National Security Multi-Mission Vessel

The National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV) is a United States Maritime Administration (MARAD) ship designed as training vessels for the US maritime academies. The vessels will also be equipped to provide emergency humanitarian relief in areas affected by natural disasters such as hurricanes.[2] The first ship was expected to be delivered in 2022 and subsequently delivered to SUNY Maritime College in September 2023.[3][4] In April 2020, TOTE Services signed a contract with Philly Shipyard (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) for the construction of up to five NSMVs, with the first two delivered in Spring and Winter 2023 for a cost of US$630M.

Proposed design for the National Security Multi-Mission Vessel from 2017 promotional images.
Class overview
NameNational Security Multi-Mission Vessel class
BuildersPhilly Shipyard - Philadelphia, PA
OperatorsU.S. Maritime Administration and the Maritime Academies
In service2023 (Est.)
Planned5
General characteristics
TypeTraining Ship/Troopship
Length524.5 ft (159.9 m)
Beam88.7 ft (27.0 m)
Draft21.4 ft (6.5 m)
Installed power15,700 kW
Propulsion4 x Wabtec 16V250MDC engines,[1] single all electric drive shaft
Speed18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Range11,000 nmi (20,000 km; 13,000 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Complement600 cadets, 100 officers, staff, crew (training); 1000 (disaster relief)

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.[5] 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.[6] This dual purpose led to the class name of the design as National Security Multi-Mission Vessel.[5]

Design considerations

In 2015 the Herbert Engineering Corp. of Alameda, CA began work on a preliminary design for what became the NSMV.[7] 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.[8]

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.[8] In March 2018 the US federal budget included funding for the NSMV project and the first ship was expected to enter service in 2022.[9] A construction contract was to have been awarded to a shipyard in the second quarter of 2019[10] 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.[11] The 2020 budget requested by President Trump would restore the allocation to $300M.[12]

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. 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] and for NSMV 3 laid on 1 May 2023.[20]

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

References
  1. "GE to Supply Power and Propulsion Systems for US Maritime Administration National Security Multi-Mission Vessel". General Electric. Retrieved 4 March 2021."V250MDC Marine Engine Family / Wabtec Corporation". Wabtec Corporation. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
  2. "NSMV Concept Design Presented to MARAD". Herbert Engineering Corp. Retrieved May 5, 2018.
  3. "National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV)" (PDF). TOTE Services. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  4. Grady, John (12 March 2020). "Lawmakers Question MARAD on Sealift Readiness". US Naval Institute. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  5. van Rynbach, Eugene (October 3, 2017). "Designing the New National Security Multi-Mission Vessel". MarineLink.com. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  6. Tyler, David (May 31, 2015). "Federal officials ponder new training ships for state academies". ProfessionalMariner.com. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  7. "Herbert Engineering Corp. - Representative New Building Projects". Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  8. Eugene Van Rynbach (February 21, 2018). The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (PDF) (Speech). Alameda, CA. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  9. "Budget Deal Includes New Training Ships for U.S. Academies". Maritime Executive. March 23, 2018. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  10. Philly Shipyard 2018 Annual Report (pdf) (Report). 2018. p. 8. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
  11. Myers, Jim (29 March 2019). "Commandant: Coast Guard Approaching Tipping Point". The Waterways Journal, Inc. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  12. "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" (Press release). United States Department of Transportation. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  13. Reid, Alecia (21 January 2020). "Philly Shipyard "Coming Back To Life" After Running Into Hard Times In Recent Years". CBS Philly. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  14. "Philly Shipyard Cuts Steel for Second NSMV". MarineLink.com. Maritime Activity Reports, Inc. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  15. "National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV) Program Achieves Milestone with Steel Cutting of Third Ship". Homeland Security Today. 14 July 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  16. Hakirevic, Naida (20 January 2020). "USA: Philly Shipyard to build two more national security multi-mission vessels". NavalToday. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  17. Blenkey, Nick. "Funding for Cal Maritime NSMV training ship secured". Marine Log. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  18. "Philly Shipyard Lays Keel for First National Security Multi-Mission Vessel". MarineLink.com. Maritime Activity Reports, Inc. 10 December 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  19. Haun, Eric (29 September 2022). "Philly Shipyard Lays Keel for Second NSMV". MarineLink.com. Maritime Activity Reports, Inc. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  20. Haun, Eric (1 May 2023). "Philly Shipyard Lays Keel for Third NSMV". MarineLink.com. Maritime Activity Reports, Inc. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  21. "Empire State VI Docks in Philadelphia; SUNY Maritime Cadets and Alumni Tour Philly Shipyard" (Press release). Philly Shipyard. 10 June 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  22. "National Security Multi-Mission Vessel". Naval Technology. 21 April 2020. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  23. "National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV) Program Achieves Milestone with Steel Cutting of Third Ship" (Press release). Philly Shipyard. 22 July 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  24. "Texas A&M at Galveston Awarded New State-of-the-Art Vessel by Federal Government" (Press release). Texas A&M Galveston. 22 December 2020. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  25. "Philly Shipyard Awarded Fifth NSMV" (Press release). Philly Shipyard. 17 April 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
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