MSC PAO 97-51
September 3, 1997
For more information, contact:
Marge Holtz or Nancy Breen
(202) 685-5055

Military Sealift Command awards
$26M contract to Southwest Marine

The U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command awarded a $26 million, cost-plus-award-fee contract to Southwest Marine Incorporated in San Diego, Calif., for the repair, overhaul, dry-docking and upgrade of the U.S. Navy ammunition ship USNS Kiska (T-AE 35). The contract dollar value could reach $30.6 million if the award fee is granted and the optional work included in the contract is performed.

Kiska was transferred to MSC on Aug. 1, 1996, and is the fifth in a group of seven Navy ammunition ships that are being turned over to Military Sealift Command for operation by civilian mariners.

Work to be performed during USNS Kiska's shipyard availability includes: modifications to the ship's machinery to enable its operation by fewer crew members; maintenance and voyage repairs; dry-docking and extensive habitability modifications, including the installation of single and two-person staterooms; consolidation of galleys so that a single galley will feed all of the officers and crew; and the installation of self-service washers and dryers for crew laundries.

The total contract performance period includes an initial three-month design period followed by an 11-month shipyard availability period. USNS Kiska is scheduled to arrive at the shipyard by mid-September.

USNS Kiska has an overall length of 564 feet; maximum beam of 81 feet; displacement (full load) of 20,126 long tons; draft (full load) of 26 feet, 6 inches; speed of 20 knots; and endurance of 10,000 nautical miles at 20 knots. The ship has the facilities to embark two UH-46E Sea Knight helicopters.