Supships New Orleans News

In a traditional Navy change of command ceremony Capt. Mary E. Dexterrelieved Capt. David W. Bellaas the Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair (SUPSHIP) Gulf Coast on Feb. 24. Bella was the first SUPSHIP Gulf Coast, which resulted from the summer 2003 merger of SUPSHIPs New Orleans, LA and Pascagoula, MS. Rear Adm. Mark A. Hugel, deputy commander for Logistics, Maintenance and Industrial Operations, Naval Sea Systems Command (SEA 04), spoke and presented Captain Bella with the Legion of Merit. Hugel paid tribute to Bella's strong leadership as he molded the two SUPSHIPs into one and in meeting the challenges of quickly restoring his command following Hurricane Katrina.

Subsequent to various tests by the U.S. military, the 315-ft. (96-m) experimental vessel HSV-X1 Joint Venture that had been delivered by the U.S. Army to Bollinger Morgan City, was successfully drydocked at the yard on October 31, 2002 for routine maintenance and periodic regulatory inspection. Upon completion of sea trials on November 14, the vessel was then delivered to the U.S. Navy for additional operational testing of its military capabilities. The project, which was managed by Bollinger Morgan City, also encompassed the coordination of a variety of subcontractors including Incat Tasmania, Caterpillar and Maritime Dynamics - interfaced with SupShips New Orleans - the government's project manager.