Dry Deck Shelter News

The Navy wants, and needs, more ships; but it can’t build them fast enough.While the U.S. Navy aims to achieve a 355-ship fleet, it is decommissioning older (and some not so old) ships at about the same rate it's adding new ones.A Congressional Research Service report stated that, as of April 17, 2023, the Navy included 296 battle force ships. "The Navy projects that under its FY2024 budget submission, the Navy would include 293 battle force ships at the end of FY2024 and 291 battle force ships at the end of FY2028."But there is progress…

The U.S. Navy uses unmanned and robotic underwater vehicles for a multitude of functions, including environmental sensing, mine hunting, and salvage. The Navy plans to evolve an unmanned systems operating concept that is platform agnostic and capable of operating in highly complex contested environments with minimal operator interaction.The most recent edition of the Navy’s Unmanned Systems (UxS) Roadmap was issued in 2018, and a new version is expected in the near future. The 2018 document states that UxS will operate in every domain…

The 2013 Ship Repair Tradesmen of the Year were recently honored by the Virginia Ship Repair Association (VSRA). Steven Pulliam, an Outside Machinist from Oceaneering International, Inc. He was recruited to be a core member of the Shop Mechanical Team due to the high quality of his workmanship. He is a mentor to the Freshman class for his company’s Apprentice Program. He created a form that concisely documents deficiencies in components that are received for refurbishment which has been instrumental in reducing the number of hours required to create a Condition Report by at least 25%.

Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems, San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a $14,909,781 fixed price contract for three FY09 Ship Self Defense System (SSDS) MK2 Open Architecture Computing Environment (OACE) kits to support CVN/Amphibious ship modernization efforts. The SSDS MK2 OACE kits include cabinets, processors, converters, network devices and interface units. The equipment sets consolidate the computing and interface requirements for the SSDS Ship Class variants. The FY09 kits will be installed on LPD 18, Self Defense Test Ship (SDTS) and CVN 69. Work will be performed in San Diego, Calif. (50 percent) and Portsmouth, R.I. (50 percent). Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured.

The Navy signed a five-year, $14b Multi-Year Procurement (MYP) contract for eight Virginia-class submarines Dec. 22. The contract, the third, or Block III, for the Virginia-class, calls for one ship per year in fiscal years (FY) 2009 and 2010 and two per year in FY 2011, 2012, and 2013. The contract also meets the Chief of Naval Operations' (CNO) and Virginia Class Program's mandate to reduce acquisition costs by approximately 20 percent for the FY 2012 ships. "This contract is a prime example of what you can do when you provide motivated people with a task and a deadline…

The Ohio class guided missile submarine USS Georgia (SSGN 729) rests pierside at Naval Station Norfolk. Georgia made a brief stop at NS Norfolk while conducting sea trials after leaving Norfolk Naval Shipyards November 29, 2007, following the ship's conversion from a ballistic missile to a guided missile submarine. Georgia is the last of four submarines to be converted to SSGN. U.S. submarines (SSGN), successfully completed sea trials Dec. 11. rejoined the fleet yesterday. (SSBNs). full set of sea trials," said SSGN Program Manager Capt. Mark Bock.

With a swing of the Korbel and a blessing for “all who sail in her,” Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter christened PCU Jimmy Carter (SSN 23) at General Dynamics Electric Boat shipyard on June 5. Mrs. Carter, Former President Jimmy Carter, their daughter Amy and a crowd of more than 4,500, came to bear witness to the christening of the third and last Seawolf-class submarine. “This is a wonderful day for me, and to see my wife break the champagne on undoubtedly the finest, and formidable, ship in the world was a great honor for me," said former President Carter. Adm.

In early June, the third last Seawolf-class submarine was christened at General Dynamics - Electric Boat, in Groton, Conn. Mrs. Carter, Former President Jimmy Carter, their daughter Amy and a crowd of more than 4,500, were on hand to witness. "Five years ago, this vessel's distinguishing characteristic, the Multi-Mission Platform, existed only in the minds of a few," said Electric Boat President and General Dynamics Vice President John Casey. The Multi-Mission Platform (MMP) is the submarine's most celebrated feature. Specifically, the platform is a hull extension, making the 453-ft.-long PCU Jimmy Carter 100 ft. longer than the other two Seawolf-class submarines, USS Seawolf (SSN 21) and USS Connecticut (SSN 22).

Oceaneering International, Inc. announced the award of a one year contract with four option years for the Dry Deck Shelter (DDS) Planning Yard services to provide design, engineering, technical and logistic support. This contract was competitively procured by the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Deep Submergence Program Office PMS 395.