Maritime Prepositioning Force News

Crowley said it has been awarded a contract for the operation and maintenance of six government-owned Maritime Prepositioning Force (MPF) vessels, a unit of the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command (MSC).Crowley Government Solutions will carry out the contract, providing crewing and sustained support to enable rapid deployment of equipment and supplies as needed to aid U.S. military operations in remote regions around the world. Between deployments, the company will ensure extensive maintenance to enhance the vessel’s mission readiness.“Crowley is proud to continue serving the U.S.

Jacksonville, Fla. based Crowley Government Services Inc. has been awarded a $66,167,978 contract for the operation and maintenance of six U.S. government-owned Maritime Prepositioning Force vessels.The vessels under this award include the container, roll-on, roll-off ships USNS 2nd LT John P. Bobo (T-AK 3008); USNS SGT William R. Button (T-AK 3012); USNS 1st LT Baldomero Lopez (T-AK 3010); 1st LT Jack Lummus (T-AK 3011); USNS GYSGT Fred W. Stockham (T-AK 3017); and USNS PFC Dewayne T.

The US Department of Defense informs that Maersk Line and Keystone Prepositioning Services, have each been awarded vessel operation & maintenance contracts. 1. Maersk Line Ltd., Norfolk, Virginia, is being awarded a $33,016,247 modification under a previously awarded firm-fixed-price award fee contract (N00033-11-C-3110) to exercise the fourth option period of this contract for the operation and maintenance of five USNS Bobo-class ships, which support the U. S. Marine Corps Maritime Prepositioning Force worldwide. Work will be performance at sea world-wide, and work for this option period is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2015.

General Dynamics NASSCO today hosted a keel laying ceremony for the USNS Lewis B. Puller, the third ship in the Mobile Landing Platform (MLP) class. The ship is named in honor of Lewis B. Puller, the most decorated U.S. Marine in history and the only one to be awarded five Navy Crosses. Mrs. Elizabeth Glueck was the honoree for the keel-laying ceremony. She is the wife of Lieutenant General Kenneth J. Glueck, Jr., deputy commandant for Combat Development and Integration; commanding general, Marine Corps Combat Development Command; and commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Strategic Command. Mrs.

In the first contract, Maersk Line, Ltd., Norfolk, Va., is being awarded a $31,817,327 modification to a previously awarded contract to exercise the third 12-month option period for the operation and maintenance of five government-owned Maritime Prepositioning Force ships: USNS 2ND LT John P. Bobo (T-AK 3008), USNS SGT William R. Button (T-AK 3012), USNS 1ST LT Baldomero Lopez (T-AK 3010), USNS 1ST LT Jack Lummus (T-AK 3011) and USNS PFC Dewayne T. Williams (T-AK 3009). These…

USNS Montford Point (MLP 1) departs San Diego  for Naval Station Everett, Wash. Montford Point is the Navy’s first mobile landing platform, delivered to the Navy in San Diego May 14 and expected to be fully operational in fiscal year 2015. The ship, crewed by 33 contract mariners working for a company under charter to Military Sealift Command, will perform system tests during the voyage to its temporary layberth. Montford Point is scheduled for final contract trials in September, with its core capability set installed later this year.

General Dynamics NASSCO completed the complex float out operation for the first Mobile Landing Platform (MLP) ship, USNS Montford Point. Construction of the USNS Montford Point is progressing ahead of schedule, with the ship currently at 91% complete. The ship will now undergo final outfitting and testing pier side before completing sea trials. USNS Montford Point is scheduled to be christened in March 2013 and delivered to the U.S. Navy in May 2013. Fabrication of the second MLP, the USNS John Glenn, began in April 2012.

Military Sealift Command's Maritime Prepositioning Ship (MPS) Squadron One was officially disestablished Sept. 28. USNS 2ND LT John P. Bobo (T-AK 3008) made a final port visit to Rota, Spain in late September, marking the official disestablishment of the 28-year-old squadron. The other ships and personnel assigned to MPS Squadron One returned to the United States earlier this year, where they currently maintain a reduced operating status. MPS Squadron One was one of three squadrons belonging to MSC's Maritime Prepositioning Force (MPF)…

Shipbuilders of General Dynamics NASSCO completes assembly & weld-out of 26,241 metric tons of steel structure for first mobile landing platform for US Navy. The final block for the first MLP ship, comprised of the ship's exhaust stacks and weighing 277 short tons, was lifted onboard via crane and installed on August 17. The final structural welds were completed August 31 and inspected by the American Bureau of Shipping and the Navy. Work is continuing on outfitting and painting the ship in preparation for a November 13 undocking. Construction of the ship is progressing on schedule and under budget, with delivery scheduled for the second quarter of 2013.

San Diego - General Dynamics NASSCO today began construction of the future USNS John Glenn, the second ship of the U.S. Navy’s Mobile Landing Platform (MLP) program. The 765-foot-long ship is scheduled to be delivered to the Navy in the first quarter of 2014. When in service, the ship will be used as an offshore staging area for Navy and Marine personnel and equipment. NASSCO has construction contracts to build a total of three MLP ships. The first ship of the class, the future USNS Montford Point, is currently 48 percent complete at the San Diego shipyard. Once delivered to the fleet, MLP ships will join the Maritime Prepositioning Force squadrons strategically located around the world to enable rapid response in a crisis.

Third Mobile Landing Platform Ship for USN ordered from General Dynamics. According to Reuters, General Dynamics Corp has won a $360 million contract to build a third 765-foot-long Mobile Landing Platform ship - a kind of "pier at sea" - for the U.S. Navy. NASSCO informs that once delivered to the fleet, MLP ships will join Maritime Prepositioning Force squadrons that are strategically located around the world to enable rapid response in a crisis. MLP vessels will change the way the Maritime Prepositioning Force operates, providing a “pier at sea,” that will become the core of the Navy/Marine Corps sea basing concept. This capability will allow prepositioning ships to offload equipment and supplies to the MLP for transshipment to shore by other vessels.

General Dynamics NASSCO hosted a keel laying ceremony for the first Mobile Landing Platform (MLP) ship at the company’s shipyard in San Diego. Mrs. Pat Mills was the honoree for the ceremony. She is the wife of U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant General Richard P. Mills, Deputy Commandant for Combat Development and Integration. Mrs. Mills validated the keel laying by welding her initials into the ship’s structure. The steel plate with her initials will be permanently affixed to the ship’s keel, remaining with the vessel throughout its time in service.

Military Sealift Command Maritime Prepositioning Force ship USNS SGT William R. Button left the port of Male, Republic of the Maldives, today after completing a four-day port visit to the Indian Ocean island nation. The stop included bilateral meetings with senior Maldives National Defense Force officials, cultural exchange activities and a community relations event. Button is the flagship of Diego Garcia-based Maritime Prepositioning Ship Squadron Two, which has a current fleet of 12 noncombatant…

Keystone Prepositioning Services, Inc., Bala Cynwyd, Pa., is being awarded an $8,991,957 firm-fixed-price contract for the operation and maintenance of three of Military Sealift Command's government-owned Maritime Prepositioning Force ships:USNS Sgt. Matej Kocak, USNS Pfc. Eugene A. Obregon, and USNS Maj. Stephen W. Pless. The ships will continue to support at-sea prepositioning of equipment and supplies and surge-sealift requirements for the Department of Defense.This contract includes options, which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $47,403,888. The contract includes four one-year option periods and an annual award fee of up to $125,000 per ship.

USNS Medgar Evers, the newest ship in the U.S. Navy's Lewis and Clark-class of dry cargo/ammunition ships operated by Military Sealift Command, was christened Nov. 12 during a morning ceremony at the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego. With the traditional words, "I christen you USNS Medgar Evers," Myrlie Evers-Williams, the widow of the ship's namesake, broke the traditional bottle of champagne against the bow of the ship. Evers was launched Oct. 29 and is scheduled for delivery to MSC in spring 2012.

Navy Capt. Charles “Gene” Emmert has relieved Navy Capt. Wesley Brown as commander of Military Sealift Command’s Indian Ocean-based Maritime Prepositioning Ship Squadron Two. Emmert, the squadron’s 27th commander, accepted command during a ceremony on board MSC Maritime Prepositioning Force ship USNS SGT William R. Button in Diego Garcia’s lagoon. The commander of MPS Squadron Two has a staff of 10 active duty sailors and is responsible for the tactical control and readiness of the squadron’s current fleet of 12 government-owned and -chartered noncombatant cargo carriers.

General Dynamics NASSCO announced it has received a $60m contract from the U.S. Navy to purchase long-lead materials for the construction of a third Mobile Landing Platform (MLP) ship. NASSCO is already under contract to build two MLP ships. With this new contract, NASSCO will place orders for the ship’s engines and other components that have significant manufacturing lead times. A contract that fully funds construction of the third MLP ship is expected to be awarded by early next year. General Dynamics NASSCO is a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD). The MLP is a new class of auxiliary ship for the Navy. Once delivered, MLP ships will join the three Maritime Prepositioning Force squadrons that are strategically located around the world to enable rapid response in a crisis.

SAN DIEGO – General Dynamics NASSCO announced today that it has received from the U.S. Navy a $744 million modification to its Mobile Landing Platform (MLP) contract to fully fund construction of the first two ships of the new ship class. Construction of the first ship will begin immediately, with delivery to occur by the spring of 2013. The contract includes an option for the construction of a third MLP which, if exercised, will increase the total contract value to approximately $1.3 billion.

The fleet of tankers operated by the U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command is being reconfigured to meet fuel requirements in support of U.S. forces worldwide. This seagoing force of government-owned and U.S.-flagged chartered ships is acquiring a new chartered ship, MT Empire State, as two government-owned ships complete their service to the command. The newly built, U.S.-flagged Empire State came under charter to MSC for up to five years today and will operate worldwide carrying refined petroleum products for DOD…

Maersk Line, Limited (MLL) has been awarded a contract for the operation and maintenance of two ships in the U.S. Navy Military Sealift Command’s (MSC) Maritime Prepositioning Force, the USNS Wheat and the USNS Stockham. MLL will provide personnel and mariners, operational and technical support ashore and afloat, as well as all the equipment, tools, provisions and supplies necessary to operate these vessels worldwide. MLL also will support MSC in the management of government-owned cargo, including, but not limited to, hazardous materials, vehicular, bulk, and general cargoes. If all options are exercised, the contract periods for the USNS Wheat and the USNS Stockham will extend into 2015.

NORFOLK, Va., April 8, 2011 – Maersk Line, Limited (MLL) has been awarded a contract for the operation and maintenance of two ships in the U.S. Navy Military Sealift Command’s (MSC) Maritime Prepositioning Force, the USNS WHEAT and the USNS STOCKHAM. MLL will provide personnel and mariners, operational and technical support ashore and afloat, as well as all the equipment, tools, provisions and supplies necessary to operate these vessels worldwide. MLL also will support MSC in the management of government-owned cargo…

USNS William McLean, the newest ship in the U.S. Navy's Lewis and Clark-class of dry cargo/ammunition ships, slid into the water for the first time April 16 during a nighttime launch and christening ceremony at the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego. With a blast from the ship’s horn, McLean’s sponsor, Margaret Taylor, niece of the ship’s namesake, broke the traditional bottle of champagne against the bow as a colorful fireworks display lit up the night sky. “I am honored to represent then 9…

SAN DIEGO – General Dynamics NASSCO, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), today launched the U.S. Navy’s newest supply ship, USNS William McLean (T-AKE 12), during an evening christening ceremony at the shipyard. The USNS William McLean is the 12th of a class of 14 dry cargo/ammunition ships slated to serve as Combat Logistics Force (CLF) ships or be part of the Maritime Prepositioning Force. USNS William McLean is named after William Burdette McLean (1914–1976), the U.S. Navy physicist who conceived and developed the heat-seeking Sidewinder missile.