Page 44: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (February 2021)

GOVERNMENT SHIPS NSMV

NSMV Program Advances

Philly Shipyard Wins Two More

Photo Courtesy MarAd

By Greg Trauthwein ast month the U.S. Maritime Administration ation, as building new obviously comes with a higher price (MarAd) authorized the construction of two ad- tag, but offers tangible bene? ts. ditional National Security Multi-Mission Vessels When considering the new NMSV Kevin Tokarski, As- (NSMV), to replace aging training vessels at Maine sociate Administrator for Strategic Sealift, Maritime Ad-

L

Maritime and Texas A&M Maritime Academy. This brings ministration, USDOT estimates that “85% of that ship is the total to four ships authorized for construction at Philly used completely for training purposes,” where the num-

Shipyard, with MarAd previously authorizing the con- ber on previous ships that were modi? ed was much lower, struction of two NSMVs for SUNY Maritime College and maybe 25%. “So the value proposition of building new is

Massachusetts Maritime Academy. maximizing the training value capacity out of the ship,”

In May 2019, MarAd awarded TOTE Services, LLC a said Tokarski. “Everything was designed from the ground contract to be the Vessel Construction Manager for the up for effective training and living on the ship. There could

NSMV program, and in April 2020, TOTE Services have been cheaper solutions, but it (the cheaper solution) awarded Philly Shipyard, Inc. a contract to build up to ? ve would have had a much shorter life.”

NSMVs with ? xed prices and schedules. If all options are The last time MarAd built a ship was the early 1950s, exercised, the cumulative contract will be about $1.5 bil- and early sentiment was to have the Navy run the ship- lion and stretch to 2025. build program. But the Navy build mindset is decidedly not commercial, and to keep costs in check the decision

Government Ship, Commercial Build Approach was made to take the commercial approach, hence the de-

When planning for the ship started more than 10 years cision to engage a Vessel Construction Manager.

ago, the maritime schools were summoned to help pro- “We’ve been managing the Ready Reserve Force program duce an overview of all training requirements needed for a where we use commercial ship managers, and it has been new construction ship. Building new versus acquiring and evidenced over the years that it produces a better product, converting an existing ship was the ? rst major consider- at a higher level of readiness at a lower cost compared to 44 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • February 2021

MR #2 (34-49).indd 44 2/5/2021 8:28:02 AM