The US Navy’s Military Sealift Command has awarded Vigor Marine an $8.5 million contract for the mid-term availability of USNS Henry J. Kaiser (T-AO 187).
The 42-calendar day shipyard availability of the fleet replenishment oiler will see Vigor Marine carry out general services, clean and gas free tanks, tank deck overhead preservation, flight deck non-skid, number 6 port and starboard ballast tank preservation, aft superstructure repairs, refrigerated container modifications, and number 3 ship service diesel generator 24K overhaul.
USNS Henry J. Kaiser will be overhauled in Portland, Oregon, and work is expected to be completed by February 2018.
T-AO 187 is the lead ship of a class of 18 vessels built by Avondale Shipyard and Pennsylvania Shipbuilding Company between 1984 and 1996.
Of the 18 ships built, 14 are still operated by Military Sealift Command and provide underway replenishment of fuel to US Navy ships at sea and jet fuel for aircraft assigned to aircraft carriers. Only three of the newest vessels in the class have double hulls.
Earlier this month, the Military Sealift Command awarded Detyens Shipyard a $7.78 million contract for the regular overhaul and dry docking of another ship in the class, the USNS Big Horn (T-AO 189).