Welcome to MSW’s Scuttlebutt! Here’s the news for the day.



Canadian Firm to Provide Engineering and Management Support and Services to Its Defence Ship Design Group
Source: Public Works and Government Services Canada

GATINEAU, Quebec --- The Honourable Gordon O’Connor, Minister of State and Chief Government Whip, on behalf of the Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of Public Works and Government Services, today announced that the Government of Canada has awarded a contract to BMT Fleet Technology Ltd., of Kanata, Ontario, to support the Defence Ship Design Group at the Department of National Defence.

Under this contract, BMT Fleet Technology Ltd. will provide Engineering, Logistics and Management Support and Services (ELMS) to conduct option analysis and prepare statements of work and evaluations linked to the Canadian Navy Fleet.

“Our Government continues to deliver leading-edge technology to the Canadian Forces and concrete results for our economy,” said Minister Paradis. “This 10-year contract valued at nearly C$58 million will contribute significantly to the local economy while creating and maintaining up to 40 jobs over the next decade.”

“The Canada First Defence Strategy outlines the Government's long-term commitment to the Canadian Forces, Canadian business and the Canadian economy,” said Minister MacKay. “This contract award is a partnership between Canadian business and the Navy that allows our sailors to focus on protecting Canada and Canadians.”

“The award of this contract will help maintain jobs in our community. Initiatives such as this one will help ensure that Canadians feel comfortable investing here at home and feel confident in the Canadian economy,” said Minister O’Connor.

This contract will benefit the Canadian Forces, help support Canadian industry and create economic benefits and jobs for the local economy.

BACKGROUND:

The Department of National Defence requires a contract for the provision of Engineering, Logistics and Management Support and Services (ELMS) to support the limited resources of its Defence Ship Design Group and to conduct option analysis, prepare statement of work and evaluation linked to the Canadian Navy Fleet. Over the longer term, this procurement will help the Canadian Forces meet its requirements for the Canadian Navy Fleet.

On June 23, 2009, PWGSC, on behalf of DND, awarded a contract to BMT Fleet Technology Ltd. of Kanata, Ont., to provide these services to the Canadian Forces. The initial contract is for three years at a cost not to exceed $15.54M, with options to extend it by three periods of two years each and one period of one year. The total cost including the options is not to exceed C$57.75M (including C$2.75M GST).

The requirement for these services is within the Program Activity Architecture of DND, which includes the procurement and management of goods and services for the Canadian Forces maritime fleet. This requirement is subject to a National Security Exemption.

The Government of Canada is committed to the Canadian Forces and is determined to provide its men and women with the best equipment available to do their jobs. In addition to supporting the Canadian Forces, this contract award supports Canadian industry and will create benefits for the local economy. In its entirety, this contract will create 10 full-time positions and maintain 30 more jobs, for a total of 40 jobs over 10 years, contributing significantly to the local economy.


Launching of the SWATH Customs Vessel HELGOLAND in Hamburg
Source: ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems

With the words "God bless her and all who sail in her" Nicolette Kressl, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Ministry of Finance, today named the new vessel of the German Customs Administration HELGOLAND.

The vessel has been built from 2007 to 2009 by TKMS Blohm + Voss Nordseewerke in Emden, a company of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems. Numerous representatives from politics, industry and administration watched the naming and commissioning ceremony of the new customs vessel at the Überseebrücke in Hamburg.

Currently, the HELGOLAND is the latest vessel of the Customs Administration. The 50 m long SWATH vessel (Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull) is – due to the twin-hull design - characterized by an excellent seagoing behaviour and extremely safe operating conditions at all speeds. A SWATH vessel has a reduced wave attack area and is therefore a stable platform. The diesel-electric propulsion ensures economic operation; the fuel consumption of a SWATH vessel is significantly lower than that of a monohull vessel.

The HELGOLAND will be a special asset of the Customs Administration for the tasks to be carried out at sea. For customs tasks and the tasks assigned to the Customs Authorities such as monitoring fisheries and pollution control, the HELGOLAND will monitor the German Bight and the customs boundary of the European Union. Home port of the HELGOLAND will be Cuxhaven. The sister ship, the BORKUM – also built by TKMS Blohm + Voss Nordseewerke in Emden – is to be delivered at the end of the year.


ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems AG, with its head office in Hamburg, Germany, is part of ThyssenKrupp Technologies AG within the ThyssenKrupp Group. With its technological competence, extensive portfolio and continuous innovations the corporate group, being the umbrella organisation for shipyards in Germany, Sweden and Greece and various marine engineering companies, represents one of the leading systems houses in European shipbuilding.




EA-18G Growler Recommended For Fleet Introduction
Source: US Naval Air Systems Command

The findings of the EA-18G Growler's initial operational test and evaluation were released by the Department of Defense Wednesday.

The aircraft received the rating of operationally effective, operationally suitable and was recommended for fleet introduction.

The evaluation of Navy's testing community, under the Commander Operational Test and Evaluation Forces, determined that the EA-18G is able to effectively perform the intended operational mission and is also found to be suitable. The suitability evaluation focuses on maintainability, reliability and many support aspects with the intention of validating that the system under test will be available when needed.

"We consider the EA-18G program to be a 'model' in terms of executing better than planned," said Capt. Mark Darrah, F/A-18 & EA-18G program manager, PMA-265. "A critical reason why the Growler remained on cost and on schedule while exceeding the performance required was the aggressive management of risk and requirements."

Combining the latest capabilities of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet with modern Airborne Electronic Attack (AEA) systems and weapons, the next generation in airborne electronic attack, EA-18G Growler, continues to be delivered on cost and ahead of schedule.

"The Navy's acquisition strategy of integrating the already proven EA-6B Improved Capability III (ICAP III) AEA suite with the Block 2 F/A-18F Super Hornet means the EA-18G was able to demonstrate the inherent reliability and maintainability that the fleet currently enjoys with the Super Hornet and the exceptional operational capability of the ICAP III AEA System," Darrah said. "This robust integration of these two mature weapon systems will ensure that the U.S. Navy will continue to provide world class tactical AEA capability well into the future."

Software anomalies were discovered during the IOT&E process, and the Integrated Product Team is actively engaged in developing a software update release that will be used for verification of and correction of deficiencies (VCD) development period, which is currently scheduled to start later this year.

Consistent with the Super Hornet, the EA-18G Growler was designed for spiral development. Software updates that address existing anomalies were designed into the plan from the beginning of the program.

"The professionalism, communication practices and processes established between the program office, industry, developmental test, operational test and the fleet throughout this program have been essential to its successes and should serve as a model of Integrated Test and Evaluation (IT&E) practices for future endeavors," said Darrah.




New Jersey Naval Museum

Today’s website is the New Jersey Naval Museum. The New Jersey Naval Museum/Submarine USS Ling was established by the Submarine Memorial Association and displays the submarine Ling at its dock in Hackensack, NJ, the submarine USS Ling. Enjoy.
Website


This Day in U.S. Naval History

1777 - American explosive device made by David Bushnell explodes near British vessel off New London, Conn.
1846 - Joint expedition led by Cmdr. Robert Stockton seizes Los Angeles, Calif.
1870 - Armed tug Palos becomes first U.S. Navy ship to transit Suez Canal.


Photo of the Day



Coast Guardsmen on the deck of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Spencer watch the explosion of a depth charge which blasted a Nazi U-boat's hope of breaking into the center of a large convoy.

Gator