Navy awards Halter contract for oceanographic survey ship

Usns Maury

(PASCAGOULA, Miss.) — Halter Marine has been awarded a $149 million contract for the detail design and construction of an oceanographic survey ship (T-AGS 67) for the U.S. Navy.

“This contract continues the momentum and growth of Halter Marine by adding a third government program to its shipyard along with the polar security cutter and auxiliary personnel lighter-small programs. With this contract award, Halter Marine will add approximately 250 highly skilled jobs allowing for the continued development and expansion of our workforce,” said Bob Merchent, president and CEO of Halter Marine.

Halter Marine has delivered seven Pathfinder-class vessels to the Navy. T-AGS 67 will be the eighth ship in the Pathfinder class and a modified repeat design of USNS Maury (T-AGS 66).

Pathfinder class vessels are multimission ships and can perform a variety of operations including hydrographic surveys of uncharted regions and advancing an understanding of the ocean water column, sea surface and sea-floor effects on underwater acoustics. Both vessels are equipped with a 300-square-feet moon pool for unmanned vehicle deployment and retrieval.

– Halter Marine

Usns Maury
Halter Marine/U.S. Navy photo
By Professional Mariner Staff