SEALIFT

Merchant Marine Reserve Program becomes Strategic Sealift Officer Program

After extensive coordination with several Navy organizations and the U.S. Maritime Administration, the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Fleet Readiness and Logistics approved revisions to the latest CNO Instruction (OPNAVINST 1534.lD) transitioning the Merchant Marine Reserve (MMR) Program into the Strategic Sealift Officer Program (SSOP) on June 10. The SSOP supports national defense sealift requirements and capabilities, which are executed by Military Sealift Command (MSC).  The program provides the Navy with officers that possess sealift, maritime operations, and logistics subject matter expertise, and further hold U.S. Coast Guard credentials as merchant marine officers. "These changes will help align and improve support to Military Sealift Command and numerous other Joint and Navy commands," said Vice Adm. Bill Burke, Deputy CNO for Fleet Readiness and Logistics, who is the SSOP program sponsor.  "This revision improves stewardship, integration, and opportunities for about 2,400 Navy Reserve officers." The SSOP, like the old MMR Program, will continue to provide the capability for emergency crewing of sealift ships and shoreside support to Navy commands that require unique maritime expertise.  Further, this change provides opportunities for greater operational support to the Navy by expanding selected reserve (SELRES) billets and active duty recalls to SSOP officers.

BAE Awarded Military Sealift Contract

BAE Systems, Norfolk, Va., is being awarded a $6.7m firm-fixed-priced contract for a 60-calendar day regular overhaul and drydock of Military Sealift Command's fleet replenishment oiler USNS Leroy Grumman (T-AO 195). Grumman provides underway replenishment of fuel to U.S. Navy combat ships at sea, enabling them to remain deployed for extended periods of time. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of the contract to $7.9m

Maritime Heavy Transportation Companies Dockwise and Sealift Announce Merger

Maritime companies Dockwise and Sealift announced a merger. By combining their fleet of vessels, the companies will be able to provide an enhanced service to customers. Following the merger, the Sealift vessels will be integrated into the existing Dockwise fleet and the company will trade under the Dockwise name. 3i, the largest shareholder in Dockwise, and Bermuda based Frontline, the largest shareholder in Sealift, have both approved the merger.

NASSCO Delivers USNS Watkins

National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) delivered USNS Watkins (T-AKR 315) to the U.S. Navy. The Watkins was delivered ahead of schedule, under target cost, and with zero discrepancies. The Watkins is the sixth new construction ship completed by NASSCO under the U.S. Navy’s Strategic Sealift Program. A total of eight new construction ships and three ship conversions have been awarded to NASSCO under the 20-ship Strategic Sealift Program. All of the ships are being named for U.S

VISA Extended To 2003

The Maritime Administration (MarAd) published a notice in the Federal Register announcing the extension of the Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement (VISA) for an additional two-year period, until February 13, 2001, pursuant to the provision of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as amended. The VISA program is the principal commercial sealift readiness program of the Department of Defense, and is sponsored by the Maritime Administration

Sealift/Dockwise Acquires OKI and ODL

Sealift Ltd the parent company of the Dockwise group of has signed an agreement to acquire the entire share capital of Offshore Kinematics Inc (OKI) and Ocean Dynamics LLC (ODL). The company has agreed to issue 6.9m new shares, of which 3.2m will be held in escrow and released in annual installments over 3 years, plus $15.7m in cash to the current principals of OKI and ODL.

Military Sealift Command Oiler Wins SECNAV Environmental Award

From Military Sealift Command Public Affairs Fleet replenishment oiler USNS John Ericsson (T-AO 194)won the fiscal year 2006 Secretary of the Navy Environmental Quality Award in the Environmental Quality, Small Ship category. In ALNAV Message 029/07, released March 30, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Installations and Environment B.J. Penn extended his personal congratulations to the winners. “Your accomplishments are outstanding in their own right and exemplify the Department

USNS Sacagawea Delivered to Military Sealift Command

After completing sea trials off the southern California coast, dry cargo/ammunition ship USNS Sacagawea (T-AKE 2) was delivered to the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command (MSC) on Feb. 27. The ship, designated T-AKE, is the second in a new class of combat logistics force ships and is able to deliver ammunition, provisions, stores, spare parts, potable water, and petroleum products to the Navy’s carrier and expeditionary strike groups and other Naval forces.

Navy Energy Conservation Open BAA Released

The , Carderock Division (NSWCCD) has issued a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) discussing Energy Conservation Applications for the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command (MSC) Combat Logistics Force, Auxiliaries and Sealift ships. The BAA solicits innovative concepts for Navy shipboard energy conservation and carbon footprint reduction with the potential for rapid transition to Fleet operation.  The solicitation is BAA number N00167-11-BAA-01

Navy Solicits Energy Conservation Proposals

The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division (NSWCCD) has issued a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) discussing Energy Conservation Applications for the U.S. Navy. The BAA solicits innovative concepts from industry and academia that can introduce applications for Navy shipboard energy conservation and carbon footprint reduction with the potential for rapid transition to Fleet operation. The target segment of the Fleet is the ships operated by Military Sealift Command: Combat Logistics