Pascagoula Facility News

If you drive just south of I-10 in Pascagoula, Miss., within 10 minutes you find yourself on the doorstep of VT Halter Marine, arguably one of the more diverse and active shipyards in the U.S. The company, which is a subsidiary of Vision Technologies Systems, Inc. (VTS), operates three facilities in Jackson County, Miss., and today supports about 1,600 full time employees as well as about 1,600 vendors and subcontractors. •    A pair of 250,000 barrel ATBs and a pair of 6,000 hp ATB tugs for Bouchard Transportation, a long-tenured and important client for VT Halter.

VT Halter Marine launched ATB tug Kim M. Bouchard for Bouchard Transportation at Moss Point Marine facility on February 26, 2015. Measuring 150 feet long, the 10,000hp twin screw ATB tug is classed by ABS as A1 Towing Vessel, Dual Mode ATB, USCG Subchapter M, is equipped with Intercon Coupler Systems, and will pair up with Barge B. No. 270. The barge measures 625 feet by 91 feet by 47 feet and has a 250,000-barrel capacity. Used to transport liquid petroleum, the barge is ABS and USCG certified for Jones Act service.

The keel for the first of two liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered, combination container – Roll-On/Roll-Off (ConRo) ships for Crowley Maritime Corp.’s liner services group was laid during a ceremony at ship-builder VT Halter Marine, Inc.’s facility in Pascagoula, Miss. The keel laying ceremony marked the next step in the construction of Crowley’s first Commitment Class ship, which will exclusively serve the U.S.-Puerto Rico trade lane, replacing the company’s towed triple-deck barge fleet in the South Atlantic trade which served the trade since the early 1970s.

VT Halter Marine, Inc., a subsidiary of Vision Technologies Systems, Inc. (VT Systems), has commenced construction on the first of two liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered, combination Container Roll-On/Roll-Off (ConRo) vessels for Crowley following the signing of the contract, which took place in November 2013. “We have waited with great anticipation for the Commitment Class build program to start,” said John Hourihan, senior vice president and general manager, Puerto Rico/Caribbean liner services.

11 N. With four yards, Signal offers new construction, rig and ship repair, offshore and technical services. The new construction facility in Orange, Texas has undergone a major transformation over the past several years, including the addition of a new panel line and steel processing facility. The Pascagoula facility handles rig fabrication and repair and has improved automation as well as dredging a deep hole for thruster work and space for storage of offshore equipment. The 30,000 ton Dual Carrier/heavy lift dry dock is located at this facility.

VT Halter Marine, Inc., a subsidiary of Vision Technologies Systems, Inc., announced four separate shipbuilding milestones for the Offshore Supply Vessel (OSV) Super 320 Program underway for Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc. Firstly, VT Halter Marine delivered HOS Captain on July 10. Five days later, VT Halter Marine hosted the christening ceremony of HOS Crestview held at the Pascagoula facility and launched HOS Caledonia at the Halter Moss Point facility on July 15. Finally, delivery of HOS Clearview took place on July 28.

Ingalls Shipbuilding division says it has received an $76.5 million fixed-price contract from the U.S. Coast Guard to purchase long-lead materials for the eighth National Security Cutter, Midgett (WMSL 757). Construction and delivery of Midgett would take place at the company's Pascagoula facility. The advance procurement funds will be used to purchase major items for Midgett, including steel, the main propulsion systems, generators, electrical switchboards and major castings. "The long-lead material contracts give our shipbuilders the ability to immediately start construction of the ship if and when that contract is awarded," said Jim French, Ingalls' National Security Cutter program manager.

VT Halter Marine laid the keel for Barge B No. 270, which is, in part, one of two Articulated Tug Barge (ATB) units being built for Bouchard Transportation Co., Inc. (Bouchard). The barge measures 625 x 91 x 47 ft. and has a 250,000-barrel capacity and will be used to transport liquid petroleum. The barge is ABS and USCG certified for Jones Act service. Construction of the two units began April 2013 at VT Halter Marine’s Pascagoula facility, with delivery scheduled for mid 2015. VT Halter Marine has also scheduled a February 6, 2014 launch for the ocean going 112-ft. 4000 hp ATB Tug “Denise A. Bouchard”, sister tug to the previously built “Evening Star”. Measuring 112 x 35 x 17 ft., the tug is classed by ABS as A1 Towing Vessel, Dual Mode, and is equipped with an Intercon Coupler System.

Huntington Ingalls Industries' Ingalls Shipbuilding division received a $76.8 million fixed-price contract from the U.S. Coast Guard to purchase long-lead materials for Kimball (WMSL 756), the company's seventh National Security Cutter (NSC). Construction and delivery will be performed at the company's Pascagoula facility. "This advance procurement contract allows us to maintain production line and supplier base momentum while we prepare for the ship construction contract," said Jim French, Ingalls' NSC program manager.

Huntington Ingalls Industries announced  its Ingalls Shipbuilding division achieved a milestone in the construction process of the composite hangar that will be used on the U.S. Navy's second Zumwalt-class guided missile destroyer, Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001). Recently, the shipbuilders at the company's Gulfport, Miss., facility turned the inverted hangar to an upright position, or ship-shape, which is an important and necessary feat in the construction schedule of this component.

ST Engineering’s U.S. shipyard, VT Halter Marine, Inc. (VT Halter Marine) announced that Bouchard Transportation Co., Inc. (Bouchard) has exercised its option for an additional Articulated Tug Barge (ATB) unit that was announced on February 15, 2013. The value of this ATB unit is in the region of $100 million. Both barges will measure 625 x 91 x 47 feet and each will have a 250,000-barrel capacity. They will be used to transport liquid petroleum. The barges will be American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and United States Coast Guard (USCG) certified for Jones Act service. The 10,000hp twin screw ATB tug, classed by ABS as XA1 Towing Vessel, Dual Mode, USCG Sub-chapter M, will be equipped with an Interconnected Coupler System.

VT Halter Marine, Inc., Pascagoula, Miss., announced a new contract to build an Articulated Tug Barge (ATB) unit with an option unit for Bouchard Transportation Co., Inc. (Bouchard). The barge will measure 625 x 91 x47 ft., has a 250,000-barrel capacity, and will be used to transport liquid petroleum. It will be ABS and USCG certified for Jones Act service. The 10,000hp twin screw ATB tug is classed by ABS as A1 Towing Vessel, Dual Mode ATB, USCG Subchapter M, and will be equipped with an Intercon Coupler System. Construction of the unit begins April 2013 at VT Halter Marine’s Pascagoula facility, with delivery scheduled for mid 2015. This unit will enter into Bouchard’s fleet service in New York, N.Y.

In May of 2012, Signet Maritime Corporation commenced construction of a new-build 140’ x 40’ deck barge, SIGNET 141, at its Signet Shipbuilding & Repair division. The barge, designed by Farrell and Norton Naval Architects of Newcastle, Maine, will provide an additional asset to assist customers in the growing Port of Pascagoula, where it will be based for charter throughout ports in the US Gulf. The barge has an LOA of 140’, beam of 40’, molded depth of 9’, a light draft of 1’5” and will handle 800 long tons of cargo with deck strength of 2,000 lbs/sq. ft.

Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE:HII) said that its Ingalls Shipbuilding division received a $76 million fixed-price contract from the U.S. Coast Guard to purchase long-lead materials for a sixth National Security Cutter (NSC). Construction and delivery of the yet-to-be-named WMSL 755 will be performed at the company's Pascagoula facility. A second phase of the contract, when awarded, would bring the overall value to $88 million. "This award demonstrates the Coast Guard's ongoing commitment to the National Security Cutter program and continued confidence in our shipbuilders…

Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE:HII) said its Ingalls Shipbuilding division has received a $70m cost-plus-fixed-fee advance procurement contract modification from the U.S. Navy to provide long-lead materials for LPD 27, the 11th amphibious transport dock of the USS San Antonio (LPD 17) class. The funds awarded to Ingalls will be used to purchase long-lead-time materials and major equipment in support of the new ship, including main engines and diesel generators and other equipment such as electrical switchboards, deck equipment and fire extinguishing systems. The work will be performed at the company's Pascagoula facility. This is the fourth advance procurement contract for LPD 27. The first contract was awarded in October 2010.

The U.S. Navy has awarded a $48m cost-plus fixed-fee contract modification to Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) for advance procurement of long-lead materials and performance of engineering/planning efforts for LHA 7, the second in the Navy's newest class of large-deck amphibious assault ships. The first ship, America (LHA 6) is being built in Pascagoula and is currently 33 percent complete. With this award, Northrop Grumman will provide additional engineering, planning and technical support for the current contract. The Navy issued the initial contract in June for $175m. The work will be performed at the company's Pascagoula facility.

Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, a subsidiary of Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has issued a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) for 292 employees at the Gulf Coast shipbuilding facility at Pascagoula, Miss. Reductions will impact represented employees. "The cyclical nature of shipbuilding, the sequencing of work within the production phases that determines requirements for different crafts and support personnel, as well as the timing of contracts can result in peaks and valleys in work where the number of employees exceeds the workload requirements. This is currently the case here at our Pascagoula facility," said Irwin F.

Mexico. nearing completion. Ship Systems and Newport News shipbuilding entities. technologically advanced, multi-mission cutters. Guard Systems, a joint venture of Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin. damage control, and combat systems was conducted. standarization trials as well as 57 mm gun and close-in weapon systems. completed machinery trials in December 2007. Pascagoula facility in November 2006. trials later this spring before delivery to the Coast Guard. plant driving twin screws with a maximum speed of 28 knots. control systems.

Expansion Project during a ceremony at its Ship Systems sector's Pascagoula facility. public/private partnership with the state of Mississippi. The West Bay expansion will create more than 400,000 sq. ft. of new ship construction area to support Northrop Grumman's DD(X)Destroyer Program. ceremony. President Dr. Philip A. Dur, and a keynote address by Mississippi Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck. A turning of dirt concluded the ceremony. industry to grow and prosper," Tuck said. state. Northrop Grumman project. work environment, keeping the company on the leading edge of competition. competitive and productive well into the 21st century," Dur said. are also adding opportunity in this investment. $12 million in tax revenues generated for Mississippi. state through a series of bond issuances.

Northrop Grumman Corporation has been awarded $285.5 million for construction of the third National Security Cutter (WMSL 752), the newest and most capable multi-mission cutter in the United States Coast Guard fleet. The contract is being funded under the Integrated Deepwater System program. "This cutter is the third in the class of new, high performance cutters that will significantly enhance the maritime security capabilities and mission execution of the United States Coast Guard," said Philip Teel, president of Northrop Grumman’s Ship Systems sector. operating environment. robust aviation installations, among others. Northrop Grumman is leading the construction effort, and the ship will be manufactured at the company's Pascagoula facility. twin screws with a maximum speed of 28 knots.

According to the AP, with the next hurricane season two weeks away, Northrop Grumman Ship Systems has made changes in its plans to protect its coastal shipbuilding facilities and recover from a storm as powerful as Hurricane Katrina, a company official said Tuesday. Northrop Grumman, which bills itself as the world's largest military shipbuilder, will evacuate workers and start securing its facilities in Pascagoula, Gulfport and New Orleans at least 24 to 36 hours earlier than it typically did for past hurricanes, officials said. Vehicles and equipment will be moved to higher ground. Water, food, generators and gasoline will be stockpiled in greater quantities. Fewer workers will stay behind to ride out the storm.

Shipbuilders erected the final grand block unit on the U.S. Coast Guard's first Deepwater National Security Cutter, signifying a crucial construction milestone in the shipyard and shipbuilding program's recovery effort following a series of storm events. The workers constructing Bertholf (WMSL 750), being built at Northrop Grumman Corporation's Pascagoula facility, utilized innovative production techniques to keep the ship on track despite the challenges posed by Tropical Storm Cindy and Hurricanes Dennis and Katrina. Northrop Grumman's Ship Systems sector is building the ship at their Pascagoula facility, under contract from Integrated Coast GuardSystems LLP, a joint venture of Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin.

Unit 1120, which will complete the bow section of the first National Security Cutter under construction at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems' Pascagoula facility, was lifted into place this week. According to NSC General Ship Superintendent Royce Winbush, the unit encloses the anchor windlass machinery room and covers the chain lockers area on the cutter. Unit 1120, wieghing 50 tons, was the 44th unit and last hull section erected on the ship. final grand block unit on the U.S. National Security Cutter. Katrina. U.S. Coast Guard Programs. entire spectrum of production programs here at Ship Systems. we learned. No stone was left unturned. track and receive materials. firsts in the quality of the build. ship erection sequence on schedule.