TOTE Services announces contract to construct new training vessels

TOTE Services an affiliate of TOTE and an industry leader in ship management, marine operations and vessel services, has awarded Philly Shipyard the sole operating subsidiary of Philly Shipyard ASA, a contract to construct up to five new ships – the National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV) – to provide world-class maritime training for America’s future mariners and to support humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR) in times of need.

This award will execute the Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) vision to recapitalize our nation’s maritime academies’ training fleet, which provide qualified officers to the domestic maritime industry. These training vessels will address a critical shortage of qualified officers needed to crew commercial and government-owned sealift ships during crises and will replace the current training ships at the state maritime academies in New York, Massachusetts, Maine, Texas and California. 

TOTE Services was selected by MARAD in May 2019 to be the Vessel Construction Manager (VCM) for the NSMV program to ensure the utilization of best practices in commercial ship construction. Congress has appropriated funding for three ships and the President’s budget request includes funding for the fourth training ship.  

TOTE Services has commissioned Philly Shipyard to construct the first two NSMV training ships with options for the remaining three. The ships will be owned and operated by MARAD. The new vessels will maximize the capabilities to educate future mariners by providing first-of-its kind training facilities, including dual engine rooms and pilot houses and the latest in maritime technologies with space to train up to 600 cadets at sea. 

In addition to being a state-of-the-art training and educational platform, the NSMV is a highly-functional national asset designed to fulfill numerous roles. Each ship will feature modern hospital facilities, a helicopter pad and the ability to accommodate up to 1,000 people in times of humanitarian need. Adding to the NSMV’s capability, it will provide needed roll-on/roll-off ramp and container storage capacity for use during disaster relief or delivery of preferenced cargoes.