Supporting the Gators - 21st Century AGPs
Related Stories: Americas - USA, Coastal & Littoral, Contracts - Awards, Forces - Special Ops, Logistics, Other Corporation, Surface Ships - Other, Warfare - Lessons
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“Return of the Gators?” covered the return of riverine patrol craft to the US Navy, albeit in configurations likely to lead to higher medical bills later on. The effort was being advised in part by veterans who had served in Vietnam; as the USS Sohnomish County [LST 1126] site explains, one of the lessons from that conflict was the usefulness of large LST (landing ship, tank) craft as “motherships” for riverine squadrons. Reader Lee Wahler, who was aboard a couple, writes:
“They were designated AGP – Patrol Craft Tenders outfitted specifically for PBR and other boat support as well as a helo deck for the Seawolves. There were also ARLs, which were more repair ships.”
Now Edison Chouest Offshore in Galliano, LA has received a $7.5 million fixed-price contract for the charter of U.S. flagged Maritime Support Vessel MV C-Courageous “to support maritime security operations”...
Contracts and Key Events
May 4/07: Edison Chouest Offshore in Galliano, LA has received a $7.5 million fixed-price contract for the charter of U.S. flagged Maritime Support Vessel MV C-Courageous “to support maritime security operations.” According to DefenseLINK, the MV C-Couraegous will provide berthing and messing for 30 military personnel and will serve as a platform to transport, launch, recover, refuel, rearm and perform maintenance on small patrol watercraft; it can operate at full capacity for up to 30 days without re-supply.
MV C-Courageous was built by Edison Chouest subsidiary North American Shipbuilding, and completed in 1997. The chartered ship falls under US Military Sealift Command’s Special Missions Program Office PM2; there are rumors that Chouest vessels have also supported Naval Special Warfare Command in the past.
This contract includes three 1-year option periods, and one 11-month option period. The total award amount would rise to $36.5 million if all options are exercised; this price includes the estimated cost of reimbursable items such as fuel, port services and canal charges. Work will be performed worldwide, and is expected to be complete August 2008 (July 2012 with options). Contract funds for the base year will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured with more than 100 proposals solicited and 9 offers received by US Military Sealift Command in Washington, DC (N00033-07-C-2002).
