Philly Shipyard, Inc. has successfully delivered the inaugural vessel, “Empire State,” as part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV) program. “Empire State” will serve SUNY Maritime College as the first of five modern training vessels for state maritime academies.
Contract Awarded to Philly Shipyard
“We are beyond proud to deliver the Empire State today, our first government newbuild in the history of Philly Shipyard.” said Steinar Nerbovik, President & CEO of Philly Shipyard. “We are honored to be trusted with this important project, and on behalf of all of our skilled workers, we are confident that the Empire State will provide a safe, reliable and state-of-the-art training platform for generations of future mariners.”
Innovative VCM Model:
- The NSMV Program is the first government-sponsored shipbuilding initiative to adopt the Vessel Construction Manager (VCM) model.
- This model assigns a government contractor (TOTE Services) the responsibility for selecting and supervising the shipyard, employing commercial best practices in project management.
- NSMV II, designated for Massachusetts Maritime Academy, is set for delivery in 2024.
- Keel laying for NSMV III, serving Maine Maritime Academy, has been completed.
- Steel cutting for NSMV IV, assigned to Texas A&M Maritime Academy, has also been recently completed
- Construction for NSMV V, allocated for California Maritime Academy, is scheduled to commence later this year.
- The objective is to deliver all vessels by 2026.
Investing in Shipbuilding
“Today’s delivery of the Empire State is a historic moment for the American maritime industry made possible by the U.S. Government’s investments in our nation’s industrial base,” said TOTE Services President Jeff Dixon. “These investments are on full display as we look to build the next generation of domestic mariner training ships more cost effectively – and on schedule – using commercial innovation and best practices. We must also give credit to the dedicated and skilled workers at Philly Shipyard, whose tireless efforts in the face of unprecedented challenges helped make this milestone possible.”
NSMV Program
The NSMV program serves as a significant investment in the U.S. shipbuilding sector, contributing to the livelihoods of approximately 400,000 American workers. Each NSMV is equipped with extensive instructional facilities, a complete training bridge, and can accommodate up to 600 cadets, offering a high-quality maritime education experience at sea.
The delivery of the “Empire State” represents a milestone as the first government ship constructed using the VCM contract model, an innovative approach applying commercial best practices to government vessel design and construction. This model is gaining interest for its potential to reduce costs, expedite deliveries, and increase the production of government vessels.
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Source: Accesswire
