On Dec. 1, U.S. Maritime Administrator Sean T. Connaughton announced a contract with Certified Coatings Company of Concord, Calif., to remove and contain exfoliating paint from ships in the National Defense Reserve Fleet at Suisun Bay, Calif. The contract is potentially worth $3.5m over five years. Similar contracts are being prepared for the two fleet sites in Beaumont, Texas, and Fort Eustis, Va., overseen by the Maritime Administration. The contract is part of the Maritime Administration’s Environmental Excellence Initiative which focuses on strengthening environmental protections and implementing green procedures. “We are committed to being good stewards to the environment in all our fleet sites,” said Connaughton.