Guard Contract News

Navico announced it has signed a five-year agreement with the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) to provide C-MAP cartography under the USCG’s Small Boat Product Line (SBPL). Navico was selected for a competitive award by the USCG for products that met all of their technical needs. Navico’s C-MAP will deliver cartography cards to 300 different stations across America, twice a year.The SBPL aligns all boat support resources under a single entity with authority and accountability for maintenance and logistics for all boats in the Coast Guard.

Marine Jet Power (MJP) has been awarded a multi-unit, multi-year contract with CSBC Shipyard to provide propulsion for 15, 100-ton class vessels for the Taiwan Coast Guard (TCG).The 34-meter vessels will be built at CSBC’s facility in Keelung, Taiwan. Featuring dual MJP stainless steel 750 DRB waterjets, the vessels are predicted to exceed 30 knots and will be powered by MTU inboard diesel engines.Selected for its superior quality and durability in the field, MJP’s DRB line of waterjets are constructed from duplex stainless-steel and feature all inboard hydraulics.

Thordon Bearings has received a Canadian Coast Guard contract to supply six award-winning SeaThigor shaft seals for retrofit installation to three purpose-built icebreakers.The 5,910grt CCGS Pierre Radisson, named after the 17th-century French fur trader and explorer, along with sisterships CCGS Amundsen and CCGS Des Groseilliers, will each be retrofitted with two SeaThigor forward seals during scheduled drydockings over the next year.The order, confirmed on the 1st of April,…

In a recent statement at a U.S. Congressional hearing, American Salvage Association (ASA) President, Todd Schauer, defended the response capabilities of the industry, and, by extension, the implementation of regulations themselves by the U.S. Coast Guard. “It has come to the attention of the American Salvage Association leadership that the resource and response capabilities of the four national salvage and marine firefighting (SMFF) resource providers have been questioned recently,” he said.

The shipbuilding and ship repairing industry has always been a core strength of our nation. It has enabled the United States to protect and project its prosperity, power and influence internationally. A book in my office signed by shipbuilder William Webb illustrates the point. Mr. Webb inherited his father’s shipyard in 1840 and built over 130 of the fastest clipper sailing vessels; he later built the largest and most celebrated steamships of his era. Those were glory years for the U.S. maritime industry, an era when the shipping industry was synonymous with American sovereignty.

Fincantieri Marinette Marine (FMM) said it has been awarded a U.S. Coast Guard contract for two additional Response Boats–Medium (RB-Ms) vessels as part of a Foreign Military Sale to The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. This award brings the total number of RB-Ms to 176 built by Team RB-M, originally formed by FMM and Kvichak Marine. FMM will act as the prime contractor and program manager, and the vessels will be built by Vigor at its Ballard, Wash. facility (formerly Kvichak Marine).

Rimouski-based company OpDAQ Systems has been awarded a contract to equip 34 Canadian Coast Guard vessels with fuel management marine systems. The embedded systems will provide onboard staff and managers with real-time data on fuel consumption, engine power and ship speed. This approach has advantages both economically and environmentally by facilitating continuous and measurable improvement of operations, according to the developer. Since its creation in 2008, OpDAQ Systems has exported its products to more than 24 countries through its network of distributors.

Building programs continue, spanning the full range of missions, despite budget concerns. Amidst all the talk of Beltway budget cutbacks and sequestration, the U.S. Coast Guard is quietly investing approximately $30 billion in major acquisition projects to modernize its physical assets. The process of recapitalizing these older and difficult-to-maintain assets has never been an easy task, and the Coast Guard has seen its share of bumps along the way. For example, the initially messy Deepwater debacle initially kicked off what has evolved into today’s more successful recapitalization process, now run by the Coast Guard’s Acquisition Directorate, which stood up in July 2007.

U.S. Senators Susan Collins, a senior member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, and Angus King, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, have announced that Bath Iron Works (BIW) has been awarded a preliminary design contract for the U.S. Coast Guard’s Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) worth more than $21 million. BIW is now one of three shipyards in contention for the final contract. “With its skilled workforce and an outstanding record of designing, building…

Lockport, La.-based Bollinger Shipyards, Inc. is humming with work from oil and gas companies and government agencies. Family-owned and operated, Bollinger has 10 shipyards -- nine in south Louisiana and one in Texas -- along with 28 drydocks and 3,000 employees in four administrative locations. Last month, we caught up with Ben Bordelon, Bollinger’s Executive Vice President of Repair, for his outlook on the firm and the Gulf of Mexico. Bordelon is the nephew of Boysie Bollinger, who has been at the helm as CEO since 1985.

Marinette Marine Corporation a Fincantieri Company contracted to build an additional 4 Response Boats – Medium (RB-Ms) by the U.S. Coast Guard. With an approximate value of $9,400,000, the new boats are part of a multi-year, Coast Guard contract requiring the construction and delivery of up to 250 RB-Ms at a total contract value of up to $600 million. Delivery of the 4 boats is scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2014. This brings the total number of boats under Contract to 170. Marinette Marine builds 50% of the boats at its ACE facility in Green Bay WI.

Technology Associates, Inc., a New Orleans based Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering firm signed a contract which, when options are exercised, will exceed $6.1m. The contract is with the U.S. Coast Guard and will provide engineering services to the Sentinel-class Fast Response Cutter (FRC) patrol craft Project Resident Office located at Bollinger Shipyards in Lockport, La. The Sentinel-class Fast Response Cutter (FRC) is a new Coast Guard patrol boat that is capable of deploying independently to conduct missions that include port, waterways and coastal security; fishery patrols; search and rescue; and national defense. As part of this contract, TAI will provide professional staff at the project location, as well as positions in other parts of the country to support the contract.

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal and Metal Shark Boats President Chris Allard announced the company will make a $1.52 million capital investment to expand its Jeanerette shipyard in support of military, law enforcement agency and commercial boat contracts. The expansion will create 88 new direct jobs, with an average salary of more than $62,000, plus benefits, and Louisiana Economic Development estimates the project will result in an additional 134 new indirect jobs, for a total of 222 new jobs.

The shipyard has been awarded a drydocking & repair contract for the United States Coast Guard Cutter 'Neah Bay' (WTGB-105). Contracted work includes routine drydocking and underwater hull maintenance, including inspection and testing of propulsion systems; overhaul of sea valves and shaft seal assemblies; and other various cleaning, inspections, and repairs. This will be the first of the USCG’s nine (9) 140-foot Bay Class ice breaking tugs to be drydocked using Great Lakes Shipyard’s new Marine Travelift.

Caveats and some doubts remain. Marine companies along the Gulf of Mexico will be busy in 2013 producing offshore vessels to meet expected growth in the region’s deepwater drilling sector over the next several years. Vessel repairs will be active too. Worker training will be stepped up to address a skilled labor shortage. And nearly three years after BP’s spill off coastal Louisiana, safety will remain a priority. But with the nation teetering on a fiscal cliff – which may spur tax increases and government spending cuts – demand for official and military vessels could be affected…

At the Cruise Shipping Miami Conference and Exhibition, Fincantieri took the opportunity to announce it has been awarded a contract from the U.S. Coast Guard for the construction of 40 boats, scheduled for delivery in the second quarter of 2013. With an approximate value of $89,600,000, the new boats are part of a multi-year, U.S. Coast Guard contract for the construction and delivery of up to 250 Response Boats – Medium RB-Ms ) at a total contract value of up to $600 million. This new order brings the total number of boats under contract to 166. Marinette Marine Corporation, a U.S.

Kvichak Marine Industries, Inc., of Seattle, WA, was awarded a five year contract by the U.S. Coast Guard for the construction of up to 80 each Transportable Port Security Boats (TPSB) in 2011. Kvichak recently delivered the 30th hull of this contract to the USCG. The all-aluminum vessels are operated by a crew of 4 and include shock mitigating seats to minimize crew fatigue on extended missions. Ballistic Armor Protection and up to 4 mounted weapons provide increased mission capability and crew safety during tactical operations.

Louisiana Manufacturer will Replace Coast Guard's Small Response Boat Fleet. Metal Shark Boats has been awarded a contract to replace the U.S. Coast Guard's fleet of Response Boat - Small (RB-S) vessels. Up to 470 boats will be delivered across the Coast Guard fleet, with an additional 20 boats will be available to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, with another ten slated for purchase by the U.S. Navy. The $192 million contract is one of the largest boat buys of its kind for the Coast Guard, and provides a significant economic boost to the state of Louisiana.

Marinette Marine Corporation announced that, as prime contractor and program manager, it has been awarded an additional 10 Response Boat – Mediums (RB-Ms), and other Program management work, by the U.S. Coast Guard. With an approximate value of $21,850,000, the new boats are part of a multi-year, Coast Guard contract requiring the construction and delivery of up to 250 RB-Ms at a total contract value of up to $600 million. Delivery of the 10 boats is scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2012. This brings the total number of boats under contract to 115 at the present time.

Tognum received a substantial follow-up order for the delivery of MTU engines and automation systems for 20 new vessels of the Indian Coast Guard. The value of the contract, which has been signed by the Tognum subsidiary MTU Asia, is in the medium two-digit million euro range. The delivery of the total of 60 engines will be between 2011 and 2014. In 2009, Tognum has already signed two deals for engines and automation systems for the Indian Coast Guard with a total value of 32.5 million euro.

Alaris Companies (Alaris) is helping the U.S. Coast Guard to save taxpayer dollars, decrease energy usage, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions with a unique fleet energy management program. Working under a previously announced Michael Baker Jr., Inc (Baker) Department of Homeland Security - Coast Guard contract for Architect / Engineering Services, engineers from Alaris completed an assessment and report for the 110-ft Patrol Boat (WPB) and 225-ft Seagoing Buoy Tender (WLB) class of cutters.

Alaris Companies (Alaris) is helping the U.S. Coast Guard to decrease energy use and greenhouse gas emissions with its fleet energy management program. Working under a previously announced Michael Baker Jr., Inc (Baker) Department of Homeland Security - Coast Guard contract for Architect / Engineering Services, engineers from Alaris completed an assessment and report for the 110-ft Patrol Boat (WPB) and 225-ft Seagoing Buoy Tender (WLB) class of cutters. Through an energy audit and report…

Mustang Survival has been awarded a long term contract to supply the United States Coast Guard (USCG) with lightweight and heavy duty dry suits. The contract, with a ceiling value of $20m over five years, will provide USCG boat crews with Mustang’s new Sentinel Series of lightweight and heavy duty dry suits for use in a variety of mission-critical operations including Search & Rescue, maritime law enforcement and maintaining Aids To Navigation. http://www.mustangsurvival.com/professional/coast-guard