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AMSEA to operate LMSRs (9/1)

The U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC) has announced that SIU-contracted American Overseas Marine Corporation (AMSEA) has been awarded a contract to operate nine of the Bob Hope-class LMSRs. The vessels covered in the agreement are the USNS Benavidez, USNS Bob Hope, USNS Brittin, USNS Fisher, USNS Mendonca, USNS Pililaau, USNS Seay, USNS Shughart and USNS Yano. The full release follows: $23.5 million contract awarded for operation and maintenance of Navy cargo ships MSC Public Affairs MSC PAO 04-19 The U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command has awarded a one-year contract to American Overseas Marine Corporation, based in Quincy, Mass., for the operation and maintenance of nine of MSC’s nineteen large, medium-speed, roll-on/roll-off ships which are currently moving combat cargo for the global war on terrorism. These 950-foot LMSRs are designed to rapidly deliver more than 300,000 sq. ft. of equipment and supplies to deployed U.S. forces around the world. The $23.5 million contract awarded to AMSEA contains four one-year options. If all options are exercised, the total value of the contract will exceed $122.6 million. Under this contract, AMSEA will be responsible for operating, maintaining and repairing the huge cargo ships, a duty that includes crewing the ships with qualified civilian marine officers and crews, as well as providing ashore and afloat technical support. MSC’s remaining ten LMSRs are under contract to two other U.S. ship operating companies. The nine LMSRs under contract to AMSEA bolster the U.S. military's mobility and ability to react quickly in a crisis. The ships are maintained in reduced operating status at U.S. East and Gulf Coast ports. These ships can be fully activated and underway in 96 hours or less, delivering more than six football fields of equipment to U.S. military war fighters in the field abroad. The ships that fall under this contract are USNS Benavidez, USNS Bob Hope, USNS Brittin, USNS Fisher, USNS Mendonca, USNS Pililaau, USNS Seay, USNS Shughart and USNS Yano. The LMSRs have been the prime movers of combat cargo for U.S. military units involved in the global war on terrorism. An estimated 95 percent of the equipment and supplies used by deployed U.S. forces moves by sea. MSC operates more than 110 noncombatant, civilian-crewed ships that replenish U.S. Navy ships at sea, chart ocean bottoms, conduct undersea surveillance and strategically preposition combat cargo at sea around the world. -USN-