Halter Marine, Inc., the vessels segment of Friede Goldman Halter, Inc., has been awarded a contract from the U.S. Army Tank and Automotive Command (TACOM) for the detailed design and construction of a Logistic Support Vessel (LSV). The contract includes provisions for spare parts, technical services, and options to build two additional LSVs. The total value of the base contract is $26.9 million, and could be worth upwards of $78 million once the options are exercised.
Engineering and construction at the Company's Halter Moss Point shipyard in Escatawpa, MS are scheduled to take about two years to complete. This project is expected to create approximately 75 new jobs at that yard.
The 313-ft. (95.4 m) LSV class vessels will have a beam of 60 ft. (18.2 m) and a molded depth of 19 ft. (5.7 m) They are designed to carry more than 2,000 tons of deck cargo, and will be designed and built to the requirements of the American Bureau of Shipping.
Halter has successfully completed numerous U.S. Army programs such as the Landing Craft Utility (LCU), the Large Tug (LT), and has already built all six of the LSV's currently in the Army's fleet.
The newly constructed LSVs will be based in Hawaii and Baltimore, Maryland.