Seafarers International Union (SIU) contracted Ocean Ships, Inc. has won the operating contract for three new mobile landing platform (MLP) vessels, signaling new jobs for Seafarers. The vessels are being built at General Dynamics NASSCO in San Diego; they are the USNS Montford Point, USNS John Glenn, and USNS Lewis B. Puller.
According to the government’s announcement of the agreement, each of the MLPs will be approximately 785 feet long and will be able to sail at 15 knots. They are expected to be deployed as prepositioning ships.
The Montford Point is scheduled for delivery in mid-May of 2013, followed by the John Glenn in early 2014 and the Lewis Puller in early 2015.
Including options, the Ocean Ships contract is for five years.
According to the U.S. Military Sealift Command , the new ships “will be the centerpiece of the Navy’s ‘Sea Base’ concept, and will serve as a transfer point for Marine Corps amphibious landing forces between large ships and small landing craft. They will provide the capability to transfer vehicles and equipment at-sea, improving the U.S. military’s ability to deliver equipment and cargo from ship to shore when land bases do not exist.”
[mappress] Naval Today Staff, December 13, 2012; Image: SIU