United Defense Industries, Inc. announced today the U.S. Navy's contract award to the Norfolk, Va., shipyard, NORSHIPCO, for the topside phased-maintenance, fixed-price availability work on the dock landing amphibious-class ship USS WHIDBEY ISLAND (LSD-41), the lead ship in its class home-ported in Norfolk. NORSHIPCO is a member of United States Marine Repair, Inc. (USMR), a subsidiary of United Defense.
The basic award of the contract is valued at $12.2 million and with funded options, the total contract value would be in excess of $14 million. The ship is scheduled to arrive at NORSHIPCO on September 9, 2002. Work is expected to be completed on February 10, 2003. NORSHIPCO performed a similar availability on the WHIDBEY ISLAND in 1999. This availability will be the third dock landing vessel job performed at the shipyard this year.
According to Tom Epley, NORSHIPCO's president and general manager, "Our expertise and record of outstanding past performance on this class of ships, along with the skill and knowledge of our subcontractors, provides the very best value to the U.S. Navy."
Major work includes diesel engine overhauls and ballast tank repairs and preservation. Over 120
NORSHIPCO workers a day will be assigned to the ship.
The primary mission of the USS WHIDBEY ISLAND is to transport Marines and combat cargo in a land assault scenario utilizing air cushion landing craft, which are berthed in the well deck area. The ship's crew consists of 21 officers and 289 enlisted personnel.