GA-Tupelo mod pact for carrier

General Atomics' Electromagnetics Systems Group of San Diego is awarded a $10,140,766 modification (P00045) to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-14-C-0037). This modification is to produce installation work instructions and manufacture production hardware kits resulting from changes identified in the changes for post-production implementation CVN-79 aircraft carrier list. Additionally, this modification provides installation of production kits and performance of local checkout onboard the aircraft carrier and production "cut-ins" for hardware upgrades for items currently being produced for CVN-80 aircraft carrier. Work will be performed in San Diego (53%); Tupelo, Miss. (35%) and Norfolk, Va. (12%), and is expected to be completed in January 2024. FY 2018 Navy shipbuilding and conversion funds in the amount of $10,140,766 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Air Systems Command of Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 12/30/19)

La. firm's $9.5M mod contract

Alpha Marine Services of Galliano, La., is awarded a $9,510,510 modification under a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract with reimbursable elements for a vessel performing towing and salvage for the Navy. This is the second, 12-month option and is for one maritime support vessel MV Gary Chouest. This vessel will be utilized to support fleet towing, diving and salvage operations, submarine rescue and training exercises throughout the western Atlantic Ocean. This contract includes a 12-month base period and two 12-month option periods. Work is expected to be completed, if all options are exercised, by Jan. 2, 2021. Navy working capital funds in the amount of $9,510,510 are obligated for FY 2020, and do not expire. This contract was competitively procured with more than 50 proposals solicited via the beta.SAM website and two offers received.Navy Military Sealift Command of Norfolk, Va., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 12/30/19)

Miss. files suit vs CoE, MRC

Mississippi Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann has filed a lawsuit Dec. 30 against both the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Mississippi River Commission alleging they violated federal law by failing to study the consequences of diverting Mississippi River water into the Mississippi Sound through Louisiana’s Bonnet Carré Spillway. “This is not only unlawful, it is inexcusable,” the lawsuit suit reads. The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Gulfport against the two agencies that are responsible for flood management on the river. The lawsuit also accuses the agencies of “willfully and obstinately” refusing to open the Morganza Floodway to relieve river flooding, despite the authority to do so. (Source: Sun Herald 12/30/19) https://www.sunherald.com/news/politics-government/article238824753.html?#storylink=cpy

Mobile port achievement

MOBILE, Ala. – The Journal of Commerce recognized the Alabama State Port Authority and its partner, APM Terminals, for productivity achievements during its annual Port Performance North America conference held Dec. 11 in Newark, N.J. The Alabama State Port Authority received Most Improved Port Performance Overall in North America for the 2017-2018 cycle. APM Terminals Mobile came in second overall for Most Improved Terminal in North America. (Source: Mobile Port Authority 12/26/19) http://www.asdd.com/pdf/AlabamaSeaport_ReceivesPortProductivityAward_12172019.pdf

Need cost-effective plan for CHAMP

WASHINGTON – The White House’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has directed the Pentagon to come up with a cost-effective plan than the Common Hull Auxiliary Multi-Mission Platform (CHAMP), a ship the Navy had planned to use as part of a sealift recapitalization program. Navy had been planning to develop and field two variants of CHAMP, one for sealift purposes and one for auxiliary ship missions such as submarine tender, hospital ships and command and control platforms. But the White House has balked at a $1.3B cost estimate for a sub tender variant for 2024. The sealift fleet is either rapidly becoming obsolete or is nearing its useful service life. The bulk of the Navy’s reserve force ships will be nearing 50 years old by the end of the 2020s. (Source: Defense News 12/24/19) GULF COAST NOTE: Naval Sea Systems Command awarded four shipyards contracts worth almost $2.9M each to carry out design studies for the proposed CHAMP platform. The four yards were Bollinger Shipyards of Louisiana, General Dynamics NASSCO, Philadelphia Shipyard, and VT Halter Marine of Pascagoula, Miss. https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2019/12/24/white-house-poised-to-blow-up-us-navys-plans-to-recapitalize-its-aging-sealift-ships/

Navy proposes decom of first 4 LCS

ELMER, N.J. – The Navy has proposed to decommission the first four Littoral Combat Ships in FY 2021 as part of a cost-savings measure, according to a memorandum from Office of Management and Budget to the Defense Department. The memo outlines plans to decommission the LCS Freedom, Independence, Fort Worth and Coronado, part of an overall plan to shrink the size of the force to deal with a flat budget. The ships all have between a 12 and 17 years of planned hull life left. Independence and Coronado were both built at Austal USA of Mobile, Ala. The memo also outlines the decommissioning of three dock landing ships: USS Whidbey Island, Germantown and the Gunston Hall, from eight to 14 years early. (Source: Defense News 12/24/19) https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2019/12/24/us-navy-proposes-decommissioning-first-4-lcs-more-than-a-decade-early/

Ship cuts; Congress has last word

WASHINGTON – The Defense Department sent a plan to the White House that would cut the construction of more than 40 percent of its planned Flight III Arleigh Burke destroyers from FY 2021-25. The proposal would cut five of the 12 DDGs planned through the future years defense program (FYDP). In total, the plan would cut about $9.4B (8%) out of the total shipbuilding budget, according to a memo from the White House’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to DoD that was obtained by Defense News. The memo also outlined plans to accelerate the decommissioning cruisers, cutting Ticonderoga-class ships in the fleet from 13 to nine by 2025. The plan would shrink the fleet to 287 ships from 293, which is in contrast to the Navy’s goal of 355. The OMB memo directs DoD to submit a “resource-informed” plan to get to 355 ships, still a President Trump goal, though it’s unclear how that direction might affect the Navy's math regarding destroyer construction. Huntington Ingalls-Pascagoula, Miss., and Bath (Maine) Iron Works build destroyers, which cost an average of $1.82B apiece, according to the Congressional Research Service. A Trump administration official spoke on background saying the proposal to shrink the fleet was primarily being drive from the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and that OMB is supportive of the President's 355 ship goal. (Source: Defense News 12/24/19) https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2019/12/24/pentagon-proposes-big-cuts-to-us-navy-destroyer-construction-retiring-13-cruisers/ Update2: Sens. Susan Collins (R-Miss.) Angus King (I-Maine) called the proposal “an abrupt reversal of the Navy’s plan to increase the size of the fleet.” The senators noted that Congress will have the final say, and suggested much of the funding is already in the works. (Source: The AP 12/27/19)

Read more here: https://www.sunherald.com/news/local/counties/jackson-county/article238784948.html?#storylink=cpy

Oil hits highest since Sept. 17

LONDON - Oil rose above $67 a barrel to its highest since Sept. 17 buoyed by a report showing lower U.S. crude inventories, a potential end to China-U.S. trade dispute, and OPEC-led efforts to constrain supply. The American Petroleum Institute said Dec. 23 that U.S. crude stocks fell by 7.9M barrels last week, more than forecast by analysts. Brent crude, the global benchmark, reached $67.50/bbl - up 22 cents. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude gained 20 cents to $61.31. Trading volume remains low due to the holidays, which have delayed the release of the U.S. government's official oil inventory report until Dec. 27. (Sources: Reuters 12/25/19) https://news.yahoo.com/oil-rises-supported-trade-deal-022140123.html

Case proposes anti-Jones Act bills

Before leaving D.C., for the holidays, U.S. Rep. Ed Case (D-Hawaii) has introduced three bills in Congress to reform the Merchant Marine Act of 1920 (Jones Act), which he claims “artificially inflates the cost of shipping goods to Hawaii.” The three bills “aim directly at one of the key drivers of our astronomically high cost of living,” he says. The Jones Act “severely limits the supply of shipping to and from (Hawaii, and) has allowed a very few companies to control our very lifeline … (resulting in) shipping rates way higher than the rest of the world." Hawaii imports more than 90 percent of food and other consumer goods by ocean cargo only. There are only two U.S. flagged domestic cargo lines for Hawaii - Matson and Pasha – and they “operate a virtual duopoly,” says Case. The Matson cargo line responded to the proposed legislation saying that blaming Hawaii’s higher cost of living on shipping is just one of many cost factors that represent a small fraction of price differences between Hawaii and the mainland. The Jones Act supports more than 650,000 jobs in the U.S., including thousands in Hawaii. (Source: Marine Link 12/23/19) https://www.marinelink.com/news/hawaii-congressman-introduces-anti-jones-474075?utm_source=MT-ENews-2019-12-24&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=MT-ENews

Chevron’s FID on GoM Anchor project

Chevron Corp’s CVX has made a final investment decision (FID) on its Gulf of Mexico (GoM) Anchor project. This FID marks the oil and gas industry’s first deepwater high-pressure development. It is located about 140 miles off the coast of Louisiana in 5,000 feet of water. The Anchor project is estimated to churn out 75,000 barrels of crude oil and 28M cubic feet of natural gas per day. Recoverable reserves may surpass 440M barrels. Chevron is the chief operator of the project’s (62.86%) working interest. The co-owner is TOTAL S.A., Inc. TOT holds 37.14% share. Initial development of the project is worth $5.7B, and will comprise 7-well subsea development and semi-submersible floating production units. The field is scheduled to come online in 2024. Chevron is one of the largest leaseholders in the GoM. In 2018, the Chevron’s net output from the GoM amounted to 186,000 barrels of crude oil per day, 105M cubic feet of natural gas daily, and 13,000 barrels of natural gas liquids each day. For new projects in the GoM, the company is taking measures such as reducing its development costs on the back of standardizing equipment that requires less capital and employing drill-to-fill strategies. Chevron also is simplifying front-end engineering and design and taking advantage of better industry standards while retaining operation efficiency. Last year, Chevron announced production from its Big Foot deepwater project in the GoM. The field has a capacity of 75,000 barrels of crude oil and 25M cubic feet of natural gas a day. The production site, at a water depth of nearly 5,200 feet. It is located around 260 miles south of New Orleans. The Big Foot field has an estimated production life of 35 years. (Source: Zack’s Equity 12/3/19) https://finance.yahoo.com/news/chevron-makes-fid-anchor-field-142102813.htm

Update: LCS buys limited to 35

WASHINGTON - Congress slashed funding for the Littoral Combat Ship’s three plug-in warfare mission modules – designed to initially perform - in the FY 2020 defense appropriations bill. The cuts may further delay the ships’ capabilities in mine countermeasures (MCM), surface warfare (SW) and anti-submarine warfare (ASW). Currently, there are 35 LCS funded, but Congress has cut funding of the modules annually since 2015. The LCS program is structured with each ship deploys with one of the three modules that are still under development. Congress cut some $145.5M (52%) from the mission-modules that includes general equipment that comes with all modules. The MCM module saw 77 percent shuffled to another section of the budget. But the bulk of that slicing involves cuts to Knifefish minesweeping drones and unmanned surface vehicles that are intended to deploy sensors, according to appropriators. [The MCM module initially, and some aspects still under development, began at Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City, Fla.] The SW missiles package saw a $12M cut (45%). ASW saw 11 percent cut to address cost overruns of its variable depth sonar despite it partially meeting initial operational capability (IOC). A year ago, the Navy took delivery of Raytheon’s Dual-mode Array Transmitter Mission System, which joins the MH-60R helicopter, multifunction towed array and the SQQ-89 acoustic processing, making the ASW package ready to begin the integration stage. All of the aviation components for MCM have reached IOC, but the unmanned surface vehicle paired with drones were hit with budget cuts. The Navy is planning to field 10 ASW, 24 MCM, and 10 SW mission modules. Originally, the program was designed for each ship to be able to switch module pierside. But, the Navy reorganized in 2016, making each ship with a single mission. In FY-19, Congress bought three more LCS than the Navy requested. It’s not clear whether lawmakers plan to support the purchase of more mission modules, according to the Congressional Research Service. When mission modules become available, the Navy has been fielding parts. In September, the Navy deployed the LCS Gabrielle Giffords (Austal USA build at Mobile, Ala.) with the Kongsberg-Raytheon Naval Strike Missile, along with Northrop Grumman’s unmanned MQ-8C Fire Scout helicopter for over-the-horizon targeting, a significant step forward for the program. (Source: Defense News 12/19/19) https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2019/12/19/congress-slashes-funding-for-the-navys-lcs-sensors-again/ UPDATE: The FY 2020 defense authorization bill signed by President Donald Trump limits the Navy to 35 total Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) and bars further funding. "None of the funds authorized" in the National Defense Authorization Act can be used to exceed "the total procurement quantity of 35 Littoral Combat Ships," Congress stipulated. There are 35 currently under contract. The action signals Congress' frustration with the program, and intention to switch focus to a new guided-missile frigate (FFG(X). (Source: Military.com 12/23/19) https://www.military.com/daily-news/2019/12/23/new-law-restricts-navy-35-littoral-combat-ships.html

Dauntless returning to Pensacola

NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard Cutter Dauntless is scheduled to return to her homeport in Pensacola, Fla., on Dec. 21 after completing a 26-day training mission in Mayport, Fla. The crew completed more than 110 drills in shipboard damage control, medical response, security, surface warfare, electronic warfare, navigation, and seamanship while in Mayport. (Source: Coast Guard 12/20/19)

C.A.R.E. Center grant to aid turtles

OKALOOSA ISLAND, Fla. - The Florida Sea Turtle Grants Program recently gave a grant of more than $24,000 to the Gulfarium C.A.R.E Center to help purchase a vehicle to aid in the transportation of rescued and rehabilitated sea turtles, according to a media release from the Destin-based Gulfarium. The vehicle will “help us accommodate the growing needs of our sea turtle rehabilitation efforts,” said Terra Throgmorton, Gulfarium’s medical and stranding coordinator. The center was chosen through a competitive application process that was open to coastal county governments, educational institutions and Florida-based non-profits striving to improve the livelihood of sea turtles and conserve Florida habitats. (Source: NW Florida Daily News 12/20/19) The Gulfarium C.A.R.E Center, opened in 2005, acts as a beacon for coastal conservation through marine animal rescue and rehabilitation, encouraging awareness with public education and opportunities for active participation. https://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/20191220/gulfarium-receives-grants-for-sea-turtle-conservation?utm_source=SFMC&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NW%20Florida%20Daily%20News%20daily%202019-12-21&utm_content=INKA_FWN&utm_term=122119

Plaquemines dredge work

Manson Construction of Seattle, Wash., was awarded an $18,546,488 firm-fixed-price contract for one fully crewed and equipped self-propelled trailing suction hopper dredge. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Plaquemines Parish, La., and Harrison County, Mich., with an estimated completion date of Jan. 20, 2021. FY 2020 civil construction funds in the amount of $18,546,488 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers of New Orleans is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 12/20/19)

Greenup $20.5M La. parish contract

Greenup Industries of Gonzales, La., was awarded a $20,520,000 firm-fixed-price contract for excavating, processing, stockpiling clay material, clearing and grubbing, and other incidental work. Bids were solicited via the internet with seven received. Work will be performed in St. Charles Parish, La., with an estimated completion date of Jan. 22, 2021. FY 2018 civil construction funds in the amount of $20,520,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers of New Orleans is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 12/20/19)

2 La. firms compete for river pact

Phylway Construction of Thibodaux, La. (W912EE-20-D-0007); Circle LLC of Belle Chasse, La. (W912EE-20-D-0008); and Affolter Contracting of La Marque, Texas (W912EE-20-D-0009), will compete for each order of the $170,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for Mississippi River levees, construction of levee enlargements and berms. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 20, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers of Vicksburg, Miss., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 12/20/19)

HII-Pascagoula $110M CG-47 pact

Huntington Ingalls Industries of Pascagoula, Miss., is awarded a $110,376,375 cost-plus award fee (CPAF) contract for CG-47 class integrated planning yard services. Contract N00024-20-C-4203 is for planning yard services for CG 47 class ships. HII will provide expert design, planning and material support services for both maintenance and modernization. Work will be performed in Pascagoula, Miss., and is expected to be complete by December 2024. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $453,360,453 and be complete by December 2024. FY 2020 Navy operations and maintenance funding in the amount of $4,226,046 was obligated at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulations 6.302-1 (a) (2ii), only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy the agency requirements. Naval Sea Systems Command of Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 12/20/19)

VTHM products named boats of year

PASCAGOULA, Miss. - VT Halter Marine (VTHM) received top honors during the International WorkBoat Show in New Orleans with two of its vessels selected for Boat of the Year 2019. Built by VT Halter Marine for Crowley Maritime, the Taino and El Coqui were selected based on criteria set by WorkBoat Magazine and popular vote. Taino and El Coquí are the first Commitment Class, liquefied natural gas-powered ConRo ships built for Crowley’s shipping and logistics services between Jacksonville, Fla., and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Built specifically for the Puerto Rico trade, they are capable of transporting up to 2,400 20-equivalent container units at a cruising speed of 22 knots. Each vessel accommodates a wide range of container sizes and types. This award marks the first time a VT Halter Marine vessel has been awarded Boat of the Year. VT Halter Marine vessels have been named in the Significant Boat listing six times. “VT Halter Marine is proud to be part of the team on these first of class vessels for Crowley,” said Ron Baczkowski, president/CEO of VTHM. (Source: VT Halter Marine 12/17/19) https://vthm.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/VT-Halter-Marine-Wins-Admired-Boat-of-the-Year-at-International-Workboat-Show.pdf

Metal Shark’s 40-Defiant for Navy

JEANERETTE, La. – Alabama-Louisiana shipbuilder Metal Shark and the Navy are nearing the end of the operational test and evaluation (OT&E) trial period for the service’s incoming standardized “40 PB” patrol boat platform. Full-rate production is imminent. The 40 PB was developed as the replacement for up to 160 patrol vessels deployed worldwide with the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command’s Coastal Riverine Forces (CRF). Metal Shark’s 40-Defiant design was selected in late 2017 from a field of seven competing shipbuilders. Metal Shark has produced two of the 40-foot PBs for test and evaluation purposes. Hull 001 was first displayed at the 2018 International Workboat Show in New Orleans. As OT&E trials near completion, Metal Shark is preparing to commence full-rate production at its Jeanerette, La., production facility. With a full slate of delivery orders in place, Metal Shark initially plans to deliver one completed unit to the Navy every four weeks. This new platform is a radical change from conventional Navy CRF PBs currently in use. 40-Defiant delivers substantial increases in capabilities and firepower. (Source: Metal Shark 12/19/19) https://www.metalsharkboats.com/december-19th-2019-metal-shark-to-commence-full-rate-production-of-next-generation-us-navy-patrol-boat/

GC states' ship, aviation fundings

Alabama is set to receive billions of dollars in federal funding after the Senate approved two spending bills that averted a government shutdown. Most of the funding earmarked for Alabama will be in the form of defense spending, including more than $1B for helicopter flight training at the Army’s Fort Rucker. The state’s share of defense spending also includes hundreds of millions of dollars for ships that will impact Mobile’s shipbuilding industry. One of the spending packages includes funds to deepen and widen the Port of Mobile; and $500,000 to help excavate the Clotilda - the last slave ship to reach America that was discovered near Mobile earlier this year. In Mississippi, the defense bill is expected to have a major impact, with provisions to support shipbuilding on the Gulf Coast, and fund defense manufacturing and military construction. In the area of shipbuilding, the bill authorizes an additional $277.9M for the LPD-31 Flight II Amphibious Transport Dock ship - for a total of $525M – at HII-Pascagoula; $650M for Amphibious Assault Ship LHA-9 early funding to leverage non-recurring engineering investment in LHA 8 (USS Bougainville); authorizes $260M for the purchase of long-lead time material for three FY-21 Arleigh Burke (DDG-51) Flight III destroyers; authorizes $15M to reduce production time and cost of Columbia class submarine propulsor components manufactured in Gulfport; and authorizes $15M to produce mission-ready advanced materials components in Gulfport for the naval hovercraft. Also, authorization for the procurement of MQ-4C Triton high-altitude long endurance unmanned aerial vehicles, and $47.25M for RQ-4 Global Hawk aircraft, which are manufactured in Moss Point; and authorizes $16.8M for a fuel facilities replacement project at Columbus AFB. Louisiana: In an attempt to protect the Mississippi River Delta wetlands, provisions were included to fully utilize all funds collected in the Inland Waterways Trust Fund (IWTF) and Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF). The bill provides $105M for IWTF to fund projects on the inland waterways, while HMTF will receive $1.67B for the purpose of maintaining harbors; and in an effort to sustain flood mitigation, the Army Corps of Engineers will receive an additional $650M for the construction of flood-resistant infrastructure. In Florida, $2.42B to rebuild Tyndall AFB, and $173.2M for Military Construction projects in Florida; and $312M for the Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Cutter, being built at Eastern Shipbuilding in Panama City. The spending bills await President Trump’s signature to be signed into law. (Sources: AL.com; U.S. Sens. Wicker, Rubio, Kennedy 12/18/19))

Chouest 2nd ship mod: $7.57M

Edison Chouest Offshore of Cut Off, La., is awarded a $7,576,200 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N32205-17-C-3513). This modification exercises an option for one maritime support vessel, MV Carolyn Chouest. This vessel will be utilized to launch, recover, refuel and resupply various size crafts in the Pacific Command's area of responsibility. This is the second, 12-month option. This contract includes a 12-month base period, three 12-month option periods, and one 11-month option period. Work will be performed in the Pacific Command's area of responsibility, and is expected to be completed, if all options are exercised, by Nov. 21, 2022. FY 2020 Navy working capital funds in amount of $7,576,200 and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Navy's Military Sealift Command of Norfolk, Va., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 12/19/19)

Textron-NOLA's SSC completes trials

NEW ORLEANS - Textron Systems announced Dec. 17 its Marine and Land Systems operating unit here has successfully completed acceptance trials for Craft 100, the first next-generation Ship-to-Shore Connector (SSC) landing craft, after completing a series of in-port and underway demonstrations Dec. 6. “We are proud to support the (Navy and Marine Corps) in producing this next generation of landing vehicles,” said Henry Finneral, senior VP/GM of Textron Systems. SSC is designed to cover a “broad spectrum of missions with rapid transport of material and personnel into combat zones or assisting with critical humanitarian aid missions.” During the trials, Craft 100 underwent integrated testing to demonstrate capability of the fly-by-wire steering, electrical and propulsion systems to meet basic requirements as a test asset for Program Executive Office-Ships. SSC is a replacement for the existing fleet of Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCACs). Follow-on SSCs will primarily transport weapon systems, equipment, cargo, and personnel from Assault Craft Unit 4 (in Virginia), ACU 5 (in California), and Naval Beach Unit 7 (in Japan). Textron expects to deliver Craft 100 in January. There are multiple SSCs in various states of production. (Source: Seapower 12/1/19) https://seapowermagazine.org/textrons-next-generation-ssc-completes-navy-acceptance-trials/

MS's 2019 top econ developments

As Father Time watches 2019 come to a close, a look back at Mississippi’s top economic development projects, listed by the Mississippi Development Authority, have created 2,205 jobs through $469.5M in investments within the counties of DeSoto, Lee, Hancock, George, Jackson, and Newton. The industry sectors include shipbuilding, aerospace, healthcare, timber and technology. Among the top eight projects of 2019 were General Atomics of Tupelo ($50M/75 jobs), VT Halter Marine of Pascagoula ($37.5M/900 jobs), and Relativity Space of Stennis ($59M/190 jobs). GA’s Electromagnetic Systems (EMS) Division production and test facility in Tupelo supports production of the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) programs for the next‐generation Gerald R. Ford class aircraft carriers. VTHM was awarded a $745M contract with the Coast Guard for the design and construction of a Polar Security Cutter. The plan is to deliver the icebreaker in 2024. Relativity is expanding its rocket component production and rocket engine testing operations at NASA’s Stennis Space Center. Jobs created by this project will increase Relativity’s employment to 200. Relativity is the first and only company to integrate metal 3D printing, robotics and software to build and launch rockets in days instead of years. The company develops its own launchers and rocket engines for commercial orbital launch services. Among the others are: Amazon, $100M/500 jobs; Fresenius (Spectra Labs), $88M/300 jobs; Enviva, $85M/90 jobs; and ESCO, $50M/150 jobs. (Source: Mississippi Business Journal 12/18/19) https://msbusiness.com/2019/12/states-2019-top-economic-projects-bring-jobs-investments/

$8.3M LHA 7 mod pact

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) of Pascagoula, Miss., is awarded an $8,336,050 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-17-C-2473) for accomplishment of planning, engineering, cost estimating and management efforts of planned availabilities as well as emergent work as required, including management and labor efforts for the post-delivery planning yard services in support of the amphibious assault ship (LHA 7). HII Ingalls Shipbuilding will provide expert management and labor, to complete planned availability and emergent work, as required, during post-delivery for LHA 7 in calendar year 2020. Work will be performed in Pascagoula, Miss., and is expected to be complete by August 2020. FY 2020 Navy shipbuilding and conversion funds in the amount of $1,860,000 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 12/18/19)

Work Boat's Top 10 stories

The editors of Work Boat put together its Top 10 news stories of 2019. Among some of those top storylines, involving Gulf Coast firms, included Kirby Corp. of Houston’s purchase of the fleet of Cenac Marine Services LLC for approximately $244M, and Canal Barge’s buy of five towboats from Pine Bluff Sand and Gravel. Cenac Marine of Houma, La., is a leader in services for the barging and towing industry for over 80 years. Canal Barge is HQ’d in New Orleans. It is one of the more diverse marine transportation firms in America, moving cargo to virtually every part of the world. Its greatest strength is providing dedicated logistics in moving along the waterway between the Gulf Coast and Mid-America, and bought five towboats from Pine Bluff Sand and Gravel’s Marine Transportation division in Alexandria, La. In September, the Boston-based autonomous marine technology developer Sea Machines and boatbuilder Metal Shark of Jeanerette, La., announced a partnering in the construction and development of a the new Sharktech 29 Defiant autonomous vessel. The Defiant is now available for acquisition by government and commercial operators under Metal Shark’s stock boat program. Autonomous vessels are certainly of interest to naval officials. This year has seen a building boom for ferries especially in New York, Washington, D.C., Washington state, San Francisco, and New Orleans. In the New York Metro area, Seastreak added a new 600-passenger ferry, the Commodore. It’s been such a success that Seastreak signed a contract with designer Incat Crowther that will be built at Midship Marine of Harvey, La. NYC Ferry now operates 27 vessels that were built at Horizon Shipbuilding of Bayou La Batre Ala. an Metal Shark. n 2017, NYC signed with Eastern Shipbuilding of Panama City, Fla., to build three new 320-foot Staten Island ferries. (Source: Work Boat 12/17/19) https://www.workboat.com/news/workboat-show-news/the-top-10-news-stories-of-2019/

15% work on LPD 17 for HII

Raytheon Co.'s Integrated Defense Systems of San Diego is awarded a $7,657,104 cost-plus-fixed fee contract for production, planning, engineering and support efforts for the Amphibious Transport Dock (LPD) 17 class integrated shipboard electronic (ISE) systems. The efforts under this contract support the ISE product line including the navigation data distribution systems, hull mechanical and electrical navigation networks regarding construction and shipboard test and trials, ISE post shakedown availability and ISE support activity services. The efforts include building yard interface support, systems engineering, obsolescence management, logistics support, training support, software support, as well as engineering and design modifications to the ISE baseline in support of the LPD 17 Flight I San Antonio class (LPD 17). Work will be performed in San Diego (85%); and Pascagoula, Miss. (15%), and is expected to be complete by December 2024. This contract includes options, which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $30,877,655 and expire in December 2024. FY 2017, 2016 and 2015 Navy shipbuilding and conversion funding in the amount of $4,172,341 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1); only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. Naval Sea Systems Command of Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 12/17/19)

Restoring GoM seafood confidence

BILOXI, Miss. - Over the last decade, confidence in Gulf of Mexico seafood has been shattered following major disasters - BP oil spill and freshwater intrusion from Louisiana’s Bonnet Carre Spillway. Now, Mississippi’s governor has announced $3M in Restore Act funding is coming to the Gulf Coast to restore that confidence. The governor announced an approved Restore-funded project, to be called the Northern Gulf Aquatic Food Research Center, which will be part of Mississippi State University’s Coastal Research and Extension Center, says Dr. James Henderson, a professor and head of MSU’s Coastal Research and Extension Center. The top priority of the center will be to test and make sure all seafood caught is free of contaminants, he continued. The center will likely be placed in either Jackson or Harrison counties. Henderson said MSU will begin selecting architects and engineers next summer. with anticipation of construction starting in Spring 2021. (Source: WLOX 12/17/19) https://www.wdam.com/2019/12/17/restore-act-aims-rebuilding-confidence-back-coast-seafood/

P'cola group gets view of LHA 7

The Navy's next America-class amphibious assault ship, the future USS Tripoli (LHA 7), is set for commissioning in Pensacola, Fla., in the summer of 2020, although a date has not been finalized. Members of the local Pensacola commissioning committee and Pensacola Navy League recently traveled over to Ingalls Shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss., for a first look at the new ship. (Source: WUWF 12/15/19) https://www.wuwf.org/post/pensacola-group-tours-new-uss-tripoli-ahead-2020-commissioning#stream/0

Senate sends FY-20 bill to Prez

Lawmakers’ make deal for FY-20 U.S. lawmakers struck a deal Dec. 16 for a $1.4T bipartisan spending plan to fund the government through FY 2020, including $695.1B for the Defense Department. The House is expected to vote on the bill today (Dec. 17). The Senate is slated to follow later this week. If passed, it would avert a government shutdown before temporary funding runs out Dec. 20. The bill represents a $19.5B increase over FY-19, and includes a 3.1 percent pay increase for military personnel. It breaks down as $622.6B for base funding, $70.6B for overseas operations, and $1.8B in emergency funding. The agreement provides the Air Force 62 F-35As – 14 more than requested. The Navy (F-35C) and Marine Corps (F-35B) will each get six more of those jets. In all, DoD would be funded for 98 total F-35s of all three variants. (AF Magazine 12/16/19) https://www.airforcemag.com/congress-announces-appropriations-deal/ It also contains $23.9B for 14 ships: 3 DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, one frigate, 1 landing helicopter assault ship, 1 amphibious transport dock, 1 expeditionary fast transport ship, 2 oilers and tugs, and 3 Virginia-class submarines. (Source: Defense News 12/16/19) https://www.defensenews.com/congress/2019/12/16/hold-spending-deal-would-avoid-shutdown-give-738b-to-defense/ UPDATE2: The Senate on Dec. 17 approved the FY-20 National Defense Authorization Act by a vote of 86-8, sending the bill to the White House where President Donald Trump is expected to sign it into law.

Sprague interim exec at LAGCOE

Corinne Sprague, Louisiana Gulf Coast Oil Exposition’s (LAGCOE) event and volunteer services coordinator, will become interim executive director of the organization in January. Sprague is to replace Angela Cring, who announced she would be stepping down after 14 years with the Lafayette-based organization; with the last eight as executive director. She is scheduled to leave in January. LAGCOE Board Chairman Greg Stutes said Sprague would remain as interim leader until the board makes a permanent decision. (Source: Acadiana Advocate 12/13/19) LAGCOE is a non-profit energy industry organization focused on educational programs and a technical exposition and conference. Its vision is to be a sustainable community of energy companies and volunteers that promotes energy education and awareness; connects businesses with opportunities, and showcases the Gulf Coast’s technical innovations to the world. https://www.theadvocate.com/acadiana/news/business/article_d223d914-1de0-11ea-b264-bb307f9aaab2.html

COBRA pact for Destin, Fla.

Arete Associates of Northridge, Califs, is awarded a $17,561,860 firm-fixed-price modification to a previously-awarded contract (N61331-18-D-0012) to exercise Option 2, to provide Coastal Battlefield Reconnaissance and Analysis (COBRA) Block I systems. Work will be performed in Tucson, Ariz. (35%); Destin, Fla. (35%); and Santa Rosa, Calif. (30%), and is expected to be completed by July 2022. No funding will be obligated at time of award. Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 12/13/19)

Gulfport 2% of watercraft pact

Anchor Innovation of Virginia Beach, Va. (N00167-20-D-0001); Auxiliary Systems of Norfolk, Va. (N00167-20-D-0002); Colonna’s Shipyard of Norfolk (N00167-20-D-0003); Fairlead Boatworks of Newport News, Va. (N00167-20-D-0004); Gryphon Technologies of Washington, D.C. (N00167-20-D-0005); Q.E.D. Systems of Virginia Beach (N00167-20-D-0006); and United States Marine Inc. of Gulfport, Miss. (N00167-20-D-0007) are awarded a combined maximum $43,109,222 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple-award contract for watercraft industrial services and supplies in support covering all phases of watercraft total life cycle to include construction, proof of design, model development and realization, fabrication, modernization, repair, overhaul quality assurance, and testing of the Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division Detachment Norfolk, Combatant Craft Division. The contractor shall perform in a wide variety of locations both within the continental U.S. and outside the continental U.S. The expected work distribution by performance location includes Mid Atlantic U.S. (60%); Southwest U.S. (15%); U.S. Gulf Coast (2%); Northwest U.S. (2%); Northeast U.S. (1%); other/OCONUS (20%). OCONUS locations typically include, but are not limited to Bahrain, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Spain, Italy, Horn of Africa, Guam, Japan, Hawaii and Alaska. Work is expected to be complete by December 2022. FY 2020 service cost center (Navy) funding in the total amount of $12,000 will be obligated at time of award to meet the minimum guarantee under each contract and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with seven offers received. The Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division, Detachment of Norfolk is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 12/13/19)

Garden Island Bay oil discharge

NEW ORLEANS – The Coast Guard responded to a crude oil discharge near New Orleans beginning Saturday (Dec.14) morning. The Coast Guard received a report at 7:27 a.m. that approximately 1,050 gallons of crude oil discharged into Garden Island Bay from the Whitney Oil and Gas Garden Island Bay Tank Battery 49 facility due to mechanical issues. The source of the spill has been secured. The discharge is all within previously placed containment booms, and caused a 180-foot by 60-foot dark black sheen on the water’s surface. Whitney Oil and Gas hired OMI Environmental Solutions as the oil spill response organization. OMI has two skimmers, two boats, and personnel currently working on active recovery of the product, and 420 gallons of oily water mixture recovered. The cause of the discharge is under investigation. (Source: Coast Guard 12/14/19)

LCS industry options not at forefront

Austal USA, Mobile, Ala.-based builder of the USS Independence-class, and Lockheed Martin, builder of the USS Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ship, have offered options for a “Frigate-type” LCS with hull lengthening, better weapons, better sensors, and various upgrades for higher performance, lethality, survivability, and C4SIR. Instead of an LCS frigate variant, the Navy opted to issue an RFP for a Future Guided Missile Frigate (FFG(X)). Nonetheless, the Navy has taken steps to improve the lethality, survivability, and weapons’ range of the LCSs with its initial Mission Packages (MP): Surface warfare (SUW), anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and mine countermeasures (MCM). A feature of the Independence-variant LCS is its Mission Bay Deck, specific to the Austal USA-built ships, and tie-down anchors, which could transport Marines/Army small ground combat vehicles. As of December, NAVSEA says LCSs have not transported ground combat vehicles, nor is it part of the mission requirement. NAVSEA stated that a study is required in order to transport vehicles aboard the Independence-class LCS. Lockheed Martin showed a scale model at the Surface Navy Association (SNA) conference that featured Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) that will be installed in the (FFG(X)) as a suggestion to improve the lethality and survivability of Freedom-class ships. According to NAVSEA, again, the Navy has not fully explored or studied LM’s options for adding VLS cells to Freedom-class ships. The Navy’s current plans are less ambitious. The Navy has no requirement for LCS to be fitted with the Vertical Launch System 8-cell Mission Module plug-in (or 16 VLS cells in place of the two 30mm Bushmaster autocannon turrets in the SUW MP) and is not actively seeking any development. Analysis would be required to determine feasibility of outfitting both variants with VLS. The Navy does not currently require this capability. The Navy plans to field the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) to LCS to provide anti-ship capability in addition to the SUW mission package. The Navy has not studied other missiles for the NSM launcher on LCS or fitting in a different missile container. (Source: Naval News 12/12/19) https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2019/12/u-s-navy-still-has-yet-to-fully-explore-industry-suggested-lcs-upgrade-options-usages/

Crowley’s ConRos boat of year

Crowley Maritime Corp. of Jacksonville, Fla., and subsidiary Jensen Maritime of Seattle, were honored with the 2019 Significant Boat of the Year Award during the International Workboat Show in New Orleans last week. The award recognizes the company’s industry-leading combination container/roll on-roll off (ConRo) ships, MV El Coquí and MV Taíno, the first of their kind powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG). Work Boat’s recognition of the ConRos as tops among its annual Significant Boats honorees marks the first time that the award has been presented to a large, oceangoing container vessel. The two ships were built by VT Halter Marine of Pascagoula, Miss. (Source: Work Boat 12/12/19) https://www.workboat.com/news/workboat-show-news/crowley-con-ro-ships-named-significant-boat-of-the-year/?utm_source=marketo&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter&utm_content=newsletter&mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiTnpKaFkyUXdNVFZpT1RJMCIsInQiOiJFaWVZXC91RUhPZ0FrMnFIZ0xjbm5tekVkVDNmdWZXTEJRUFFhQTZBTXhxd0pFK0l1dm5QVHFRNENCQmVacXErVDlQZGRZV0t1d3pWekc4bVM2alhzNU9EcTBrVEx6YzNrNGNCb1c1dHZpKzJqTmJlUzdqdzdwVjhoRkh4enB3RHoifQ%3D%3D

Weeks Marine dredge contract $13M

Weeks Marine of Covington, La., was awarded a $13,071,000 firm-fixed-price contract for maintenance dredging. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Plaquemines Parish, La., with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2020. FY 2020 Recovery Act; civil works and operation and maintenance funds in the amount of $13,071,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers of New Orleans is the contracting activity.

DMR MK-105 gear pact: $8.9M

DMR Consulting of Panama City Beach, Fla., is awarded an $8,991,202 firm-fixed-price modification to previously awarded contract (N61331-19-D-0002) to exercise the option for the depot level repair, overhaul and modification for the MK-105 Magnetic Minesweeping Gear. This option exercise is for depot level repair and maintenance of the MK105 Magnetic Minesweeping Gear. The MK105 Magnetic Influence Minesweeping System, better known as the "sled," is a high-speed catamaran hydrofoil platform, which is towed behind the MH-53E helicopter and is used to sweep magnetic influence mines. Work will be performed in Panama City, and is expected to be completed by December 2020. Naval Surface Warfare Center of Panama City is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 12/12/19)

GBL expanding Vicksburg ops

The Vicksburg, Miss.-based inland water transportation company Golding Barge Line is expanding its operations with a $20M corporate investment that will create 25 jobs in 2020, according to the Mississippi Development Authority. “Mississippi’s transportation network is one of the best in the country, from our integrated highway and interstate systems to our waterways that provide companies like Golding Barge Line with exceptional, convenient access to consumers around the country,” Gov. Phil Bryant said. GBL specializes in the movement of refined petroleum products, petrochemicals and chemical products throughout the America’s inland waterway system. MDA approved the company for the Advantage Jobs Rebate program, which provides a rebate to eligible businesses that create new jobs that exceed the average annual wage of the state or county in which the company locates or expands. (Source: Marine Log 12/12/19) https://www.marinelog.com/coastal/inland/golding-barge-line-expanding-vicksburg-operations/

VTHM launches Q-Ocean Services tug

PASCAGOULA, Miss. – More than a month after its barge was launched, the 128-foot-long Q-Ocean Services tug was launched here from the docks at VT Halter Marine. The 5,100-hp tug is powered by two GE 6L250 MDC EPA Tier 4 main engines with Wartsila Z-drives. VTHM launched the Q-LNG 4000 barge in October. The pair makes up America’s first offshore Liquefied Natural Gas Articulated Tug and Barge (LNG ATB) bunkering unit. The Q-LNG 4000 barge is designed to carry 4,000 cubic meters of LNG. Delivery of the ATB unit is scheduled for the first quarter of 2020. VTHM was awarded the contract in November 2017, which was announced as part of a long-term contract with Shell Trading (U.S.) Company, to deliver LNG as a fuel source to various ports in Florida and the Caribbean. It will bunker Carnival Cruise Line’s two new dual-fuel ships and two dual-fuel Siem Car Carrier pure car truck carriers chartered by the Volkswagen Group to transport vehicles from Europe to North America. (Source: VT Halter Marine 12/10/19) https://vthm.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/VT-Halter-Marine-launches-QOcean-Services-tug.pdf

NCBC: FOCUS-ing on military family

On Dec. 10, Families OverComing Under Stress (FOCUS) recognized the winners of its annual Month of the Military Family Coloring Contest, which took place in November at NCBC Gulfport, Miss. Many of the contest winners posed for a photo at the NEX. The Month of the Military Family is celebrated every November, and it serves to recognize and honor military families for their numerous contributions and daily sacrifices to the military and the nation. FOCUS, located within the Naval Branch Health Clinic, provides resilience training to military children, families and couples, and teaches practical skills to help families and couples overcome common challenges related to a military life. (Source: CBC Gulfport 12/11/19) https://www.facebook.com/NCBCGulfport/photos/a.10151053655706712/10156562482961712/?type=3&theater

Austal delivers EPF 11 to Navy

MOBILE, Ala. - The Navy took delivery of its 11th Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) vessel, the future USNS Puerto Rico (T-EPF 11), from Austal USA here on Dec. 10. Delivery is the official transfer from the shipbuilder to the Navy. EPF 11 will be owned and operated by the Military Sealift Command. "We are excited to accept delivery of another versatile ship, further expanding the advantage of our civilian mariners at sea," said Capt. Scot Searles, Strategic and Theater Sealift program manager, Program Executive Office (PEO) Ships. "Delivery of our 11th ship is a testament to the inherent flexibility of the EPF class. EPFs are shallow-draft, all-aluminum catamarans capable of delivering personnel and cargo, which provides combatant commanders high-speed sealift mobility. EPFs capable of interfacing with roll-on/roll-off discharge facilities, and on/off-loading a combat-loaded Abrams Main Battle Tank. EPFs include a flight deck to support day and night aircraft launch and recovery operations, and seating for 312 embarked forces, with fixed berthing for 104. Austal USA is currently in production on the future USNS Newport (EPF 12) and USNS Apalachicola (EPF 13), and is under contract to build the future USNS Cody (EPF 14). (Source: PEO Ships 12/10/19)

New VP/CIO at HII

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) announced Dec, 11 that Bharat Amin has been named executive vice president and chief information officer. In the new position, Amin will be responsible for establishing the company’s information technology (IT) and digital strategic direction with a focus on cyber security capabilities through executive and division leadership teams. Amin will lead corporate IT governance and provide functional oversight. He will assume the new post on Jan. 1 and will report directly to Mike Petters, HII’s president/CEO. Amin joins the HII exec team after serving as VP/CIO for the Newport News (Va.) Shipbuilding division since 2014. He has previously held leadership posts at BAE Systems Inc. Amin holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Maharaja Sayajirao University in India, as well as a master’s degree in industrial engineering, and an Executive MBA in International Business and Finance from Rutgers University. HII is America's the largest shipbuilding company. (Source: HII 12/11/19) https://newsroom.huntingtoningalls.com/releases/photo-release-huntington-ingalls-industries-names-new-executive-vice-president-and-chief-information-officer

Opelousas firm's $9.9M contract

Rigid Constructors of Opelousas, La., was awarded a $9,986,105 firm-fixed-price contract for excavation, placement of material for the construction of earthen retention dikes, installation of settlement plates, surveying, clearing, grubbing, steel culvert installation, painting and metalwork fabrication. Bids were solicited via the internet with eight received. Work will be performed in Calcasieu Parish, La., with an estimated completion date of Dec. 5, 2020. Fiscal 2020 civil construction funds in the amount of $9,986,105 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers of New Orleans is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 12/10/19)

GoM group’s new DWH projects

The Deepwater Horizon Open Ocean Trustee Implementation Group released the Final Open Ocean Restoration Plan 2 (PDF, 493 pages) selecting 18 projects totaling almost $226M to help restore fish, sea turtles, marine mammals and mesophotic and deep benthic communities injured by the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The plan and its projects represent the largest dedication of Natural Resource Damage Assessment funds to restore these oceanic marine resources in the GoM to date. Based on input from a 79-day public comment period that began in May, the Trustees revised three projects to increase opportunities for fishing industry stakeholder engagement. For updated information, the Open Ocean Trustee Implementation Group will host a Dec. 12 webinar. (Source: NOAA Fisheries 12/09/19) https://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/2019/12/226-million-projects-approved-second-open-ocean-restoration-plan?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery#docs

GC firms to compete for map services

Chustz Surveying of New Roads, La. (W912EE-20-D-0001); Johnson-McAdams Surveying and Mapping of Greenwood, Miss. (W912EE-20-D-0002); and Seaside Engineering & Surveying of Baker, Fla. (W912EE-20-D-0003) will compete for each order of the $10,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for surveying and mapping services. Bids were solicited via the internet with 10 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 9, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers of Vicksburg, Miss., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 12/09/19)

CG suspends search for helo

NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard suspended its search for two people aboard an overdue commercial helicopter that crashed in the Gulf of Mexico on Dec. 9. The crew’s last known position was 13 nautical miles west of Southwest Pass, La. CG crews searched over 4,117 square-nautical miles for about 68 hours, but were unable to find the passengers. The helicopter, owned by Panther Marine, had not reached its destination by 10:37 a.m. The passengers were transiting from one offshore platform to another but Panther Marine lost communications when they were 10 minutes from landing. (Source: Coast Guard 12/09/19)

Future USS Mobile christened

MOBILE, Ala. – More than 1,000 dignitaries, community leaders, and Austal USA workers celebrated the christening of the future USS Mobile (LCS 26) on Dec. 7 at Austal’s advanced ship manufacturing facility. It’s the third Navy ship christened here in 2019. Mobile is the 13th of 19 small surface combatants Austal has under contract with the Navy. “It is such an honor for a future Littoral Combat Ship to be named after the City of Mobile,” principal speaker U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne (R-Ala.) said. It’s the 20th ship christened at Austal over the last five years, according to Austal USA President Craig Perciavalle. The ship’s sponsor, Rebecca Byrne, wife of the congressman, has devoted her career to serving others in south Alabama. She is president and chief executive officer of The Community Foundation of South Alabama and was previously executive director of United Way of Baldwin County. Byrne has served in leadership roles for numerous civic, cultural and church organizations. (Source: Austal USA 12/07/19).

Amphib America arrives in Japan

The Huntington Ingalls Industries-built USS America (LHA-6) arrived at its new homeport of Sasebo, Japan, Dec. 5. The change puts the big-deck amphibious assault ship, designed to accommodate the F-35B Joint Strike Fighters, into the Western Pacific. America is part of the U.S. 7th Fleet force, and replaces another HII-built ship, USS Wasp (LHD-1), which moved to Naval Station Norfolk, Va., in November. America is one of two big-deck amphibs built without a well deck to focus on aviation operations. America and the future Tripoli (LHA-7), when compared to Wasp-class amphibs, have enlarged hangars, expanded aviation maintenance facilities, increased spare parts and equipment storage and increased aviation fuel storage. Tripoli’s commissioning has been delayed by shipbuilder HII-Pascagoula while it tests some of the ship’s systems. Tripoli is now expected to join the fleet in May 2020 and will likely be homeported in San Diego. Moving America to Japan expands on Marine capabilities moving to the Western Pacific. America, as part of Expeditionary Strike Group 7, is expected to regularly integrate its operations with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). Joining America in Sasebo is the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans (LPD-18), the second transport dock ship assigned to the forward-deployed amphibious fleet. Having a second LPD provides the Navy more flexibility to conduct maintenance on other forward-deployed amphibious warships and still generate three-ship amphibious ready groups. Currently, USS Green Bay (LPD-20) - Northrop Grumman Ship Systems New Orleans - USS Ashland (LSD-48) - Avondale Shipyard New Orleans - and USS Germantown (LSD-42) are stationed in Japan. (Source: USNI News 12/06/19) https://news.usni.org/2019/12/06/amphibious-assault-ship-uss-america-arrives-in-japan

Little Lagoon living shoreline project

In November, a team working on behalf of the Alabama Trustee Implementation Group, and project partners, met along the shore of Little Lagoon in southwest Alabama with the goal of restoring part of its eroding shoreline. The Little Lagoon Living Shoreline Project was approved by trustees in their second restoration plan, and the team began installing native wetland plants. The team planted 500 new plants along a heavily eroded part of the southwest shore of the lagoon. Thousands more are on the way in the next few months. This new living shoreline is an important first line of defense that will help reduce erosion and maintain or improve the water quality. The project will apply living shoreline techniques to restore, at a minimum, 2,200 feet of heavily eroded area along the southwest corner and southern shore of Little Lagoon in the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge. Restoration will include a combination of evaluation, planning, and installing a living shoreline, consisting of biodegradable coconut fiber logs, plantings (Spartina alterniflora and Juncus roemerianus), wave attenuation structures and/or native mussel seeding. Stabilization of the shoreline will also reduce erosion of adjacent habitat supporting endangered Alabama beach mouse and help create more storm-resilient and biologically productive shoreline habitats. (Source: Gulf Spill Restoration 12/05/19) https://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/2019/12/trustees-give-alabama-s-little-lagoon-new-living-shoreline?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery/

Austal mod pact: $9.1M

Austal USA of Mobile, Ala., is awarded a not-to-exceed $9,198,875 fixed priced incentive firm target (FPI(F)) undefinitized contract action modification to previously-awarded contract (N00024-19-C-2227) for the immediate procurement of long-lead-time material, engineering and production to support changes to the arrangement of the 02 and 03 Levels on Expeditionary Fast Transports (EPF) 13 and 14. The EPF class provides high speed, shallow draft transportation capability to support the intra-theater maneuver of personnel, supplies and equipment for the Navy, Marine Corps and Army. Work will be performed in Mobile, and is expected to be complete by November 2021. FY 2018 and FY-19 Navy shipbuilding and conversion funding for $4,599,438 will be obligated at time of the ward and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year -- FY-18 (62%); and FY-19 SCN (38%). Naval Sea Systems Command of Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. (DoD 12/06/19)

NAVSEA’s Scientist of Year from PC

PANAMA CITY, Fla. - Joshua Slaughter, a scientist at Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City (NSWCPC), Fla., was recently selected as Naval Sea Systems Command’s (NAVSEA) Scientist of the Year for his exceptional service. Slaughter is a computer scientist at NSWCPC where he currently serves as the lead for Synthetic Aperture Sonar (SAS) software development and integration for the NSWCPC component of the MK18 unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) program. His role involves transitioning SAS imaging technology into field-applicable, mine-countermeasure capabilities. “When I learned of my selection, I was certainly surprised. I know there is a tremendous amount of hard work and world-class expertise across the NAVSEA research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) community, so to be selected for this award is truly an honor.” (Source: NSWCPC 12/03/19) https://www.navsea.navy.mil/Media/News/Article/2030552/panama-city-scientist-honored-with-navsea-scientist-of-the-year-selection/fbclid/IwAR0wTGwjD2gG4KFP11DwAzg1QKyp2J1bDb5NnpMqu6lPbYof3hCBVRR9M_Q/

USS Mobile christening on Dec. 7

The Navy will christen its newest Independence-variant littoral combat ship, the future USS Mobile (LCS 26), during a 10 a.m. CDT ceremony on Dec. 7, at Austal USA’s shipyard in Mobile, Ala. U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne (R-Ala.) will deliver the christening ceremony's principal address. His wife, Rebecca Byrne, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of South Alabama, will serve as the ship’s sponsor. Rebecca Byrne will christen the ship by breaking a bottle of sparkling wine across the bow. LCS 26 is the 13th Independence-variant and the 26th in its class. It is the fifth ship named in honor of Alabama’s only port city. (Source: DoD 12/03/19) https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Releases/Release/Article/2031699/navy-to-christen-littoral-combat-ship-mobile.

GC dredging maintenance pact

The Dutra Group, San Rafael, Calif., was awarded a $10,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for maintenance dredging in Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi. Bids were solicited via the internet with two received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 2, 2021. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile, Ala., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 12/02/19)

Least understood coastal bird

A research effort by Audubon Louisiana has revealed new information about one of the Gulf Coast’s least understood black rails bird. In an effort to research the birds, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration awarded a $3.9M grant to a Mississippi State University-led group of researchers to look into the rare and poorly understood marsh bird that is under consideration for protection under the Endangered Species Act. The research will look into bird’s high coastal marshland habitats, which will also support yellow rails and mottled ducks. Since 2017, Audubon Louisiana has collected one of the continent's richest pools of data on the elusive bird. The group's research is to be focused in Cameron and Vermilion parishes. (Source: NOLA.com 12/02/19) https://www.nola.com/news/environment/article_687f9c6e-0d64-11ea-8e8a-077f7bf88851.html

Pelican protector: Queen Bess Island

Thousands of brown pelicans flock to Queen Bess Island about three miles from the Grand Isle, La., coast to nest. The state wildlife officials recently has designated it a state wildlife refuge. Queen Bess Island offers physical protection for the birds by keeping them from mainland predators. Without designation it's been difficult to enforce legal protections against boaters who get too close during nesting season, according to Todd Baker, a Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries coastal resource manager. With the official designation, rules can be created to keep boaters at a safe distance during nesting season. The plan is for those rules to become effective by spring 2020 nesting season. The designation also underscores the island's role in bringing back the brown pelican, Louisiana's state bird, which was nearly wiped out by agricultural pesticides from Mississippi River dumps in the 1950s. (Source: NOLA.com 11/27/19) https://www.nola.com/news/article_8b4e66d0-1057-11ea-8e5e-ff8f916ed78c.html