Ocean Shipholdings, Inc. (“OSI”) , Houston, Texas, is awarded a $49,716,606 modification under a previously awarded firm fixed-price contract to fund the fourth one-year option period for the operation and maintenance of six oceanographic survey ships (T-AGS) and navigation test support ship USNS Waters (T-AGS 45). The previously awarded contract includes a 12-month firm period of performance, four 12-month option periods, and one six-month option period, which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $507,084,242. Work commenced at sea, June 1, 2018, and is expected to be completed, if all options are exercised, by Sept. 30, 2022. The contract was competitively procured with proposals solicited via the Federal Business Opportunities website and five offers were received. Military Sealift Command, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity.
The Pathfinder-class survey ships (T-AGS) are owned by the United States Navy and operated by Military Sealift Command for the Naval Oceanographic Office (“NAVOCEANO”). They have mostly civilian crews, including scientists from NAVOCEANO. The Pathfinder-class survey ships have three multipurpose cranes and five winches plus a variety of oceanographic equipment including multi-beam echo-sounders, towed sonars and expendable sensors. These ships are capable of carrying 34-foot (10 m) hydrographic survey launches (HSLs) for data collection in coastal regions with depths between 10 and 600 meters (33 and 1,969 ft) and in deep water to 4,000 meters (13,000 ft). A small diesel engine is used for propulsion at towing speeds of up to 6 knots (11 km/h; 6.9 mph). HSLs carry SIMRAD high-frequency active hull-mounted and side scan sonars.
USNS Waters (T-AGS-45) is a United States Navy vessel tasked with supporting submarine navigation-system testing and providing ballistic missile flight test support services. In 2011, it was homeported in Port Canaveral, Florida. Waters was originally an oceanographic survey ship, built by the Avondale Shipyard and delivered to the US Navy in 1993. Under the sponsorship of the Strategic Systems Program Office, Waters was converted in 1998 by Detyens Shipyard to support submarine navigation system testing and ballistic missile flight test support services. Waters is operated by Military Sealift Command to provide an operating platform and services for unique U.S. military and federal government missions. Special missions ships work for several different U.S. Navy customers, including Naval Sea Systems Command, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command and the Oceanographer of the Navy.
Ocean Ships Inc. (OSI) was founded in 1981 as a Houston based provider of ship management services. Ocean Shipholdings, Inc. (“OSI”) is a full-service marine operating company providing environmentally safe and efficient ocean transportation to its customers. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, OSI has built and operated ships for over 35 years. OSI’s main business is the turnkey technical management of ocean-going ships. Ship operations are worldwide including transportation of petroleum products, special operations, and ships containing cargo in support of the U.S. military. Currently the company operates 22 ships under contract. Vessel maintenance is also performed worldwide. OSI was initially formed to operate U.S. flag tankers in 1981, and remains privately owned today.
OSI’s ship operations are conducted in accordance with all quality, environmental and safety regulations of the ISO/ISM codes, as well as complying with the highest ethical business standards including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. OSI received certification from ABS-QE for ISO 14001 for environmental management and ISO 27001 for information security. OSI employs full-time shore staff personnel in our offices in Houston, Texas, with support offices in Norfolk, VA and Alameda, CA, Long Beach, CA, Tacoma, WA. Support of customer operations may require agents or direct employee support or shipyard attendance. OSI has a team of highly qualified marine engineers able to perform emergency repairs to ships worldwide. The company also operates special mission ships, Float On Float Off ships, and Large Medium Speed RORO ships for the US Department of the Navy. I
