TOTE Services has been picked to manage the construction of a new class of merchant mariner training vessel.
The contract, awarded by the US Maritime Administration (MarAd) Tuesday, will see the Jacksonville-based company select a shipyard to build the National Security Multi-Mission Vessel and ensure the construction follows best practices.
"TOTE has a long history of supporting maritime academy training programs and disaster relief missions in conjunction with MarAd," said Dixon. "We’re confident in our ability to deliver on the [National Security Multi-Mission Vessel] and are excited to again work with MarAd on this important initiative."
The new class of ship will training spaces and up to eight classrooms, a training bridge, laboratory, auditorium, hospital facilities and a helipad, plus ro-ro and containership capabilities. The ships will replace the current training ships at the country's six state maritime academies and emergency response when necessary.
"The construction of this new NSMV will continue to showcase our nation’s shipbuilding standard of excellence," said Maritime Administrator Mark Buzby. "Ultimately, it will provide an excellent training platform for future generations of mariners."
TOTE will issue a request for information from shipyards "soon" with the intention of awarding a contract by the end of 2019. Delivery is expected by 2022.
