National Security Multi-Mission Vessel Explained

The National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV) is a United States Maritime Administration (MARAD) ship designed as training vessels for maritime academies. The five vessels will also be equipped to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.[1] The project was managed by TOTE Maritime, a U.S.-based shipping company with experience building U.S.-flagged vessels, with the with Philly Shipyard constructing the ships. The first ship was delivered to State University of New York Maritime College in September 2023.[2] [3]

Background

The US maritime academies train future officers and engineers for the US merchant fleet. An integral part of this training is annual voyage at sea aboard a training vessel. Much of the year the vessels are laid up, and as US government owned ships they can be activated and deployed to provide housing for disaster relief workers.[4] As of 2018 the current vessels were aging. The newest was almost 30 years old and oldest, Empire State, was 56 years old and had an antiquated steam power plant. The ships also fail international emission standards and this has impacted their training itineraries. MARAD provides the training ships and in 2015 initiated a program to develop a purpose-built ship design that would combine the training and disaster relief missions.[5] This dual purpose led to the class name of the design as National Security Multi-Mission Vessel.[4]

Design considerations

In 2015 the Herbert Engineering Corp. of Alameda, CA began work on a preliminary design for what became the NSMV.[6] The ship dimensions would have to fit the existing mooring berths at the service academies. The design team visited three of the academies to learn of their training requirements. While primarily a training ship, the vessels would also be equipped for disaster relief. These included a Roll-on/Roll-off side ramp, container space and crane, and a helipad.[7]

Project status

In February 2018 the design stage was in Phase 3 of development and in sufficient detail to present to shipyards for construction bidding.[7] In March 2018 the US federal budget included funding for the NSMV project and the first ship was expected to enter service in 2022.[8] A construction contract was to have been awarded to a shipyard in the second quarter of 2019[9] but proposed 2019 federal budget reductions cut the allocated amount per ship from $300M to only $205M. This reduced amount would require abandonment of the NSMV design and a complete redesign for a smaller ship.[10] The 2020 budget requested by President Trump would restore the allocation to $300M.[11]

In April 2020, TOTE Services signed a contract with Philly Shipyard (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) for the construction of the first two vessels to be delivered in the Spring and Winter 2023 for a cost of US$630M. TOTE Services is working with its design partners – Glosten, Inc., Philly Shipyard, and Philly Shipyard’s subcontractors, including the design team at DSEC.[12]

Steel cutting for NSMV1 began in December 2020,[13] for NSMV2 in March 2021,[14] and for NSMV3 in July 2022.[15] In January 2020 a contract was signed with the same shipyard for NSMV4 with an anticipated delivery in 2024.[16] Funding for NSMV5 was approved in March 2022.[17]

The keel for the NSMV 1 was laid on 10 December 2021.[18] The first ship was floated out for fitting and the grand block for NSMV 2 laid on 29 September 2022.[19] The keels were laid for NSMV 3 in May 2023[20] and for NSMV 4 in December 2023.[21]

The vessels are anticipated to be delivered to the following maritime academies:

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: NSMV Concept Design Presented to MARAD . Herbert Engineering Corp . May 5, 2018.
  2. Web site: National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV) . TOTE Services. 14 March 2020.
  3. Web site: Lawmakers Question MARAD on Sealift Readiness . Grady . John . 12 March 2020 . US Naval Institute . 14 March 2020.
  4. Web site: Designing the New National Security Multi-Mission Vessel . van Rynbach . Eugene . October 3, 2017 . MarineLink.com . 5 May 2018.
  5. Web site: Federal officials ponder new training ships for state academies . Tyler . David . May 31, 2015 . ProfessionalMariner.com . 5 May 2018.
  6. Web site: Herbert Engineering Corp. - Representative New Building Projects . 7 May 2018.
  7. The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers . Eugene Van Rynbach . February 21, 2018 . Alameda, CA . 7 May 2018.
  8. News: Budget Deal Includes New Training Ships for U.S. Academies . Maritime Executive. March 23, 2018 . 14 March 2020.
  9. . and . --> . 2018 . Philly Shipyard 2018 Annual Report . pdf . 8 . March 22, 2019 .
  10. Web site: Myers. Jim. Commandant: Coast Guard Approaching Tipping Point. The Waterways Journal, Inc.. 29 March 2019. 14 March 2020.
  11. Statement of Elaine L. Chao, Secretary of Transportation before the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development of the United States Senate on March 4, 2020. United States Department of Transportation. 14 March 2020.
  12. Web site: Staff . Naval News . 2020-12-16 . First Steel Cutting ceremony for US MARAD's new NSMV training ship . 2024-06-03 . Naval News . en-US.
  13. News: Reid. Alecia. Philly Shipyard "Coming Back To Life" After Running Into Hard Times In Recent Years. 21 January 2020. CBS Philly. 1 February 2021.
  14. News: Philly Shipyard Cuts Steel for Second NSMV . MarineLink.com. Maritime Activity Reports, Inc. 10 March 2021.
  15. News: National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV) Program Achieves Milestone with Steel Cutting of Third Ship. Homeland Security Today. 14 July 2022. 15 July 2022.
  16. News: Hakirevic. Naida. USA: Philly Shipyard to build two more national security multi-mission vessels. NavalToday. 20 January 2020. 15 July 2022.
  17. News: Blenkey. Nick. Funding for Cal Maritime NSMV training ship secured. Marine Log. 8 April 2022.
  18. News: Philly Shipyard Lays Keel for First National Security Multi-Mission Vessel. MarineLink.com. Maritime Activity Reports, Inc. 10 December 2021. 11 December 2021.
  19. News: Haun. Eric. Philly Shipyard Lays Keel for Second NSMV. MarineLink.com. Maritime Activity Reports, Inc. 29 September 2022. 3 December 2022.
  20. News: Haun. Eric. Philly Shipyard Lays Keel for Third NSMV. MarineLink.com. Maritime Activity Reports, Inc. 1 May 2023. 8 June 2023.
  21. Web site: Philly Shipyard Lays Keel for Fourth NSMV . MarineLink.com . Marine Activity Reports, Inc. . 15 December 2023 . 8 December 2023.
  22. Empire State VI Docks in Philadelphia; SUNY Maritime Cadets and Alumni Tour Philly Shipyard. Philly Shipyard. 10 June 2022. 22 September 2022.
  23. Web site: National Security Multi-Mission Vessel. Naval Technology. 21 April 2020. 22 September 2022.
  24. National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV) Program Achieves Milestone with Steel Cutting of Third Ship. Philly Shipyard. 22 July 2022. 22 September 2022.
  25. Texas A&M at Galveston Awarded New State-of-the-Art Vessel by Federal Government. Texas A&M Galveston. 22 December 2020. 22 September 2022.
  26. Philly Shipyard Awarded Fifth NSMV. Philly Shipyard. 17 April 2022. 22 September 2022.
  27. Steel Cutting Ceremony Held for Fifth NSMV. Marine Link. 9 February 2024. 11 April 2024.

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