, Girls Inc., and Florida Department of Health-Bay County. (Source: EPA 11/06/19) https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/environmental-justice-small-grants-program-project-descriptions-2019

HII declares 17-cent/share dividend

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) announced Nov. 5 that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.03 per share, a $0.17 increase per share dividend paid in each of the prior four quarters. The $1.03 per share dividend will be payable Dec. 13 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on Nov. 29. The Board of Directors also authorized an increase in the company’s share repurchase program from $2.2B to $3.2B and extended the term of the program to Oct. 31, 2024. “These actions demonstrate continued confidence in HII’s free cash flow generation and support our Path to 2020 commitment to return substantially all of our free cash flow to shareholders,” said Mike Petters, president/CEO of HII. (Source: HII 11/05/19)

UPDATE3: Recovery mode for airman

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. - Almost 24 hours after an Airman from the 24th Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field is still missing Nov. 6 in the Gulf of Mexico after falling from a C-130 about four miles south of Hurlburt Field during a jump-training exercise. The Coast Guard told WEAR-TV/Pensacola on Nov. 5 a Staff Sergeant, who has not been identified, was training when he fell from the C-130 about 1,500 feet over the GoM. The CG, Air Force and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are searching for the service member south of Destin. Units involved in the search are from the 1st and 24th Special Operations Wings at Hurlburt; an HC-144 and MH-60 from CG Aviation Training Center Mobile, Ala.; two CG Station Destin Response Boats; 86th Test Wing at Eglin AFB; Army 7th Special Forces Group from Duke Field; Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office; and Florida Fish and Wildlife. The CG is asking for anyone who may have seen something around the time the airman went missing Tuesday around 1:30 p.m. to call CG Station Destin’s Command Center at (850) 244-7147. (Sources: WEAR, WKRG 11/06/19) https://weartv.com/news/local/coast-guard-airman-falls-1500-feet-during-training-jump-search-continues UPDATE: Search continues Nov. 8 for a fourth day. Reserve rescue airmen, two HH-60G Pave Hawks, and one HC-130 Combat King from the 920th Rescue Wing at Patrick AFB, Fla., joined in on the search. UPDATE 2: The Coast Guard suspended its search for airman south of Destin on Nov. 8. The CG's air and boat crews spent over 130 hours on scene and searched more than 4,909 square-nautical miles over the course of four days but were unable to locate the airman. UPDATE3: At 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8, the AF took the lead role in recovery efforts of the missing airman, who has not been identified and assigned to the 24 Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt. (Source: AF Times 11/09/19)

Petters awarded SNAME ‘Land Medal’

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) announced on Nov. 5 that the Society of Naval Architect and Marine Engineers (SNAME) awarded HII President/CEO Mike Petters with the 2019 Vice Admiral Emory S. “Jerry” Land Medal. Petters received the medal during the annual SNAME banquet in Tacoma, Wash., where he and his wife, Nancy Briggs Petters, were keynote speakers. Under his leadership, HII’s shipyards “build and maintain the world’s finest aircraft carriers and amphibious ships,” said Fred Harris, 2012 Land Medal recipient and former president of General Dynamics NASSCO and Bath Iron Works. The Land Medal is named for former SNAME President Emory S. Land who was chief of the Navy's Bureau of Construction and Repair at the time of his retirement in 1937. The medal is presented to an individual for outstanding accomplishment in the marine field. It was established in 1952. “It is a true honor to be recognized by the distinguished members of this society who have shown such dedication to the advancement of our industry,” Petters said. “I have long held the belief that a well-educated populace is a vital asset to our nation’s security. The work SNAME does by providing educational pathways into the maritime industry will have an impact on our nation for years to come and I am proud to now be a part of that legacy.” In 2016, Petters established the annual HII Scholarship Fund to provide scholarships for children of its employees who are pursuing post-secondary college or technical/vocation degrees, or who are enrolled in pre-k school readiness programs. (HII 11/05/19) https://newsroom.huntingtoningalls.com/file/petters-land-award-sname

AF pilots first to land F-35B on amphib

EASTERN PACIFIC - Hundreds of Marines and sailors embarked aboard the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6). Among the contingent were two Air Force pilots: Captains Spencer G. Weide and Justin J. Newman, both assigned to Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz. They made history as the first operational AF pilots to fly the F-35B Marine variant aboard an “amphib” as part of an integrated training exercise back on Sept. 27. “This is a unique opportunity for the Air Force to integrate with Marines and sailors overseas,” said Weide, with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122. The two-week exercise allowed the pilots to refine their skills and apply their training to an integrated naval environment. “Integrated training like this is important because we operate off of a ship, and we get to learn the naval and Marine warfare functions.” said Newman, with VMFA-122. “This will allow us to return the knowledge back to the Air Force for better future integration.” Amphibious assault ships provide flexibility to the joint force by supporting a spectrum of air operations from the fifth-generation jets to heavy lift helicopters. Integrating the MAW’s combat power with the capabilities and skills of the Navy and Air Force leads to an armed force team that is better trained, equipped and ready to respond to crises across the globe. (Source: Marine Corps Air Station Miramar 11/01/19) Gulf Coast Note: USS America is one of many “amphibs” built at Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Pascagoula, Miss., shipyard. https://www.pacaf.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2006618/making-history-us-air-force-pilots-fly-f-35bs-aboard-uss-america/

HII 3Q finance report Nov. 7

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) will release its third quarter 2019 financial results on Nov. 7 and host an earnings conference call at 8 a.m. CST. The call will be webcast live on HII’s website: http://www.huntingtoningalls.com. (Source: HII 11/04/19) https://newsroom.huntingtoningalls.com/releases/media-advisory-huntington-ingalls-industries-to-host-third-quarter-earnings-conference-call-and-webcast-on-thursday-6781620.

Free Moxie towing industry webinar

Join a panel of experts from Moxie Media for a 40-minute free webinar demonstrating how maritime towing industry companies are using Moxie’s Crew Learning Management System to comply with the new Sub M survey and audit requirements. Webinar is Nov. 14 from 1-2 p.m. CT. (Source: Work Boat 11/04/19) https://www.workboat.com/resources/webinars/meeting-sub-m-audit-and-survey-compliance-training-requirements/?mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiTlROa1kyWTROalZoWTJVNSIsInQiOiI2Tk1SSkxGTUdZUVduaUc0RURDMFJuMFNCYW9Tb0FFc2JOd2I3dmJEM2VBN1RxZStRUTI1elBBZWJBWHBWVUZja0dUMFVPcWRlYVRGNE9wdWhcL0ptMXFzM1dtczgxSGkyVEZZMkxKeTNBQndGN0JQMDZUd1pCZE9LbHZucEJuM1cifQ%3D%3D

Patrol boat launched for Mobile police

MetalCraft Marine recently launched a 34-foot Interceptor patrol boat for the Mobile, Ala., Police. It was designed for a soft and dry ride. The boat was tested in 4-to-5-foot chop. The Interceptor has a large cabin and aft deck for open work spaces for officers who work wearing a lot of equipment and 6-foot 10-inches of headroom. The boat will spend long hours in the Gulf of Mexico and Mobile Bay and has adequate heat and air conditioning for the wide range of temperatures. Visibility was designed into the boat, which exceeds American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) sight lines. (Source: Work Boat 10/31/19)

La. firm delivers offshore crewboat

J&B Manufacturing of Chauvin, La., delivered a new 50-foot aluminum shallow water offshore crewboat, Mister P, to J&B Boat Rental of Chauvin on Nov. 1. Main propulsion comes from a pair of Cummins Tier 3 QSL 9 diesel engines. The propulsion package will give the crewboat a running speed of 27 knots. The rear cargo deck measures 16-feet by 10-feet and can carry up to 6,000 pounds of freight. Inside, Mister P can haul a two-person crew and up to 27 passengers. (Source: Work Boat 10/31/19)

Steiner delivers tow to FMT

Steiner Shipyard of Bayou La Batre, Ala., delivered the 100-foot towboat David Goin to Mandeville, La.-based Florida Marine Transporters (FMT) on Oct. 10. “This was our first boat for Florida Marine and our first Subchapter M boat,” said Tara Steiner Marshal, the shipyard’s owner and president, who took over the yard’s ownership when her father, Russell Steiner, retired earlier this year. “It was a learning process for everybody, but it turned out great. We’re building more boats for them.” Designed by Sterling Marine of Gulf Breeze, Fla., David Goin is powered by twin MTU 12V4000 diesel engines. The towboat carries a crew of seven. Gulf Coast Air & Hydraulics of Mobile, Ala., supplied the steering system, and FMT’s in-house electronics group installed the electronics suite. (Source: Work Boat 10/31/19)

Austal-West pact for LCS 18

MOBILE Ala. - The Navy awarded Austal USA a $21,529,121 order on Oct. 30 to perform planned post delivery services on the Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship USS Charleston (LCS 18). Austal’s west coast operations team will perform the work in Seattle, Wash., with services scheduled to be completed by September 2020. “The fact we’ve received our third LCS post shakedown availability contract in less than 11 months is a testament to our services team and the great work they’re doing to support the Navy’s small surface combatant fleet,” said Craig Perciavalle, president of Austal USA. (Austal USA 10/31/19) Austal builds all Independence-class LCS at its Mobile shipyard.

GIS keel laying for T-ATS 6

HOUMA, La. - Gulf Island Shipyard (GIS) held a keel laying ceremony here Oct. 30 for the future USNS Navajo (T-ATS 6), the lead ship of the Navy’s new class of Towing, Salvage, and Rescue vessels. The ceremony was held at the Houma Terrebonne Civic Center. The Navajo-class will provide ocean-going tug, salvage, and rescue capabilities to support fleet operations. The current capabilities are provided by three T-ATF 166 and two T-ARS 50 class ships, which reach the end of their expected service lives starting in 2020. Navajo-class ships will be capable of towing Navy ships and will have 6,000 square feet of deck space for embarked systems. In addition to T-ATS 6, Gulf Island Shipyard is under contract for the detail design and construction of the future USNS Cherokee Nation (T-ATS 7) and USNS Saginaw Ojibwe Anishinabek (T-ATS 8). (Source: Team Ships 10/31/19)

LM2500 kits for LCS: $8.7M

General Electric Co. of Cincinnati, Ohio, is awarded an $8,747,720 firm-fixed-price delivery order (N00024-20-F-4117) under a previously-awarded basic ordering agreement (N00024-18-G-4113 for integrated electronic controller kits for LM2500 marine gas turbine engines. The materials procured under this basic ordering agreement are LM2500 MGTEs and related material. MGTEs are installed in FFG 7, CG 47, DDG 51, LCS Independence variant, LHD 8 and LHA 6AF-class vessels. Work will be performed in Cincinnati and is expected to be completed by December 2020. FY 2020 other Navy procurement funding in the amount of $8,747,720 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This order 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 11/01/19)

LCS 22 completes acceptance trials

MOBILE, Ala. - The future Independence-class Littoral Combat Ship USS Kansas City (LCS 22) successfully concluded acceptance trials in the Gulf of Mexico after a series of in-port and underway demonstrations, the Navy announced Oct. 31. “This level of performance is among the best I’ve seen for this class. We continue to see improvements in cost, initial quality and schedule, ship after ship,” said Capt. Mike Taylor, LCS program manager. Acceptance trials are the last significant milestone before the ship’s planned delivery to the Navy, in early December. Following delivery and commissioning, Kansas City will be homeported in San Diego with sister Independence-class ships. Four Independence-variant LCS are under construction at Austal USA in Mobile, Ala. Final assembly is well underway on the future USS Oakland (LCS 24). All modules for the future USS Mobile (LCS 26) have been erected, and the modules for the future USS Savannah (LCS 28) are under construction. Additionally, Austal is fabricating modules for the future USS Canberra (LCS 30) and is preparing for construction of the future USS Santa Barbara (LCS 32), USS Augusta (LCS 34), USS Kingsville (LCS 36) and USS Pierre (LCS 38). LCS is now the second-largest surface ship class in production. Five LCS were delivered in 2018. The Navy plans to deliver another three ships this year. (Source: PEO Unmanned and Small Combatants 11/01/19) https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=111329