$1.65 billion in contracts awarded to three Mississippi Coast shipbuilders
Shipbuilders in South Mississippi are considered an essential business during the coronavirus pandemic, and a trifecta of new contracts have been awarded to three Coast firms.
The contracts awarded in the last three weeks include:
▪ United States Marine in Gulfport on Monday was awarded Monday a $108 million, five-year contract to build boats for the U.S. Special Operations Command.
“This Mississippi-based company has grown to be one of the premier suppliers of special warfare boats to our nation’s military, and the Combatant Craft Assault continues that legacy,” said U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker.
▪ Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula received a $1.5 billion contract for the detail design and construction of amphibious transport dock LPD 31. The fixed-price-incentive modification to a previously awarded contract was announced April 3. This ship will be the 15th in the San Antonio class and the second Flight II LPD.
More than 1,500 shipbuilders work on each LPD in Pascagoula. Ingalls has delivered 11 San Antonio-class ships to the Navy, and it has three more under construction. Another 600 manufacturers and suppliers in 39 states, including 387 small businesses, supply parts and services for the ships.
Ingalls and the other shipbuilders are deemed essential during the coronavirus. Last week, Ingalls officially started fabrication of the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer Ted Stevens (DDG 128). Ingalls has delivered 31 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers to the Navy and now has five more under construction.
▪ VT Halter Marine in Pascagoula and Moss Point was awarded a $39.9 million contract option in late March for the U.S. Navy’s fourth Auxiliary Personnel Lighter–Small 67 Class berthing and messing barge. The firm, fixed-price option is for detail design and construction.
The first three APLs already are under construction by the shipbuilders at VT Halter. The company expects to deliver the first three APLs before the end of the year and this fourth barge by the summer of 2021.
These vessels are used by the Navy to house crew members during training and other purposes and have the potential to be moved in for humanitarian missions and other temporary assignments.
