The U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC) recently awarded the operating contract for four of the T-5 Tankers to SIU-contracted Ocean Ships, Inc. (OSI) of Houston, Texas. The vessels are the double-hull, ice-strengthened petroleum products tankers USNS Paul Buck, USNS Samuel Cobb, USNS Lawrence Gianella and USNS Richard Matthiesen.This contract was awarded to OSI on what is known as a “best value basis” under an MSC classification called a small business set-aside.
The T-5 Tankers were constructed in 1985 and 1986 under a build and time charter contract awarded to OSI, and the Seafarers have manned these ships from their inaugural voyages. Over the 20-year time charter period, these vessels were available for “on hire” service to MSC 99.5 percent of the time, and there have been no cargo oil spills, according to OSI.
In 2003, the Navy purchased the tankers from the shipowners. The fifth ship in the series, M/V Gus Darnell, has been sold to U.S. Shipping and continues to be crewed by SIU members.
Two of the tankers, the Gianella and Matthiesen, are equipped with Modular Fuel Delivery Systems for underway replenishment of naval combat ships. T-5 tankers have been involved in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and Desert Storm. The dedicated contribution of the Seafarers in those missions was commended in a letter to OSI by General John Handy, commander of TRANSCOM.
In addition, the tankers have been operated in the ice-bound waters of Greenland and Antarctica. Each year, for 20 years now, a T-5 tanker has resupplied the scientific mission of the National Science Foundation in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica.
###
Printer Friendly Page