Halter Marine, Inc, a subsidiary of Friede Goldman Halter, has started construction of NOAA’s (National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration) newest vessel the M/V Oscar Dyson. The vessel is scheduled for delivery in 36 months at a price of $38.3 million. It is anticipated that options for additional vessels will be exercised as Congress incrementally appropriates funds. NOAA may build up to three additional Fishing Research Vessels (RFV) under the terms of the contract, pushing its value to more than $165 million. The M/V “Oscar Dyson” is a state-of-the-art Fishing Research Vessel named in honor of Oscar Dyson, of Kodiak, Alaska Dyson, a well-known fishing activist served as an industry advisor to government officials, including a congressional delegation.