Improved Navy Lighterage System News

The latest US Department of Defense, Navy, contracts include: to Defense Support Services LLC for 'COLDS' cargo training, and to Hornbeck Offshore Services for the time charter of an offshore supply vessel for submarine rescue diving support services. Defense Support Services LLC, Mount Laurel, N.J., is being awarded a $24,903,892 indefinite-delivery requirements contract for instructional support services to conduct basic and advanced courses on the Navy's Cargo Offload and Discharge System (COLDS).

Navy, Industry partner for research; sharing costs, risks, and rewards to reduce total ownership costs . America’s shipyards are fierce competitors, but they can also be close collaborators. The National Shipbuilding Research Program (NSRP) is a cooperative effort for American shipbuilders and the U.S. Navy, with the aim of improving efficiency and economy to reduce the cost of Navy ship construction and repair in American shipyards. According to the Navy’s NSRP program manager Connie Bowling of the Naval Sea Systems Command…

Kvichak Marine Industries, Inc., of Seattle, WA, recently delivered five Military Preposition Force (MPF) utility boats to the United States Navy, completing their final contract order. Kvichak has delivered a total of 33 MPFs to the Navy since February 2006. The 40’ high-speed landing craft are replacing the Navy’s existing LCM-8 craft as part of the Improved Navy Lighterage System in support of pre-positioned Marine Amphibious assault missions. The 40’ x 14’ landing craft have a loaded flank speed of ~38 knots and a lightened flank speed of ~42 knots.

Kvichak Marine Industries, Inc., of Seattle, Wash., was recently awarded a contract by the United States Navy for the construction of five each MPF utility boats following the successful delivery of 26 vessels since February 2006. The 40-ft high-speed landing craft are replacing the Navy’s existing LCM-8 craft as part of the Improved Navy Lighterage System in support of pre-positioned Marine Amphibious assault missions. The 40-ft by 14-ft landing craft have a loaded flank speed of ~38 knots and a lightened flank speed of ~42 knots.

Kvichak Marine Industries, Inc., of Seattle, Wash., recently delivered three MPF/UB-40 utility boats for the U.S. Navy. Two remaining boats in the five boat order are under construction. A total of 21 vessels have already been delivered to the Navy and are in operation. The 40-ft high-speed landing craft are replacing the Navy’s existing LCM-8 craft as part of the Improved Navy Lighterage System in support of pre-positioned Marine Amphibious assault missions. The 40-ft x 14-ft landing craft have a loaded flank speed of about 38 knots and a lightened flank speed of about 42 knots.

Kvichak Marine Industries, Inc., of Seattle, Wa., was recently awarded a contract by the United States Navy for the construction of five each MPF utility boats following the successful delivery of 21 utility boats since February 2006. The 40 ft high-speed landing craft are replacing the Navy’s existing LCM-8 craft as part of the Improved Navy Lighterage System in support of pre-positioned Marine Amphibious assault missions. The landing craft have a loaded cruise speed of about 25 knots and a lightened flank speed of about 30 knots.

Sailors assigned to Amphibious Construction Battalion (ACB) 2 had the opportunity to test the Improved Navy Lighterage System (INLS) during the Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (JLOTS) exercise June 15-21. The JLOTS exercise was a test of the military's ability to move equipment and sustainment supplies to specific areas without the benefit of a fixed port facility. The exercise increased interoperability and improved military readiness by alleviating situational sustainment issues.

Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding Inc., Northrop Grumman Corp., Newport News, Va., is being awarded a $373,511,932 cost plus fixed fee contract for the construction preparation efforts for the second aircraft carrier of the Gerald R. Ford class (CVN 79). Efforts under contract will include engineering, detail design, test and evaluation, logistics support and the procurement of long lead time material. Special performance incentives are also included under the contract. Work will be performed in Newport News, Va., and is expected to be completed by October 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00024-09-C-2116).

Marinette Marine Corp., Marinette, Wis., is being awarded $6,243,345 under previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00025-03-C-0002) for the acquisition of Improved Navy Lighterage System (INLS) watercraft for transportation services. All INLS craft are delivered FOB Origin, therefore, this contract supplemental agreement is for transportation costs to deliver 52 craft from the originating shipyards located in Marinette, Wis., and Yonges Island, S.C. to Government destinations in Florida and Virginia. The shipping company selected to transport all watercraft is Stevens Towing Company Inc., Yonges Island, S.C. (92 percent of the value of this transportation agreement goes to Stevens Towing). Contract funds in the amount of $1,350,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.

The leadership of Military Sealift Command’s 6th Fleet-based Maritime Prepositioning Ship Squadron One, or MPS Squadron One, changed hands May 22 in Corfu, Greece, with the outgoing commander Capt. Clay Saunders being relieved by Capt. William Sheehan during a ceremony held aboard the squadron’s flagship USNS 2nd Lt. John P. Bobo. The ships of MPS Squadron One – MSC ships Bobo and USNS LCPL Roy M. Wheat –  are forward deployed year-round in the European and African theaters, strategically prepositioning military cargo at-sea for quick delivery ashore in the event of any fast-breaking military or humanitarian crises. While Bobo and Wheat are noncombatant cargo ships crewed by merchant mariners, the squadron is commanded by a Navy captain and a military staff embarked aboard the flagship.

Marinette Marine Corp., Marinette, Wis., is being awarded $33,100,000 under a previously awarded firm-fixed contract (N00025-03-C-0002) for the acquisition of four causeway ferrys available to be built under options two and three of the Improved Navy Lighterage System. This award also includes all ten modules constituting a Roll On/Roll-Off discharge facility procured as separate modules under the rotable pool in option four. Altogether, 22 separate watercraft are included: three modules for each of the four causeway ferrys, plus ten modules making up the RR/DF. After exercise of these items, the total cumulative contract amount will be $377,428,339. Work will be performed at the Marinette, Wis.

Military Sealift Command ships USNS 2nd LT John P. Bobo and USNS LCPL Roy M. Wheat arrived off the coast of Monrovia, Liberia, in the Gulf of Guinea March 20, to participate in a sea-basing and humanitarian aid distribution exercise in conjunction with U.S. Marines and Africa Partnership Station ships USS Fort McHenry and HSV-2 Swift. Bobo and Wheat are U.S. Navy cargo ships that are part of Maritime Prepositioning Ship Squadron One, or MPSRON One, one of three squadrons that preposition military equipment in strategic locations at-sea for rapid delivery ashore in response to military or humanitarian crises. These squadrons are commanded by a U.S. Navy captain with an embarked military staff, while the ships themselves are crewed by merchant mariners under contract to MSC.

Marinette Marine Corporation, Marinette, Wis., is being awarded $65,340,717 under a previously awarded firm-fixed contract (N00025-03-C-0002) to exercise an option for the acquisition of the remaining watercraft to be built under option three of the Improved Navy Lighterage System. (Two causeway ferries were recently procured with FY08 Continuing Resolution Authority funds). This action is for eight more causeway ferries, four warping tugboats, and one Roll On/Roll Off Discharge facility. Altogether, 35 separate watercraft are included. After exercise of these items, the total cumulative contract value will be $333,568,250. Work will be performed in Marinette, Wis. (94 percent) and Youngs Island, N.C. (6 percent), and work is expected to be completed by May 2010.

The Manitowoc Company, Inc. and its subsidiary, Marinette Marine Corporation, part of the Manitowoc Marine Group, have been awarded a $40.5 million contract by the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Department of the U.S. Navy, to build the Improved Navy Lighterage System (INLS). The contract contains additional fixed options that can be exercised over the next five years for a maximum amount of $404.8 million. As part of the initial contract, Marinette Marine will build 29 barges that can be assembled into floating platforms or causeway systems to transport heavy materials such as tanks, trucks, and cargo between ship and shore. Each barge will be approximately 80 ft. by 24 ft., will weigh between 75 and 124 tons, and will be capable of carrying approximately 150 tons of cargo.

Inc. has launched the U.S. Manitowoc's Marinette Marine subsidiary. 1998. "SEQUOIA joins her sophisticated sister cutters in helping the U.S. Guard to successfully complete a variety of important missions," said Terry D. Growcock, Manitowoc's chairman and chief executive officer. the ship, performing the traditional christening ceremony. The U.S. command of Captain R. officers and 34 enlisted personnel. and rescue operations and domestic ice breaking. the United States between 1908 and 1946. States Lighthouse Service. In addition to the Juniper-class buoy tenders being built for the U.S. for New York City's Department of Transportation. awarded a $40.5-million contract by the U.S. the USCGC MACKINAW.

Marinette Marine Corporation, a subsidiary of The Manitowoc Company, Inc., launched the ferry Guy V. Molinari, for New York City's Department of Transportation, on September 20. This 310-ft. ferry is one of three to be built as part of a $120-million contract that was awarded to Manitowoc in 2001. The launch ceremony featured Michael R. Bloomberg, mayor of New York, and Guy V. Molinari as the keynote speakers, with the Honorable Susan Molinari, former U.S. Congresswoman from New York and daughter of the ship's namesake, as the sponsor, who performed the traditional christening ceremony. "Throughout our 60-year history, Marinette Marine has constructed more than 1,300 ships for government and commercial customers, including buoy tenders for the U.S.

Marinette Marine Corporation last month launched the ferry Guy V. Molinari, for New York City's Department of Transportation. This 310-ft. ferry is one of three to be built as part of a $120-million contract that was awarded to Manitowoc in 2001. The launch ceremony featured Michael R. Bloomberg, mayor of New York, and Guy V. Molinari as the keynote speakers, with the Honorable Susan Molinari, former U.S. Congresswoman from New York and daughter of the ship's namesake, as the sponsor, who performed the traditional christening ceremony. "Throughout our 60-year history, Marinette Marine has constructed more than 1,300 ships for government and commercial customers, including buoy tenders for the U.S. Coast Guard and landing crafts, barracks barges, workboats, and tugs for the U.S.

The Manitowoc Company, Inc. has launched the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Alder, the last ship in a series of 16 seagoing buoy tenders being built at Manitowoc’s Marinette Marine subsidiary. This 225-ft, Juniper-class vessel is part of a series of contracts that were awarded to Marinette in 1993 and 1998. “ALDER is a highly sophisticated cutter that will help the U.S. Coast Guard’s homeland security efforts and other missions,” said Dennis McCloskey, president of Manitowoc’s Marine Group. The launch ceremony, which took place on February 7, featured Vice Admiral James D.

The Manitowoc Company, Inc. launched the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Alder, the last ship in a series of 16 seagoing buoy tenders being built at Manitowoc's Marinette Marine subsidiary. This 225-ft, Juniper-class vessel is part of a series of contracts that were awarded to Marinette in 1993 and 1998. "Alder is a highly sophisticated cutter that will help the U.S. Coast Guard's homeland security efforts and other missions," said Dennis McCloskey, president of Manitowoc's Marine Group. The launch ceremony, which took place on February 7, featured Vice Admiral James D. Hull, Commander of the Atlantic Area, as the keynote speaker, with Judith Hull, the admiral's wife and sponsor of the ship, performing the traditional christening ceremony. The U.S.

Art Anderson Associates reported that it has completed Phase I of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract to evaluate the Stolkraft hull form as an alternative to the Navy’s 11-meter Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) in the transportation of marine mammals. This SBIR topic was issued to address the excessive slamming loads being experienced by Navy Special Clearance Team (NSCT-1) forces on their current 11-meter RIB. In Phase I, Art Anderson Associates reports, tests of an existing Stolkraft showed that it experienced lower vertical accelerations than the U.S. Navy 10-m RIB under similar test conditions. A concept design was also produced based on the NSCT-1 operational requirements established during the Phase I kick-off meeting.

Marinette Marine Corporation, a subsidiary of The Manitowoc Company, Inc. launched the ferry Sen. John J. Marchi for New York City's Department of Transportation on Saturday, May 8. This 310-ft. ferry is the second of three Staten Island Ferries to be built as part of a $120-million contract that was awarded to Manitowoc in 2001. The launch ceremony featured Michael R. Bloomberg, mayor of New York, as the keynote speaker, with Mrs. Maria Luisa Marchi, Senator Marchi's wife and the ship's sponsor, performing the traditional christening ceremony. "This series of cutting-edge ferries demonstrates the strengths of our Marinette shipyard.

Art Anderson Associates has entered a new phase in one of its Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) contracts with the U.S. Navy. In this phase, Art Anderson Associates will work to optimize the speed and throughput of the company-developed High-Speed Lighterage vessel required by amphibious military operational scenarios. Guidance from the Navy and the results of the analysis will determine specific design parameters for the vessel, allowing Art Anderson Associates and the Navy to proceed with vessel engineering and design. Art Anderson Associates has been under contract to the Naval Facilities Command, Sealift Support Office for research and design of the Improved Navy Lighterage System (INLS).

Kvichak Marine Industries is currently constructing four each MPF utility boats for the United States Navy. The 40-ft. high-speed landing craft replace the Navy’s existing LCM-8 craft as part of the Improved Navy Lighterage System in support of pre-positioned Marine Amphibious assault missions. These four craft were ordered after the successful completion and delivery of 10 MPF utility boats to the Navy in early 2007. The 40 x 14 ft. landing craft have a loaded cruise speed of ~25 knots and a lightened flank speed of ~40 knots. The propulsion package includes: twin Cummins QSM11 engines rated for 660hp at 2300 rpm, ZF 325 marine gears, and Hamilton 364 water jets.