Seafarers will crew up two newly contracted “special mission” ships for the U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC), signaling new shipboard jobs for Seafarers.The USNS Waters (T-AGS 45) and the USNS Hayes (T-AG 195) will be crewed by SIU members and operated by 3PSC LLC for MSC.
The Waters (457 feet long) is the bigger of the two vessels. It is classified as a navigation research/missile range instrumentation ship, supporting submarine navigation system testing and providing ballistic missile flight test support services.
According to MSC, the Waters originally was an oceanographic survey ship, built by Avondale Industries and delivered to the Navy in 1993. Under the sponsorship of the U.S. Strategic Systems Program Office, the Waters was converted in 1998 by Deteyns Shipyard to support submarine navigation system testing and ballistic missile flight test support services.
The Hayes (247 feet long) is considered an acoustic research ship that is utilized “as an operating platform for unique U.S. military requirements,” according to MSC. “Special missions ships work for several different U.S. Navy customers such as Naval Sea Systems Command, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command and the Oceanographer of the Navy.”
The Hayes’ previous missions included transporting, deploying and retrieving acoustic tools, conducting acoustic surveys in support of the submarine noise reduction program and performing acoustic testing. MSC points out that the vessel’s design permits installation of a center-line well, with access to sheltered water between the hulls.
During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Hayes underwent extensive conversion work in two shipyards.
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