MARAD authorises two additional NSMV
Rendering of the NSMV (Source: Herbert Engineering and MARAD)
U.S. yard Philly Shipyard, Inc. has an order worth US$600 million for two additional diesel-electric training vessels. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) authorised construction of the national security multi-mission vessels (NSMVs) which will replace aging ships of maritime academies Maine Maritime Academy in Castine and Texas A&M Maritime Academy in Galveston.
The newbuildings are 159.9m long and carry 600 cadets and 100 crew/training staff. Construction of the two vessels with the numbers NSMV 3 and NSMV 4 is expected to commence in 2022 with planned deliveries in 2024. Two ships had previously been ordered in April 2020. Another ship may be ordered in the training ship programme bringing the total vessels to be ordered to five. TOTE Services, LLC had been selected by MARAD as the vessel construction manager for the NSMV programme in May 2019.
The contract for the NSMVs has allowed Philly Shipyard to reconstitute its workforce for commencement of the new production work. The hiring process will remain ongoing throughout 2021. The total workforce at Philly Shipyard at full capacity is approximately 1,200.
The NSMV will feature numerous instructional spaces and a full training bridge. Apart from bolstering maritime education, the ships will also be used to support U.S. Government efforts in response to national and international disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes. The NSMV vessels will incorporate medical capabilities, a command and control platform and accommodation for up to 1,000 rescue and recovery workers. The vessel's RoRo ramp and crane to facilitate container storage capabilities will enable it to provide critical support equipment and supplies to those in need.
