Interior Communications News

On Monday, October 18, Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. (ESG), Northrop Grumman, L3Harris, and industry partners commissioned the new Command, Control, Computers, Communications, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) Production Facility (PF) in support of the U.S. Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) program at ESG’s Allanton Shipyard. The ceremony was attended by leaders of the United States Coast Guard Project Resident Office.The C5ISR PF is a new…

Representatives from the Center for Surface Combat Systems (CSCS) educated the surface warfare community on who they train and how they support the Fleet at the Surface Navy Association (SNA) Symposium January 12-14. Capt. Bill McKinley, CSCS commanding officer, oversees 14 learning sites and is responsible for combat systems training across the rates of fire controlman, operations specialist, gunner’s mate, sonar technician surface, mineman, interior communications electrician, and electronics technician.

Joseph E. Payne, P.E. has joined Seattle-based Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering firm Guido Perla & Associates, Inc. (GPA) as the Electrical Department Manager and Chief Electrical Engineer. At GPA, Mr. Payne is responsible for the complete design and systems integration of all main and emergency power, lighting, HVAC controls, hazardous area classification, interior communications & alarm systems. This includes engineering oversight, detailed design work, specification development and resolution of regulatory body issues.

W R Systems, Ltd. in Norfolk has been awarded the second option year on its navigation and interior communications contract in support of the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Atlantic. This modification increases the contract ceiling from $54,462,137.76 to $82,562,920 and extends the period of performance through October 7, 2012. WRSystems has supported SPAWAR Atlantic’s requirements for In-Service Engineering (ISEA) support services for navigation and interior communication systems for the past 15 years.

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has been awarded a contract to supply the navigation and communication systems for nine new 114.8 ft patrol boats being built for the Iraqi navy. The $19m firm, fixed-price contract was awarded to Northrop Grumman’s Sperry Marine business unit by Swiftships Shipbuilders, LLC of Morgan City, La. Work on the contract will be performed by Northrop Grumman’s Ocean Springs, Miss., facility. Under the contract, each of the vessels will be fitted with an integrated bridge system (IBS) based on Sperry Marine’s new-generation VisionMaster FT navigation technology. The IBS will include navigation radars and electronic chart display and information systems running on TotalWatch multi-function workstations.

USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) departed the Northrop Grumman Naval Shipyard in Newport News, Va., after completing an extensive four-year refueling complex overhaul (RCOH) and a 14-week Post Shakedown Availability/Supplemental Restricted Availability (PSA/SRA) period, Dec. Carl Vinson immediately went to sea to conduct Sea Trials in preparation for its homeport transfer to San Diego. Carl Vinson's Commanding Officer Capt. Bruce Lindsey said he thinks the crew did a great job bringing the ship out of the shipyard ahead of schedule. "The crew did a fantastic job," said Lindsey.

W R Systems, Ltd. (WRSystems) has been awarded a $26,946,956 contract from the U.S. Navy to provide engineering technical support services for navigation systems in the U.S. and abroad. Seventy-five percent of the contract work will be performed in Hampton Roads, Va. through WRSystems’ Engineering Services Division in Norfolk, Va. The value of the contract could reach an estimated $140,601,392 if all options are exercised. The company is based in Fairfax, Va. WRSystems expects to hire additional staff to help service the new contract. The contract combines purchases for the Navy (97%), and the governments of Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Australia, Saudi Arabia and Egypt under the Foreign Military Sales Program.

Operating profit for the CMA CGM Group is expected to return to the breakeven point in December 2009, ahead of the company’s cautious forecasts in September 2009. The savings plan applied throughout all segments of the group, combined with increasingly firm volumes and rates, is already producing its initial effects. The recovery of operating profit illustrates the shipping expertise of the CMA CGM teams, which have been entirely focused on achieving this objective. -     Optimized capacity in line with transport demand on all the Group’s lines. Furthermore, by soon extending “super eco speed” to all ships on ocean-going lines, the group will further reduce fuel consumption by the end of the year, thus saving tens of millions of dollars.

USS Russell's (DDG 59) Web log is having an impact on the World Wide Web since its debut two weeks ago, reaching 5,000 hits April 7. The Web log which started and coincided with the ship's deployment as part of the Abraham Lincoln Strike Group. Lt. Cmdr. Chris van Avery, Russell's executive officer, reported aboard the guided-missile destroyer looking to tell a story. The story is about the life of Sailors at sea and their contributions to the war on terrorism and the execution of the Navy's Maritime Strategy. The result is "The Destroyermen," a Web log, or "blog," dedicated to the life of Russell and her crew. With a new post nearly every day, this method of storytelling has proven to be a hit for Russell and the Navy.

By Ensign Cassidy A. Indonesian naval officers stood in formation on the pier and a military band played patriotic songs Dec. 20 as USS Port Royal (CG 73) pushed away from her berth at Tanjung-Priok Port in Jakarta, after a four-day port visit to Indonesia's capital province. "We were thoroughly impressed and honored by the warm welcome extended to us here," said Capt. David B. Adler, Port Royal commanding officer. "The hospitality was remarkable. The farewell show as Port Royal pulled away from Jakarta was only a small demonstration compared to the festivities during the first hours of her arrival Dec. 17. As local dignitaries welcomed Adler with flowers and fruit, while traditional dancers, fire-breathers and other performers entertained the crew on the pier.

Sailors man the rails on the flight deck aboard nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG), embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11 and Destroyer Squadron Group (DESRON) 23 are deploying to support operations in U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. U.S. More than 6,000 Sailors and Marines attached to the USS Nimitz (CVN 68) Carrier Strike Group (CSG) deployed from their homeport of San Diego on April 2. The Nimitz CSG will join the USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) CSG and relieve the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) CSG, currently operating in the Persian Gulf. Nimitz’s arrival will continue the current two-carrier presence in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, demonstrating the U.S.

The guided-missile destroyer USS James E. Williams (DDG 95) will deploy May 2 on its maiden voyage as part of the Global War on Terrorism Surface Strike Group (GWOT SSG) 06-2. This deployment has come sooner than expected for the ship’s crew and is part of a surge deployment under the Navy's Fleet Response Plan. “When I first heard of the surge deployment, I was a little surprised, as was the rest of the crew,” said Interior Communications Electrician 1st Class (SW) Adam Tabbert. This “surge” deployment of James E. Williams is designed to be flexible and will provide presence and strike power to support joint and allied forces afloat and ashore. Under the Fleet Response Plan, a simple realignment of schedules makes this deployment possible. James E.