HII wins LHA-9; Austal disappointed

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) Pascagoula, Miss., is awarded an $187,469,732 not-to-exceed undefinitized contract action for long lead time material and associated engineering and design activities in support of one Amphibious Assault Ship Replacement (LHA(R)) Flight 1 Ship and LHA 9. Work will be performed in Pascagoula (33%); Beloit, Wis. (23%); Brunswick, Ga. (21%); King of Prussia (11%) and York, Pa., (10%); Brampton, Ontario, Canada (1%); and Hanrahan, La. (1%). Work to be performed is the procurement of long lead time material for LHA 9, the fourth LHA (R) America Class and the second LHA(R) Flight 1 ship. Work is expected to be complete by February 2024. FY 2019 Navy shipbuilding and conversion funding in the amount of $187,469,732 will be obligated at award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 04/30/20)

UP TO 10 FFG(X)s: Marinette (Wis.) Marine Corp. is awarded a $795,116,483 fixed-price incentive (firm target) contract for detail design and construction (DD&C) of the FFG(X) class of guided-missile frigates, with additional firm-fixed-price and cost reimbursement line items. The contract with options will provide for the delivery of up to 10 FFG(X) ships, post-delivery availability support, engineering and class services, crew familiarization, training equipment and provisioned item orders. If all options are exercised, the cumulative value of this contract will be $5,576,105,441. Work will be performed at multiple locations, including Marinette (52%); Boston (10%); Crozet, Va. (8%); New Orleans (7%); New York City (6%); Washington, D.C. (6%), Sturgeon Bay, Wis. (3%), Prussia, Pa. (3%), Minneapolis (2%); Cincinnati (1%); Atlanta (1%); and Chicago (1%). The base contract includes the DD&C of the first FFG(X) ship and separately priced options for nine additional ships. The FFG(X) will have multi-mission capability to conduct air warfare, anti-submarine warfare, surface warfare, and electronic warfare and information operations. FFG(X) represents the evolution of the Navy's small surface combatant, with increased lethality, survivability and improved capability to support the National Defense Strategy across the full range of military operations in the current security environment. Work is expected to be complete by May 2035, if all options are exercised. FY 2020 Navy shipbuilding and conversion funding in the amount of $795,116,483 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website and four offers were received. The Navy conducted this competition using a tradeoff process to determine the proposal representing the best value, based on the evaluation of non-price factors in conjunction with price. The Navy made the best value determination by considering the relative importance of evaluation factors as set forth in the solicitation, where the non-price factors of design and design maturity and objective performance to achieve war-fighting capability were approximately equal and each more important than remaining factors. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 04/30/20)

UPDATE/Gulf Coast Note: Alabama-based shipbuilder Austal USA and HII-Pascagoula missed out on FFG(X) contract. Fincantieri, an Italian shipbuilder out of Wisconsin, was the winner. "Despite our extreme disappointment … we have a portfolio of other opportunities that we continue to pursue,” Austal USA President Craig Perciavalle told AL.com. “In addition to our backlog of EPF and LCS work that extends through 2024 including EPF variants and unmanned surface vessels. We have great facilities and an even greater workforce and we are committed to continuing to build highly capable and cost effective ships for the U.S. Navy.” Fincantieri’s was considered by military leaders as offering the best value, according to reports. Austal had been a frontrunner for the contract given its low cost, high performance approach to shipbuilding, but there were concerns about using aluminum on a ship meant for combat, noted reports. Austal uses aluminum to build its Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) and Expeditionary Fast Transports (EFT), but neither are designed for heavy sea-going combat. Any of the other bidders can contest the decision. (Source: AL.com 05/01/20)

Miss. River construction

Midwest Construction Co., Nebraska City, Neb., was awarded a $20,219,550 firm-fixed-price contract for construction of hardpoints and placement of riprap upper-bank paving at various locations on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. Bids were solicited via the internet with six received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of April 30, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Memphis, Tennessee, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 04/30/20)

Regional Army command assignments

The chief of staff of the Army announced April 30, the following officer assignments that have Gulf Coast regional ties: Maj. Gen. Diana M. Holland, commanding general, South Atlantic Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Atlanta, Ga., to commanding general, Mississippi Valley Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg, Miss. * Maj. Gen. Richard M. Toy, commanding general, Mississippi Valley Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg, Miss., to chief of staff, United Nations Command, Republic of Korea. * Brig. Gen. David S. Doyle, deputy commanding general (Support), 82d Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C., to commanding general, Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk, La. * Brig. Gen. Patrick D. Frank, commanding general, Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk, La., to chief of staff, U.S. Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. (Source: DoD 04/30/20)

ESG: Steel-cutting on OPC#2

PANAMA CITY, Fla. - Eastern Shipbuilding Group reports that steel cutting for the second Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC), Coast Guard Cutter CHASE (WMSM-916), commenced April 27. The cutting of steel started the fabrication and assembly of the cutter’s hull, and ESG is to complete keel laying of CHASE in 2021. Additionally, ESG has commenced the placement of orders for long lead time materials for OPC#3, Coast Guard Cutter INGHAM (WMSM-917). "Today marks a monumental event and reflects the dedication and resolve of our workforce to execute program milestones on-time,” ESG President Joey D’Isernia is quoted in a company media release. The OPC is designed to conduct multiple missions in support of the nation’s maritime security and border protection. It will provide a capability bridge between the National Security Cutter, which patrols the open oceans, and the Fast Response Cutter, which serves closer to shore. The OPC has the capability of carrying an MH-60R or MH-65 helicopter and three operational Over-The-Horizon small boats. On September 2016, the Coast Guard exercised the option for Detail Design on Eastern Shipbuilding Group’s OPC contract. The OPCs are intended to replace the Medium Endurance Cutters currently in service. The contract includes the production of up to four OPCs. (Eastern Shipbuilding 04/29/20)

Ala. acquires Weeks Bay acreage

The Alabama Trustee Implementation Group announced the acquisition of roghly 175 acres of the East Gateway Tract in Weeks Bay, located in Baldwin County, Ala., adjacent to Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve holdings. The State of Alabama acquired the tract to protect and conserve marine, coastal, estuarine, and riparian habitats damaged from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. ATIG approved the acquisition project in its second post-settlement restoration plan. The tract is diverse land that includes a micro-dune habitat, tidal streams, marshland, and forested wetlands. The marsh edge provides valuable nursery habitat for a host of estuarine organisms, including shrimp, crabs, and fish. (Source: ATIG 04/29/20) https://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/2020/04/gateway-weeks-bay-conserved-future-generations?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery.

Shipyards balance Virus vs Ops

The economic slowdown from COVID-19 related restrictions may be significantly disrupting the production of major defense programs and their supply chains, James Geurts, assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition told reporters in a media call on April 28. At shipyards, the near-term priority work is on track; but the Navy is still eye-balling potential problems over mid- and long-term work. Asked about continuing operations while the virus threatens shipyards and manufacturers, Geurts said, “we are seeing less (disruptions now), but we are still learning and studying hard what the potential downstream impacts could be.” The Navy and industry partners have only been five weeks into the pandemic, so it would be hard to draw large conclusions about impacts on specific programs. Some firms had disruptions and are just coming back. Protecting the workforce has meant remaining flexible and having a prevention plan, according to Huntington Ingalls Industries officials. During the past several weeks, the shipbuilder – at facilities at both Pascagoula, Miss., and Newport News, Va. - has steadily adapted its process by instituting evolving preventative measures. “I can say we have about 10 times as many people working remotely today as we did six weeks ago,” CEO Mike Petters said during the shipbuilder’s virtual meeting April 28. Roughly 10,000 employees are now teleworking, Beci Brenton, HII spokesperson, told USNI News after the meeting. HII did report employees testing positive for COVID-19 at both of its shipbuilding facilities – 30 employees at Pascagoula and 34 at Newport News, as of last weekend. Shipyards are increasing screening efforts, including temperature checks. Workers with fevers are told to stay home or seek medical attention. HII-Pascagoula started temperature checks (100.5 or higher is directed to get rechecked if same or higher the employee is sent to get a COVID-19 test and quarantine as necessary. Newport News will start a similar process next week, Brenton said. “My sense right now is (that) it is stabilizing and we are learning how to operate more and more efficiently in the midst of (the disease), as opposed to strictly trying to avoid having any infections,” Geurts said. (Source: USNI News 04/28/20) https://news.usni.org/2020/04/28/shipyards-continue-to-balance-covid-19-mitigation-with-efficient-operations.

Hospital ship returning to homeport

NORFOLK, Va. - The Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort, sent to relieve New York City hospitals as coronavirus cases surged in March, is set to leave the city April 30 and return to its homeport in Norfolk, Va., the Navy announced in a statement April 28. (Source: The AP 04/28/20)

Trio rescued from capzized boat

NEW ORLEANS - An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans rescued two females from the water near Grand Isle, La., after their 17-foot bass boat with three aboard capsized in the evening of April 29. The helicopter arrived on scene and located three people who had swam to a nearby rock jetty. The MH-65 aircrew was able to safely hoist the females and transport them back to CGAS New Orleans. It was reported that Jefferson Parish Sheriff Department's Marine Division launched a surface asset and recovered the male. All three were reported in stable condition. (Source: Coast Guard 04/29/20)

La. dredge contract option

Manson Construction of Seattle was awarded a $7,675,998 modification (P00002) to contract (W912P8-20-C-0010) to exercise option hours for the dredge Glenn Edwards. Work will be performed in Plaquemines Parish, La., with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2020. FY 2020 civil operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $7,675,998 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 04/29/20)

Robot navigation techniques for UUVs

Jackie Jermyn’s research on mobile robot navigation has earned the Panama City, Fla., native a SMART Scholarship from the Defense Department. The Florida State University engineering graduate student will be working with her college Ph.D. adviser, Rodney Roberts, on applications of simultaneous localization and mapping techniques for the navigation of unmanned underwater vehicles to support activities at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Panama City. (Source: Florida State 04/29/20) https://news.fsu.edu/news/2020/04/29/fsu-electrical-engineering-student-earns-department-of-defense-smart-scholarship/.

Studying econ losses by toxic algae

Across America, the seafood, restaurant and tourism industries have suffered millions of dollars in economic losses from harmful algal blooms from California to Florida, but the true economic losses caused by toxic algae blooms are unknown. The Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System (GCOOS) and NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) are funding two new studies designed to uncover the full costs of harmful algal blooms (HABs) across numerous sectors - from tourism and seafood to healthcare and construction. Florida is especially vulnerable to the socioeconomic damages of toxic blooms. This was apparent during the prolonged red tide that occurred from 2017 through early 2019 causing the state’s governor to declare a state of emergency. While most species are harmless to humans and animals, some, like the Karenia brevis, which causes Florida’s red tide, are toxic. When these species multiply they can wreak havoc on human and marine animal health, contaminate seafood and devastate local economies. The first of the studies, “From Bloom to Bust: Estimating Economic Losses and Impacts of Florida Red Tide (Karenia brevis),” will be conducted by Drs. Sergio Alvarez from the University of Central Florida and Dr. Heather O’Leary from the University of South Florida. The second, “Assessment of the short- and long-term socioeconomic impacts of Florida’s 2017-2019 Red Tide event,” will be conducted by Drs. Christa Court, Xiang Bi, Jin Won Kim, Angie Lindsey, Stephen Morgan, Andrew Ropicki and Ricky Telg from the University of Florida and David Yoskowitz from the Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University Corpus Christi. (Source: GCOOS 04/28/20) https://gcoos.org/tracking-habs/

Full speed ahead for Tellurian LNG

Tellurian Inc of Houston, which has proposed constructing a $30B liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal in Calcasieu Parish, La., announced April 28 that it has taken steps to lift its cash reserves to $100.7M in an effort to position itself “for a strong emergence from COVID-19 restrictions," CEO Meg Gentle told NOLA.com. Tellurian has restructured its business while laying off about 40 percent of its workforce. The firm also looks to sign a customer agreement with Petronet LNG Ltd, a state-controlled company based in New Delhi, India, over a long-term supply deal related to Tellurian’s $30B Driftwood LNG project near Lake Charles. The proposed Driftwood project has been estimated to be able to export 25.6M tons of LNG by 2023, drawing natural gas assets from the Permian Basin of Texas. The project is estimated to support 6,700 construction jobs and 300 permanent jobs in Louisiana. Even though the collapse of price futures, and crude oil storage running low, Tellurian remains confident in the near-future demand for LNG. "We remain bullish on long-term natural gas demand growth, underscoring the acute need for Driftwood LNG," Gentle said. (Source: NOLA.com 04/27/20) https://www.nola.com/news/business/article_5f2328c8-597e-11ea-b7f1-27ae2f9fd0fa.html.

La. O&Gs planning layoffs

Several Louisiana oil and gas industry businesses are expected to layoff at least 600 workers (or have already sent out pink slips) due to the economic downturn and a glut of oil caused by the coronavirus. Companies in Baton Rouge, Bossier City, Broussard, and New Iberia have each filed a layoff notification with the Louisiana Workforce Commission. The largest number of layoffs is for 350 workers in three pipe fabrication facilities in Port Allen run by Turner Industries of Baton Rouge. ASRC Energy Services Omega of New Iberia is closing its facility and laying off 180 starting in early June through August. Ensco Offshore Co., which recently changed its name to Valaris, is laying off an undisclosed number of workers at its Broussard office, who are assigned to work offshore in the Gulf of Mexico. It expects to begin layoffs May 30. Cactus Wellhead LLC of Bossier City, an oilfield services business, began laying off 42 workers April 1. The company laid off about 30% of its North American workforce at the same time. (Source: The Advocate 04/28/20) https://www.theadvocate.com/acadiana/news/coronavirus/article_56c0e8ae-897c-11ea-b722-27fe90a6f764.html.

CoE: Spillway to close by May 1

All bays in the Bonnet Carre Spillway structure should be closed by May 1 as the Mississippi River in New Orleans continues to fall and upriver flooding abates, the Army Corps of Engineers confirmed April 27. Last Friday,the CoE  began closing 10 bays a day of the remaining 80 open bays. The closure will mean the spillway opening lasted just short of a month. The structure was opened April 3 for an unprecedented sixth time in the past decade. (Source: NOLA.com 04/27/20)

Wind: GoM renewable energy plan

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s (BOEM) Gulf of Mexico OCS office announced the availability of two studies on renewable energy in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM). National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) researchers helped undertake the studies that were funded by the bureau’s Environmental Studies Program. “Offshore Renewable Energy Technologies in the Gulf of Mexico” analyzed different offshore renewable energy technologies to determine which are best suited for development. The renewable energy resources evaluated wind, wave, tidal, current, solar, deep-water source cooling, and hydrogen. Offshore wind showed the greatest resource potential and is the most mature technology of those analyzed. Once offshore wind was identified as the leading technology for application, BOEM and NREL further analyzed the economic feasibility of offshore wind for selected sites in the Gulf. In the “Offshore Wind in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico: Regional Economic Modeling & Site-Specific Analyses” the site-specific economic analysis indicated that a single offshore wind project could support about 4,470 jobs and $445M in GDP during construction, and an ongoing 150 jobs and $14M annually from operation and maintenance, materials, and services. Results are based on a 600-megawatt (MW) project at a reference site with a commercial operation date of 2030. Based on findings from the first phase, NREL determined offshore wind has the highest potential to deliver utility- scale electricity from ocean-based renewable energy. Its conclusion is based on the quantification and relative scoring based on three factors: Resource adequacy, technology readiness, and cost competitiveness. The results of these studies will inform federal, state, and local strategic renewable energy planning over the next decade. (Source: Work Boat 04/28/20) https://www.workboat.com/news/offshore/two-new-renewable-energy-studies-available-from-boem.

Port NOLA board adopts PIER Plan

NEW ORLEANS – The Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) Board of Commissioners adopted the Port Inner Harbor Economic Revitalization (PIER) Plan at its meeting April 23. The plan is a collaborative vision to focus on future development and revitalization of the Inner Harbor Industrial corridor aiming at increasing commercial activity, and creating jobs. The PIER Plan is funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Other partners include the Regional Planning Commission, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, and Deep South Center for Environmental Justice. A stakeholder’s panel helped provide input and feedback over the course of more than two years of data gathering, analysis and public meetings. Port NOLA’s Strategic Master Plan, adopted in 2018, laid out a 20-year vision and roadmap for growth that identifies the need for regional freight-based economic development. The planning effort provides a framework for PIER Plan. To view the entire adopted plan visit: www.portnola.com/assets/pdf/Port-NOLA-2020-PIER-PLAN_web.pdf

Successful oil spill containment

WASHINGTON, D.C. - An innovative sub-surface oil containment and recovery system, installed in April 2019 over a damaged oil platform, Taylor Energy Mississippi Canyon 20 (MC20), in the northern Gulf of Mexico, is successfully preventing more than 1,000 gallons of oil per day from entering the environment. Scientific research and lessons learned following Deepwater Horizon have allowed the development of unique oil spill response systems to help protect the maritime environment from future threats. In 2004, the platform was toppled during Hurricane Ivan creating an ongoing flow of oil into the GoM. Scientists from multiple government agencies and academic institutions, conducted two studies of the gas-emitting site. The containment and collection system was developed and implemented in five months in order to quickly stem the flow of oil. The system has recovered more than 375,000 gallons of oil since it was installed. Environmental protection continues, with the Coast Guard overseeing continuous oil collection and containment system maintenance. (Source: Coast Guard HQ 04/27/20) https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDHSCG/bulletins/288b0db

La.'s rec amberjack season to reopen

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced April 28 that the recreational greater amberjack season will reopen in Louisiana and federal waters on May 1, and remain open through May 31. The recreational season closure of June 1 through July 31 will remain in effect. Following the fixed closed season, the recreational season will reopen on August 1 and remain open until October 31 or until the annual quota is met or projected to be met. For more information visit https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/recreational-saltwater-finfish

HII $10.1M for DDG-119 work

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) Pascagoula, Miss., is awarded a $10,100,000 cost-plus-award-fee delivery order against previously awarded basic ordering agreement (N00024-16-G-2303) to provide program management, advanced planning, engineering, design, material procurement/kitting, liaison, scheduling, participation in planning conferences and design reviews in support of the post shakedown availability (PSD) for DDG-119. Work will be performed in Pascagoula (75%); and Norfolk, Va. (25%). It is expected to be complete by August 2021. FY 2020 Navy shipbuilding and conversion funding in the amount of $10,100,000 will be obligated at time of delivery order 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), with only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair-Gulf Coast of Pascagoula is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD awarded 04/24/20)

LCS crews: Mission-ready 'family'

SOUTH CHINA SEA – Being aboard one of the newest ship classes of combatants in the Navy is “literally a place where everybody knows your name,” said Engineman 2nd Class Eric A. Torres, assigned to the Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10). Working on an LCS is “similar to working with family. We see each other as brothers and sisters, instead of co-workers.” Manning aboard an LCS consists of 70 sailors. “We get put through a rigorous training cycle … that ensures when sailors get to the command, they can hit the ground running,” said Chief Quartermaster Jarrod Collins, “and that training ensures when sailors (arrive) they can hit the ground running.” LCS training guarantees sailors understand every detail of their job requirement and the importance of being versatile, he continued. Everyone pitches in. Minimal manning requires sailors have multiple collateral duties. “One minute I could be handling my primary duties,” said Collins, and next in engineering or on deck to assist with performing a task. “We have to be mission-ready at all times,” said Torres, “which makes communication … that much more important” so that everyone’s on the same page. The LCS also encourages sailors to reach beyond a normal scope of responsibility, enabling them to become adept at handling a wider array of taskings for their careers. Attached to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7, Gabrielle Giffords is on her rotational deployment to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of security and stability in the Indo-Pacific. (Source: DESRON SEVEN 04/2/20) Gulf Coast Note: LCS 10 was built at Austal USA's shipyard in Mobile, Ala.  https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=112761

GA-EMS supports Ford flight deck cert

SAN DIEGO - General Atomics’ Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) announced April 23 that successful USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) Flight Deck Certification (FDC) has been completed with the support of the electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS) and advanced arresting gear (AAG) system. The number of aircraft to have landed/taken off from CVN 78 totals more than 2,000. CVN 78 used fleet squadrons to obtain hundreds of sorties over a 2-week period. All arrested landings/catapult launches were completed safely. “We continue to see EMALS and AAG perform according to specifications to execute cats and traps with the objective of reaching the robust evolution rates necessary for combat,” stated Scott Forney, president of GA-EMS. “We are working closely with the Navy and CVN 78 crew to ensure operational performance is achieved. We remain extremely proud of our team(s) … for all their hard work and dedication and look forward to continuing success as CVN 78 undergoes these continued at sea periods.” FDC is a qualification of the ship’s various aviation systems. GA-EMS is delivering EMALS and AAG to the future USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) and USS Enterprise (CVN 80). (Source: Seapower Magazine 04/24/20) Mississippi Note: GA’s Electromagnetic Systems (EMS) Division production and test facility is located at Tupelo, Miss. It supports production of EMALS and AAG programs for next‐generation aircraft carriers. https://seapowermagazine.org/general-atomics-emals-and-aag-support-successful-ford-flight-deck-certification/

Comfort prepares to leave NYC

NEW YORK - The Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort, sent to relieve stress on New York City hospitals at the height the pandemic, was to have discharged or transferred its last 12 patients this past weekend as it nears the end of its mission, according to Northwell Health, which provides operational assistance to the vessel. Comfort, docked at a Manhattan pier since March 30, will soon leave for its homeport in Norfolk, Va., where it will restock and ready for another potential assignment, says Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman. He did not provide a date for the ship’s departure. As of Saturday, the hospital ship had treated 182 patients. There was one patient aboard as of late Saturday evening. Hoffman said Comfort’s impending departure “is a sure sign of modest progress in mitigating the virus in the nation’s hardest hit city and is a welcome sign.” (Source: The AP 04/26/20)

CG suspends search near Grand Isle

NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard was searching for a person in the water near Grand Isle, La., on Sunday morning (April 26). Missing is Marvin Fuentes a 32, of Metairie, La. Fuentes was wearing a white and blue stripped shirt and brown shorts, family members reported. He reportedly entered the water to assist his son in getting to shore, and after getting his son to shore, was not seen. Involved in the search are: CG Station Grand Isle's 24-foot Response Boat; CG Air Station New Orleans' MH-65 Dolphin helicopter; CG Aviation Training Center Mobile's HC-144 Ocean Sentry; CG Cutter Sailfish; and Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries. Anyone with information on Fuentes’ whereabouts are asked to contact CG Sector New Orleans at (504) 365-2200. On Saturday (April 25), the CG rescued six people from the water after a vessel capsized near Mobile, Ala. CG Sector Mobile received a report from Seatow at 11:15 p.m. of a 22-foot SeaPro taking on water with six people aboard. CG Station Dauphin Island launched a 45-foot Response Boat/boat crew and CG Air Station New Orleans an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter/aircrew. The boat crew arrived to find all six in the water. Five were wearing lifejackets. The boat crew picked up the six people and transferred them to CG Station Dauphin Island to awaiting EMS. All six were reported to be in stable condition. (Source: Coast Guard 04/26-27/20) UPDATE: The Coast Guard has suspended its search April 28 for Marvin Funes, the person in the water near Grand Isle, La. The CG searched 326 square nautical miles for some 47 hours. (Source: CG 04/28/20)

CBO: GDP expected to fall 12%

America’s gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to fall 12 percent in the second quarter of 2020 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, according to an April 24 blog from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). Twelve percent is equivalent to an annual rate decline of 40 percent for the second quarter, CBO claimed. The federal deficit is also expected to reach $3.7T for FY 2020. Fedderal debt held by the public is projected to be 101 percent of GDP by the end of the year, according to CBO's projections. (Source: Fox Business 04/25/20) https://www.foxbusiness.com/money/us-gdp-12-percent-deficit-3-trillion?utm_source=american-truth_org

2020 Census milestone: GC #s

The country has reached a milestone for the 2020 Census. More than half, 54.8 percent, of all households in the U.S. have responded as of April 24: That’s 78.1M households from 52 states, territories and DC. Minnesota leads the way: 63.5 percent. Gulf Coast (GC) regional states’ percent of household responses are: Alabama (51.1% for #29); Florida (50.1% for #30); Mississippi (49.4% for #36); and Louisiana (47.9% for #40). Mississippi city rankings: Madison (70.5%), Tupelo (56.9%), Gulfport (52.9%), Columbus (52.7%), and Jackson (55.5%). Glendora was at the bottom of the city list (3.3%). It is a village in Tallahatchie County with a population of 285 in the 2000 Census. In Louisiana, Harahan had the highest percent of responses with 61.6%), Slidell 56.1%, Bossier City (54.4%), Morgan City (47.3%), New Orleans (46.7%), and low city on the totem pole was Grand Isle (2.2%). Grand Isle is in south Jefferson Parish at the mouth of Barataria Bay where it meets the Gulf of Mexico. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,296. In Alabama, Mountain Brook (71.1%), Fairhope (59.4%), Mobile (52%), Tuscaloosa (44.1%), and on the lowest end, Myrtle Wood (0.8%). As of the 2000 Census, there were 139 people, 59 households, and 45 families residing in the Morengo County town. In Florida, Lake Clarke Shores was No. 1: (69.2%). In NW Florida, Niceville (62.8%), Valparaiso (59.6%), Gulf Breeze (56.6%), Pensacola (54.2%), Fort Walton Beach (53%). At the lowest end was Lake Buena Vista (0.8%). It is Lake Buena Vista in Orange County, and mostly known for being the mailing address for Walt Disney World. Its population was 10 at the 2010 census. (Source: 2020 Census 04/24/20) Notable: The planned completion date for data collection for the 2020 Census is July 31. However, that date can and will be adjusted if necessary as the situation evolves in order to achieve a complete and accurate count, according to the 2020 Census website. https://public.tableau.com/profile/us.census.bureau?utm_campaign=20200424msc20s1ccallnl&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery#!/vizhome/2020CensusSelf-ResponseRankings/RankingsDashboard.

Cost(s) of protecting La. community

On a rainy August in a New Orleans neighborhood, Jordan Stadler, a late 20s life-long resident of southeast Louisiana, spent the night ferrying people to safety in his grandfather’s canoe. Rising water had stranded neighbors at their doorsteps, but the water wasn’t due to high river levees. It’s just New Orleans, and there's nowhere for the water to go. Stadler has since had second thoughts about investing in NOLA properties. He’s been flooded from various homes five times since he was a kid. Lafitte, a coastal region, home to four historical coastal communities, is about 30 miles downstream, where flooding is worse. Between 1973-2010, rising seas and eroding coastlines has brought the Gulf of Mexico 4.5 miles inland. The region is home to four historic coastal communities. The flood risk is high, but so is its cultural value. The costs and challenges of protecting this region are the focus of a recent paper by Christopher Siverd and scientists at Louisiana State University, which was published last January in the journal Climatic Change. They modeled flood risk for Lafitte based on future sea level rise and storm surge forces of 2012’s Hurricane Isaac. Lafitte is protected by nine miles of raised earthen barriers/levees. In 2012, Louisiana’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority proposed building a ring of levees (29.5 miles long) to protect the area, but the contentious project carries a hefty cost. The LSU researchers know about what it would cost, per person, to really save Lafitte from rising seas, thermal expansion and melting polar ice caps, and subsidence, a phenomenon that causes the ground surface to sink due to underwater oil and gas extraction and lack of new sediment. By 2110, proposed levees would have to be about 26 feet high in the face of a hurricane of Isaac’s strength. The cost of this measure, if the population of Lafitte stayed constant, would exceed $300,000 per resident - about $1.4B for all 4,700 people of Lafitte. In the interim, the state is losing about 100 yards of wetlands every 100 minutes. A 2010 report by Earth Economics found these wetlands provide ecosystem services worth between $12B and $47B annually. (Source: Massive Science 04/23/20) https://massivesci.com/articles/flood-new-orleans-louisiana-lafitte-hurricane-cost-climate-change/

Priority shift: Profiting to preservation

Two hundred million gallons of crude oil, and a decade after the Deepwater Horizon disaster, the Gulf of Mexico’s beaches of Baldwin County, Ala., have returned to life. Environmentalists say lessons learned from that catastrophe has shifted from profiting from nature to preserving it. Agencies and grass-roots groups have turned the disaster into opportunity. It took years of negotiations, but end results were millions of dollars allotted to Alabama: $356M in criminal claims under the Clean Water Act; and under the RESTORE Act, about $1.3B was made from civil claims. That money is divided among projects and research focused on the coast. Many of those dollars can already be seen along the beach, waterways and inland ecosystems that find lead to the GoM. “I think the oil spill caused us to look at a lot of things. Maybe we took for granted the beauty we have here,” said Chris Blankenship, commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. “Since 2010, we have been more cognizant of the beauty and blessings we have and have a real desire to protect that.” Gov. Kay Ivey announced in April that the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation awarded $24M from spill-related funds to four new projects. In Baldwin County, the funds allow Alabama Forever Wild Land Trust to permanently protect 2,300 acres of coastal habitat where the Blackwater and Perdido rivers meet. The area includes four miles of frontage along both rivers, 1,200 acres of wetland and a 90-acre lake. Also, those funds will be used to restore highly-eroded riparian banks and stream channels in the Lower Fish River Watershed, which drains into Weeks Bay; and restoration of an unnamed tributary to Fish River near Marlow. This project will reduce sediment and nutrient pollution into Weeks Bay, improving water quality and enhancing seagrass beds and oyster reef habitat. The three additional projects include Gulf State Park Lodge and Associated Public Access Amenities Project; Fort Morgan Pier Rehabilitation Project; and the Laguna Cove Little Lagoon Natural Resource Protection Project. )(Source: Gulf Coast News Today 04/24/20) http://www.gulfcoastnewstoday.com/stories/protecting-what-was-nearly-lost,92318?

Ingalls delivers DDG 119 to Navy

PASCAGOULA, Miss. - Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division delivered the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer Delbert D. Black (DDG 119) to the U.S. Navy on April 24. Documents signed mark the official transfer of custody of the ship to the Navy. Delbert D. Black is scheduled to sail away from the shipyard in August. “We are proud to deliver our 32nd state-of-the-art destroyer to the Navy,” Ingalls Shipbuilding President Brian Cuccias said. “Our workforce plays a critical role in protecting those who serve our nation." DDG 119 is the first ship named in honor of Navy veteran Delbert D. Black, who served as a gunner’s mate and was aboard the battleship USS Maryland (BB 46) during the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on Dec. 7, 1941. The shipyard currently has four more DDGs under construction: Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121), Lenah H. Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123), Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125) and Ted Stevens (DDG 128). (Source: HII-Pascagoula 04/24/20)

Port NOLA's volume downturn

The Port of New Orleans showed a large-volume downturn in the month of March as the coronavirus pandemic started to hit freight and cruise ship businesses. Cruise passenger numbers fell 55 percent to about 72,000, compared to February, yet down by about the same amount in March 2019, according information presented to the port's board of commissioners April 23. It should be noted that zero cruise sailings took place after March 15’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention "no sail" order, which was been extended until at least the end of July. Container shipping volume and break bulk were also down in March. Container volume was down nearly 8 percent. Break bulk cargo was down about 22 percent. (Source: NOLA.com 04/24/20) https://www.nola.com/news/business/article_92419290-85ab-11ea-bc6a-373813c4cb3b.html.

New director for NAVSEA warfare

WASHINGTON - Dr. Brett Seidle has been selected as executive director of Naval Sea Systems Command’s (NAVSEA’s) Naval Surface and Undersea Warfare Centers succeeding Donald McCormack, who retires April 30. Seidle most recently served as the technical director of the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Crane (Ind.) Division, where he provided technical leadership and supervision for 3,700 employees. With more than 27,000 employees, the NAVSEA Warfare Centers represent about 30 percent of the Navy’s engineering and scientific expertise. NSWC is comprised of eight echelon-four Divisions, which includes Naval Surface Warfare Center in Panama City, Fla. (Source: NAVSEA Warfare Centers 04/23/20) https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=112730.

Shark chumming waters of PB biz

JEANERETTE, La. - Shipbuilder Metal Shark is building a welded aluminum 55-foot pilot boat (PB) for the Pascagoula (Miss.) Bar Pilots Association. Designed in-house, the new 55 Defiant Pilot represents the latest evolution of Metal Shark’s pilot boat lineup. The distinctive vessel incorporates the “faceted hull” design initially developed by Metal Shark for the Navy 40 PB program, and features an enhanced version of Metal Shark’s signature “pillarless glass” in a two-tiered, reverse-raked arrangement. The new vessel is scheduled to be delivered this year. Metal Shark delivered two 45-foot Defiants to Belle Chasse (La.) Marine Transportation last year, and a 45-foot and 64-foot Defiant in 2018. (Source: Metal Shark 04/23/20) Metal Shark has three fully self-contained shipbuilding facilities in Alabama (Mobile) and Louisiana (Jeanerette/Franklin), plus a dedicated engineering facility in Croatia. Metal Shark over 500 employees and produces 200-plus vessels annually with on time deliveries. https://www.metalsharkboats.com/april-23rd-2020-metal-shark-announces-new-55-foot-pilot-boat-now-under-construction/

Weeks orders 2nd dredge from ESC

Dredging contractor Weeks Marine of Covington, La., has ordered a new trailer suction-hopper dredger from Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG) to be delivered in early 2023. The new dredge, RB Weeks, is to be constructed at Eastern's Allanton shipyard in Panama City, Fla. The RB Weeks is to be a sister ship to the ESG-built twin screw TSHD Magdalen placed into service in 2018. The shipbuilding order, signed April 16, 2020, adds to billions of dollars in capital investments made recently by the American dredging industry, according to the industry group Dredging Contractors of America. “This is the third major capital construction shipbuilding project in as many years for Weeks Marine,” said William P. Doyle, CEO of Dredging Contractors of America. In addition to RB Weeks and Magdalen, Weeks placed into service its new cutter-suction dredge, CSD JS Charity, built last August at C&C Shipyard in Belle Chase, La. (Source: Marine Link 04/23/20) https://www.marinelink.com/news/weeks-marine-orders-new-dredger-eastern-477885?utm_source=MT-ENews-2020-04-23&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=MT-ENews.

Some 26 ships w/ coronavirus cases

WASHINGTON - There are currently coronavirus cases on 26 Navy ships. Fourteen others have been hit by the virus, but the crews impacted have recovered, according to a senior Navy official. The 26 ships with current cases are in ports or maintenance yards, the official added. The Navy does not now release the names or exact numbers of cases on those ships impacted due to Pentagon policy that states it would risk operational security if made public. There are about 90 ships at sea with no reported cases. The Navy currently has 297 active duty warships. (Source: CNN 04/22/20) https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/22/politics/us-navy-coronavirus-cases/index.html

Bollinger delivers Alaskan ATB

LOCKPORT, La. - Bollinger Shipyards’ Amelia, La., fabrications facility delivered an articulated tug-barge (ATB) unit capable of transporting multiple clean petroleum products in the Alaska market to Crowley Fuels LLC – the Alaska-based petroleum transportation, distribution and sales unit of Crowley Maritime Corp of Jacksonville, Fla. Crowley provided vessel Construction Management services, at the Amelia facility. The company’s Seattle-based naval architecture and marine engineering firm, Jensen Maritime, provided the functional design. Bollinger’s engineering team provided the integration, detail design and construction package. “(T)he Bollinger team is proud to have built this ATB for Crowley Fuels,” said Bollinger Shipyards President/CEO Ben Bordelon. “Contracts like this to build Jones Act classed ATB units, create and protect many jobs for U.S. mariners, shipyards and ancillary vendors” and that strengthens the local/regional industrial base, makes Bordelon “extremely proud” to be a part of a workforce that continues to safely focus and deliver this “extremely unique, complex and very capable vessel.” The Alaska class ATB unit, measuring 128-feet long, was built to meet Ice Class and Polar Code requirements, which include increased structural framing and shell plating and extended zero discharge endurance. The double-hulled design also features a barge form factor to achieve high-cargo capacity on minimal draft. (Source: Bollinger Shipyards 04/21/20) Bollinger is among leading designers and builders of fast military patrol boats, ocean-going double hull barges, offshore oil field support vessels, tug boats, rigs, lift-boats, inland waterways push boats, barges, and other steel and aluminum products from its new construction shipyards. Bollinger has 10 shipyards located throughout Louisiana with direct access to the Gulf of Mexico, Mississippi River and the Intracoastal Waterway. Bollinger is the largest vessel repair company in the Gulf of Mexico region. http://www.bollingershipyards.com/blog/bollinger-delivers-articulated-tug-and-barge-unit-atb-to-crowley-fuels-l-l-c.

'Sorry, Charlie' this tuna is a record

PASS CHRISTIAN, Miss. - There's a new state record Yellowfin Tuna in Mississippi's record books for that species using conventional tackle, the state Commission on Marine Resources certified on April 21. Fisherman Michael McElroy III of Hattiesburg landed the 236 pounds, 9.6 ounce behemoth on March 30. McElroy said it took him 5-1/2 hours to land the fish. The previous record was a 205 pounds and 12.8 ounces. McElroy's record catch came but a few days Gov. Tate Reeves ordered a shelter-in-place due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Source: The AP 04/22/20)

HAL de-programs La. office, staff

Texas-based Halliburton Company (HAL), one of the world's largest providers of products and services to the energy industry, laid off 36 workers permanently from its Broussard, La., facility on April 14. The facility itself, about 7 miles SSE of Lafayette, La., is also shuttering its office doors, according to a letter from the company sent to the Louisiana Workforce Commission under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act. Among the types of jobs lost include geologists, quality assurance inspectors and mechanical technicians. “This was a difficult … but necessary action as we work to successfully adapt to challenging market conditions," the company stated. It’s not clear how many workers HAL has in Louisiana. They did not respond to further comment about its total local workforce. In a media release April 20, HAL reported a net loss of $1B for the first quarter of 2020. Net income for the first quarter of 2019 was $152M. The oil services giant has laid off hundreds of workers across Texas and Oklahoma in recent weeks, and closed its facility outside of Oklahoma City in December that employed about 800. It has furloughed some 3,500 workers at its Houston office until June. (Source: Acadiana Advocate 04/22/20) Halliburton is one of the world's largest providers of products and services to the energy industry. The firm has about 50,000 employees representing 140 nationalities in more than 80 countries, according to its website. https://www.theadvocate.com/acadiana/news/business/article_c7a415fa-84b8-11ea-9a34-2f0d7b266f12.html?utm_medium=notification&utm_source=pushly&utm_campaign=desktop_push.

FL/LA/MS ILS site support work

ASR International Corp., dba ASR Management & Technical Services of Hauppauge, NY (N64498-20-D-4001); The McHenry Management Group of Chesapeake, Va. (N64498-20-D-4002); EHS Technologies Corp. of Moorestown, NJ (N64498-20-D-4003); NDI Engineering Co. of Thorofare, NJ (N64498-20-D-4004); Advanced Internet Marketing, dba as The GBS Group of Virginia Beach, Va. (N64409-20-D-4016); and Transtecs Corp. of Wichita, Kan. (N64498-20-D-4017) are each awarded $26M - $34M (approximately) for an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract with firm-fixed-price task order provisions for integrated logistics services to support logistics functional areas for planning, implementation and management of hull, mechanical and electrical new acquisition/construction systems. The contract awarded to ASR Management is not to exceed $29,400,673; contract award to The McHenry Management Group is not to exceed $28,564,387; contract awarded to EHS Technologies Corp. is not to exceed $29,583,745; contract being awarded to NDI Engineering is not to exceed $28,551,630; contract awarded to The GBS Group is not to exceed $33,757,971; and the contract awarded to Transtecs Corp. is not to exceed $34,165,405. Work will be performed in Philadelphia, Pa. (24%); and the remaining (76%) will be performed in Washington, District of Columbia; Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Pascagoula, Miss.; Norfolk, Virginia; Bath, Maine; Panama City, Fla.; Slidell, La.; San Diego; Port Hueneme, Calif.; Keyport, Wash.; Japan; and Sigonella, Sicily, Italy, as determined by individual task order awards. This requirement is to provide integrated logistics services (ILS) to support logistics functional areas for planning, implementation and management of hull, mechanical and electrical new acquisition/construction systems and initiatives. Services performed by the contractors shall include various logistics support tasks necessary for continued operational readiness of the organization. The services required include: acquisition program support; logistics program support; engineering program support; manpower, personnel and training support; planned maintenance/technical feedback support; ILS certification support; configuration support and associated analysis. Work is expected to be complete by April 2026. Fiscal 2013 and fiscal 2017 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funding in the amount of $60,000 ($10,000 minimum guarantee per contract) will be obligated at time of award via individual task orders and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. These contracts were competitively procured using full and open competition via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with eight offers received. The Naval Surface Warfare Center Philadelphia Division, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 04/22/20)

EPA-GoM grants for trash removal

BILOXI, Miss. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Gulf of Mexico Division announced it anticipates awarding more than $7.8M in grant funding to 17 recipients for innovative projects focused on reducing the amount of trash from waterways through prevention and/or removal. EPA has more than 50 partnership projects across the country as part of its ‘Trash Free Waters Program.’ The 17 recipients will target the Gulf of Mexico region for clean-up, trash prevention and education. Among some of the regional-likely awardees MS/AL Sea Grant (Mississippi State University); Mississippi State University's Industrial and Systems Engineering Dept.; University of Louisiana at Lafayette; LA UniMarCon - Louisiana State University dba LA Universities Marine Consortium; Escambia County (Fla.) Board of Commissioners; Gulf Coast Design Studio (Mississippi State); Florida Department of Environmental Protection; Ground Works New Orleans; City of Mobile, Ala.; and the Alabama Department of Environmental Management. (Source: EPA 04/22/20) The Gulf of Mexico Division is a non-regulatory program of EPA founded to facilitate collaborative actions to protect, maintain, and restore the health and productivity of the GoM in ways consistent with the economic well-being of the region. https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-announces-tentative-awardees-waterway-trash-reduction-grant-gulf.

NY Guv: Comfort no longer needed

NEW YORK – The Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort “not only brought comfort but also saved lives” in the fight against the coronavirus, said NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and after talking to President Trump, the ship is no longer needed and now could be sent elsewhere after being moored for weeks off Manhattan. At an evening press conference April 21, Cuomo said having the ship had been worthwhile, even as the need for it didn’t reach the levels that had been projected. The president said Tuesday that he asked Cuomo if “we could bring the Comfort back to its base in Virginia so that we could have it in other locations.” Trump said they would bring the ship back soon. (Source: The AP 04/21/20) https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2020/04/21/navy-hospital-ship-sent-to-nyc-for-outbreak-no-longer-needed-says-cuomo/

DoD predicts 3-month program delays

The Defense Department’s acquisition chief Ellen Lord told reporters April 20 that the agency is predicting a 3-month slowdown for major defense programs due to the coronavirus pandemic. The acquisition team did not identify specific programs, but the most vulnerable sectors would include aerospace and shipbuilding. There are 10,509 major prime contractors. More than 100 have shut down, and 68 have closed/reopened. Of 11,413 vendor-based companies, 427 have shuttered, with 147 having closed/reopened, she said. One of the measures DoD is taking to support the industrial base is boosting progress payment rates to contractors, raising them for large businesses from 80%-to-90%; and small businesses from 90%-to-95%. (Aviation Week 04/20/20) https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/budget-policy-operations/pentagon-predicts-three-month-major-program-delay?utm_rid=CPEN1000002255725&utm_campaign=23806&utm_medium=email&elq2=3246a4b618f0455aa4c91818256e274c.

Enviro groups sue CoE again

Louisiana-based and national environmental groups are suing the US Army Corps of Engineers (CoE) over alleged failure to consider the ecological impacts of repeated openings of the Bonnet Carre’ Spillway along the Mississippi River that could cause harm to sea turtles, manatees and other threatened marine species. New Orleans-based Healthy Gulf and the national group Defenders of Wildlife filed a federal lawsuit last week in the Southern District of Mississippi that says the CoE violated the Endangered Species Act by failing to consult with federal wildlife agencies about the harm opening the spillway may cause to marine species. The fact that the CoE had to open the Spillway four times in three years is unprecedented and has impacted the environment “never contemplated” when it was built almost a century ago, said Cynthia Sarthou, Healthy Gulf’s executive director. The CoE does not comment on ongoing litigation. (Source: NOLA.com 04/20/20) https://www.nola.com/news/environment/article_2dfd8866-8349-11ea-9b5e-6ff3328e7163.html.

Restoration projects since Deepwater

The Gulf Spill Restoration team is restoring resources in multiple locations across the Gulf of Mexico: Oyster reefs offshore of the five Gulf states (Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas); restoring habitats for migratory birds and sea turtles in multiple locations from barrier islands to beaches that line the Gulf Coast; wetlands, coastal, and nearshore habitats, and for improving water quality. The GSR is also continuing restoration of resources and habitats offshore in the GoM, including new projects for marine mammals, deep-sea habitats, fish, and sea turtles. List of projects at the 10th anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill. (Source: Gulf Spill Restoration 04/20/20) https://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/2020/04/10-years-after-deepwater-horizon-projects-implemented-multiple-locations?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery.

Marad awards grants to 24 shipyards

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (Marad) awarded $19.6M in discretionary grants to 24 small shipyards through the Small Shipyard Grant Program. “This $19.6 million federal government investment in the nation’s small shipyards will help maintain the U. S. shipyard infrastructure of our country,” U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao said in a statement. The program provides funding to assist eligible shipyards to modernize operations, improve efficiency, and reap the benefits of increased productivity by investing in emerging technologies and a highly skilled workforce. The program can also fund training projects that foster employee skills and enhance productivity. U.S. shipyards provide nearly 400,000 jobs, $25B of labor income, and $37.3B to the nation’s GDP. Regional recipients: ALABAMA - Alabama Shipyard of Mobile will receive $571,887 to upgrade four travel trucks with new assemblies on 150‐ton portal crane; and Blakely BoatWorks of Mobile, a full-service shipyard focused on new construction and marine repair projects, will receive $379,408 for a 500-ton press brake, welding machines, overhead cranes, and man lifts. LOUISIANA - C&C Marine and Repair of Belle Chasse, which provides general steel repairs on inland barges, will receive $979,638 for a 275‐ton crawler crane; and Cooper Consolidated of Convent, La., which provides midstream stevedoring, barge, marine, and logistics services, will receive $1.2M for a 620‐ton Marine Travelift boat hoist. MISSISSIPPI - VT Halter Marine of Pascagoula, which provides ship design, construction, repair and conversion, and maintenance and support, will receive $1.7M for a 1,250‐ton press brake. (Source: Work Boat 04/20/20) https://www.workboat.com/news/shipbuilding/20-million-in-small-shipyard-grants-awarded/

$7M HII mod pact for DDG-121's PDA

Huntington Ingalls Industries' (HII) Pascagoula, Miss., shipyard is awarded a $7,142,318 fixed-price incentive (firm target) modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-13-C-2307) to exercise an option for the accomplishment of post-delivery availability (PDA) work items for DDG-121. Work will be performed at HII-Pascagoula. Immediately following the preliminary acceptance of the vessel, HII will complete the efforts required for PDA work items in the contractor's yard. The modification for PDA work items will be accomplished before the vessel departs and sails away from the contractor's shipyard. Work is expected to be complete by February 2021. FY 2015 Navy shipbuilding and conversion; and FY-20 other Navy procurement funding in the amount of $7,142,318 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, DC, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 04/20/20) DDG-121 is the USS Frank E. Petersen Jr., an Arleigh Burke-class Flight IIA guided missile destroyer, the 71st overall in the class.

Deepwater@10: Lessons learned?

A $20.8B settlement after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill some 80 miles south of the Mississippi Gulf Coast is being spent in the five regional states to help the environment and economy recover after the worst oil spill in the nation's history. Ten years ago April 20, an explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig killed 11 people. The effects of the spill reached South Mississippi well ahead of the oil coming ashore. Tourists stopped coming to the entire Gulf Coast region. Teams of workers in hazmat suits replaced families sun bathing. Consumers worried about seafood’s safety, and businesses shut down. A decade later, a portion of the $2.2B BP paid to Mississippi may help the state get through the economic crisis of the coronavirus pandemic. In October, the Gulf Coast Restoration Fund Advisory Board recommend 14 projects to the state Legislature to be funded at $85.5M. Among the favored projects: $32.5M for USM’s Ocean Enterprise project in Gulfport; $18M to help build a YMCA in Gulfport; $8.8M for a parking garage in Ocean Springs, and millions more for technical schools and other projects. “That was before COVID-19,” said Sen. Scott DeLano, R-Biloxi, a member of the Senate appropriations committee. The oil spill anniversary comes just before the 50th anniversary of Earth Day on April 22. The real lesson learned was nobody was ready, according to Sam Sankar, former deputy chief council of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill commission and current senior VP of litigation for Earthjustice. “We trusted the oil industry to consider the risks. We trusted them to control the risks and the damage that would result,” he said. “Ten years later, we’re no better prepared than we were back then,” he said. (Source: Sun Herald 04/20/20)https://www.sunherald.com/news/state/mississippi/article241984356.html?#storylink=cpy

HII: LCS yard work mod pact $107.9M

Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding of Pascagoula, Miss., is awarded a $107,976,103 cost-plus-award-fee modification to previously-awarded contract (N00024-19-C-4313) to exercise options for the accomplishment of the planning yard services for the littoral combat in-service ships. Work will be performed in Hampton, Va. (50%); Pascagoula (37%); San Diego (7%); and Jacksonville, Fla., (6%). LCS ships are homeported in San Diego and Jacksonville. The requirements under this contract include, but are not limited to: Ship installation drawings development; ship change document updates; operating cycle integration program management; work integration package engineering; type commander response; ship configuration logistics support information system support; configuration data management; research engineering and modeling; provisioned items order; cost and feasibility studies; integrated planning yard material support; provisioning technical documentation; naval ships engineering drawing repository system input and data management; interface and coordination with regional maintenance centers and fleet entities; design alteration and modification development; review and tracing; managing related class ship selected record documents; and hull, mechanical and electrical engineering standardization efforts. Work is expected to be complete by April 2021. FY 2020 other Navy procurement; and FY-20 Navy operations and maintenance funding in the amount $18,854,046 is obligated at time of award, and funding in the amount of $1,115,122 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Sea Systems Command of Washington, DC, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 04/17/20)

Passenger vessel operators' loan

The Federal Reserve recently announced the establishment of the Main Street Lending Program to support small and medium-sized businesses that were in good financial standing before the coronavirus pandemic. The new program is different from the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). PPP is intended to help businesses until June 30. A Main Street Lending Program loan can provide assistance for a longer period. The Passenger Vessel Association said it appears that most of its members will be eligible to apply under this program. The program offers four-year loans to companies that employ up to 10,000 workers or with revenues of less than $2.5B. Principal and interest payments will be deferred for one year. Main Street Lending Program should be operational in May. Unlike PPP, a loan through the MSLP will not be forgivable, but must eventually be paid. Also, a Main Street loan recipient does not have to commit to maintaining a specific level of payroll and employees, but must agree to make “reasonable efforts” to maintain payroll and retain workers. An applicant must attest that it requires financing due to the exigent circumstances presented by the Covid-19 pandemic. To encourage banks to make these loans, the federal government will assume liability for 95 percent of the amount in the event of a default. MSLP is designed to enable up to $600B in new financing for businesses. Fact sheets about the MSLP - Main Street Lending Program fact sheet (Source: Work Boat 04/16/20)

First 6K-hp EMD on inland waterways

In mid-April, Conrad Shipyard of Morgan City, La., delivered a 6,000-hp towboat to Canal Barge Company of New Orleans. Built at Conrad-Amelia, La., the 166-foot Subchapter M-compliant H. Merritt ‘Heavy’ Lane Jr. is powered by Tier 4-compliant Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) 12ME23B engines. Designed by MiNO Marine of New Orleans, the vessel has a unique hull form to ensure adequate water flow to the propellers in all operating conditions. The H. Merritt ‘Heavy’ Lane Jr. has a maximum draft of 10-feet 6-inches. “The craftsmanship that went into the design and construction of this modern towboat is a testament to our shipbuilding team and their unwavering commitment to quality in every detail,” Conrad Shipyard Chairman/CEO Johnny Conrad said in a statement. “We are excited to bring online this new state-of-the-art towing vessel, which is the first 6,000-hp EMD of its kind on the inland waterways,” said H. Merritt Lane III, president/CEO of Canal Barge. CBC is one of the largest and most diverse privately-owned marine transportation and logistics solutions providers in the U.S. (Source: Work Boat 04/16/20) https://www.workboat.com/news/shipbuilding/conrad-delivers-6000-hp-towboat-to-canal-barge/

Textron SSC contract: $386M

Textron Inc. of New Orleans is awarded a $386,280,994 fixed-price-incentive-firm-target and firm-fixed-price modification to a definitized, previously-awarded letter contract (N00024-17-C-2480) for the construction of landing craft, air cushion (LCAC) 100 Class Ship-to-Shore Connector (SSC) Craft hull numbers 109 through 123. Work will be performed in New Orleans (80%); Camden, NJ (8%); Cincinnati, Ohio (8%); and Gloucester, UK (4%). The SSC program is the functional replacement of the existing fleet of LCAC vehicles, which are nearing the end of their service life. It is an air cushion vehicle designed for a 30-year service life. The SSC mission is to land surface assault elements in support of operational maneuver from the sea at over-the-horizon distances while operating from amphibious ships and mobile landing platforms. SSC provides increased performance to handle current and future missions, as well as improvements, which will increase craft availability and reduce total ownership cost. Work is expected to be complete by January 2025. FY Navy shipbuilding and conversion (SCN) funding in the amount of $8,168,067; FY-18 SCN funding in the amount of $236,986,570; FY-19 SCN funding in the amount of $198,693,525; and FY-20 SCN funding in the amount of $50,800,000 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, DC, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 04/16/20) The Navy accepted delivery of Craft 100 on Feb. 6. Craft 100 is the developmental unit for the next-generation landing craft, and will be located in Panama City, Fla., where additional testing and crew training will be conducted.

Fabrication start of 1st LPD Flight II

PASCAGOULA, Miss. - Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding recently started fabrication of the Navy’s newest San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock Harrisburg (LPD 30). The start of fabrication signifies that the first 100 tons of steel have been cut. “LPD 30 is the start of an exciting new era for the San Antonio class,” said Steve Sloan, Ingalls LPD program manager. “The start of fabrication for Harrisburg marks the beginning of the LPD Flight II program.” HII-Pascagoula has delivered 11 San Antonio-class ships to the Navy and has three under construction, including LPD 30. The ship will be the 14th in the San Antonio class and the first Flight II LPD. Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28) launched in March is scheduled to be delivered in 2021. (Source: HII 04/16/20) https://newsroom.huntingtoningalls.com/file/lpd30-rendering.

HII $23M FYS work for DDG-51s

Huntington Ingalls Industries of Pascagoula, Miss., is awarded a $23,374,575 cost-plus-award-fee modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-18-C-2312) to exercise options for accomplishment of follow yard class services (FYS) for the DDG-51 class destroyer program. Work will be performed in Pascagoula (98%); Washington, DC (1%); and Bath, Maine (1%). The FYS contract provides liaison and technical support; engineering, design and configuration management; systems engineering team; turnkey; special studies; baseline management; and crew indoctrination and orientation. Work is expected to be complete by April 2021. FYs 2016, 2018, 2015, 2014, 2019 and 2017 Navy shipbuilding and conversion funding in the amount of $22,061,799 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, DC, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 04/15/20)

MS infrastructure report card: D+

STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi schools may be closed due to the coronavirus, but the State of Mississippi got a D+ on its infrastructure systems report card April 14 from the American Society of Civil Engineers’ research of 12 categories including, aviation, bridges, dams, drinking water, energy, inland waterways, levees, ports, rail, roads, solid waste, and wastewater. Two key grades were roads and bridges – both got a D-. ASCE said a great deal of the state’s infrastructure was aging and outdated, which lead to the grade. It’s going to take increased awareness of the issues, and more funding, to fix the problems, according to Jacob Forrester, Infrastructure Report Card Chairman. (Source: WCBI 04/14/20) https://www.wcbi.com/mississippis-infrastructure-systems-receive-low-rating/

Webcast only for HII stockholders

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) April 28 annual meeting of stockholders will be changed to a live audio webcast only beginning at 10 a.m. CDT. The change was made to the public health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, government restrictions on gatherings, and to support the health/well-being of stockholders, employees and communities. Stockholders are encouraged to access the Annual Meeting prior to the scheduled start time to allow for time to log into the webcast and test computer systems. As described in the proxy materials distributed, one is entitled to participate in the virtual meeting if a stockholder at the close of business March 4, 2020, or hold a legal proxy for the meeting provided by a bank, broker or other intermediary. To access, participate in and vote at the Annual Meeting at www.meetingcenter.io/259157586, enter your personal control number and the password for the meeting, HII2020. (Source: HII 04/14/20)

La. firm's $108M spec ops pact

United States Marine Inc. of Gulfport, Miss., was awarded a $108,000,000 maximum indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity delivery order contract (H92405-20-D-0002) with a five-year ordering period in support of U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) for the production of Combatant Craft Assault. FY 2020 procurement funds in the amount of $12,000,000 are being obligated at the time of award. The work will be performed in Gulfport and is expected to be completed by April 13, 2025. The contract was awarded through a sole-source acquisition in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1) and Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. USSOCOM HQs of Tampa, Fla., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 04/13/20) USMI NOTE: Since 1987, USMI has designed and built military, patrol and special warfare boats ranging in length from 21 feet to 90 feet, constructed of high performance composites or aluminum. The company has become the premier builder of high-performance, special mission capable boats for the military.

28k+ National Guard on COVID duty

ARLINGTON, Va. - The National Guard has more than 28,000 personnel currently on duty as part of COVID-19 response efforts. Those numbers are likely to increase, according to National Guard Bureau Chief, Air Force Gen. Joseph Lengyel. National Guardsmen are supporting COVID-19 testing sites, constructing and staffing alternate care facilities, assisting state agencies in testing analysis, medical care, communication capacities and delivering needed supplies and equipment. In Louisiana alone, Guard members have delivered more than 600,000 N95 masks, three million gloves, 300 ventilators and nearly 100,000 protective suits to testing sites; and working at food banks and have distributed more than 400,000 pounds of food. “Disasters are not new to us,” said Army Brig. Gen. Keith Waddell, adjutant general of the Louisiana National Guard, “but like each disaster, this one is unique.” Many Guardsmen have taken on different roles for this disaster response. “We have traded missions (from) search and rescue .... for swabbing (11,000 symptomatic patients) at drive-through medical testing sites," and distributed protective equipment and ventilators, he said. The LNG has also had an impact at COVID-19 testing sites, specifically in Louisiana’s Orleans and Jefferson parishes, having “swabbed over 11,000 symptomatic citizens,” Waddell said.” Louisiana and New York are among the two states that have been most affected by COVID-19. (Source: National Guard Bureau 04/13/20) https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2147471/national-guard-chief-more-guard-members-to-be-called-up/ MISSISSIPPI NATIONAL GUARD: Some 25 members of the Mississippi National Guard’s (MSNG), 186th Air Refueling Wing (ARW) and the 47th Civil Support Team (CST) assisted with COVID-19 mobile testing unit April 1 in Meridian. The MSNG was able to test more than 100 patients a day. The Key Field-based 186th ARW can assist with anything from generator maintenance and repair, patient check in, traffic logistics, and administering the COVID-19 test to patients. The 47th CST is Mississippi’s full-time response team for emergencies that involve anything from weapons of mass destruction to toxic industrial chemicals. (Miss. Air National Guard 04/05/20)

ESG mod contract for 2nd OPC

Panama City, Fla.-based Eastern Shipbuilding Group announced April 6 that the Coast Guard executed a modification to the contract to build a second Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) and Long Lead Time Materials for a third OPC. This action also represents an “important step in the continuing recovery” of NW Florida and ESG following the devastation caused by Hurricane Michael in October 2018, said ESG President Joey D’Isernia. Looking back on the conditions of ESG’s shipyards and the community, after the hurricane, and to have a contract modification is just a testament “to how far we have come,” he said in the media release. “I could not be more proud of our team … and will continue to work diligently with our vendor network from 29 other states to produce high quality, highly capable vessels for the men and women of the USCG.” The CG exercised the option for Detail Design on Eastern Shipbuilding Group’s OPC contract on Sept. 15, 2016. ESG will construct the OPCs that will replace the current Medium Endurance Cutters. The contract includes the production of up to four vessels. (Source: Eastern Shipbuilding Group 04/09/20) www.easternshipbuilding.com/wp-content/sdaolpu/2020/04/Eastern-Construction-Final-Press-Release_H2-LL3-Final-for-Release.pdf.

CG adds year for some BWTS installs

The U.S. Coast Guard is giving more time for vessels being impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic to comply with regulations requiring ballast water treatment systems (BWTS) to be installed aboard. In recognizing the impact of public health and the significance of a continued flow of maritime commerce, the CG has stated that vessels with BWTS compliance dates before April 1, 2021, will have an extra 12 months to comply. (Source: Marine Link 04/10/20) https://www.marinelink.com/news/us-grants-bwts-extension-due-covid-477500?utm_source=MR-ENews-EditorsChoice-2020-04-12&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=MR-ENews

Taking care is upside to pandemic

While the news surrounding the coronavirus pandemic appears to be doom and gloom, there's been a number of upsides. People are stepping up to take care of one another, whether it’s helping a neighbor or trying to cheer up a first responders. If you're looking to brighten your day, read on to discover a few feel-good stories. * Barbara Benoit discovered a stranger's free motivational gifts while on a walk. The best things in life are often free. During the walk, she discovered a dish on the ground full of painted stones with motivational phrases, like "let it be" and "you're braver than you think." Next to the dish was a note recommending passersby take one for themselves or a friend who might need encouragement. * Then there was very young boy who delivered Easter treats to his entire block. Jamie Thom's son wanted to make sure the holiday was a happy one. To ensure that his neighbors could enjoy it, they brought treats and cards decorated by the toddler to 61 homes on their block. * Shop donates microwave to a stroke patients to help them stay nourished while house-bound. * 16-year-old has been flying medical supplies to hospitals around Virginia in need.  * Shopkeeper brought a box of groceries to a quarantined family. * Young boy creates a whole tutorial to teach others how to grow their own food under quarantine. (Source: Best Life 04/09/20) https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/wellness/13-uplifting-stories-that-will-warm-your-heart-right-now/ar-BB12oxdN?ocid=spartandhp