Gibbs & Cox to Support MSC, US Navy in Retrofit of USS Ponce

Maritime solutions firm Gibbs & Cox will support Military Sealift Command (MSC) and U.S. Navy in the retrofit of USS Ponce. The retrofit will transform the long-serving amphibious transport dock ship into an Afloat Forward Staging Base (AFSB-I) with a habitability structure to support a combined Navy/civil service mariner crew.

Slated for deployment this summer, the modernized Ponce will provide maritime mobility, support and refueling capabilities in the U.S. Central Command Theater, an area that includes the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia.

Selected in January 2012, Gibbs & Cox completed a project work plan within a day of notification and began the re-design process within three to fulfill the accelerated timeline order. In accordance with the MSC approved work plan, Gibbs & Cox personnel conducted ship checks to determine the change requirements, prepared detailed design specifications, and supported shipyard production of the affected compartments and spaces.

“The conversion of USS Ponce has been a challenging and time-sensitive task,” said Rick Biben, President and Chief Executive of Gibbs & Cox. “We are proud to support Military Sealift Command in this unique endeavor, which has displayed our agility as a firm as well as the dedication of our naval architects, designers and engineers.”

Gibbs & Cox is a privately held, independent maritime solutions firm specializing in naval architecture, marine engineering, management support and engineering consulting. Founded in 1929, Gibbs & Cox’s mission is to help customers in the U.S. and international government sectors and global marine industry meet the most challenging issues during all phases of design, construction, and life cycle support. The company is headquartered in Arlington, Va., with offices in New York City, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., New Orleans and Hampton, Va.

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Naval Today Staff , March 19, 2012;