Parish issues storm evacuations

Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, has issued a mandatory evacuation for its entire East Bank and much of the West Bank south of Belle Chasse as Hurricane Ida makes its way to the northern Gulf Coast. The evacuation goes into effect at 3 p.m. Friday. "I'm hoping people heed our warning," Plaquemines Parish President Kirk Lepine told NOLA.com. There is the potential of an 11-foot storm surge in the Myrtle Grove area, he said. The West Bank evacuation area extends from the Alliance Refinery to Venice. A voluntary evacuation was issued from Oakville to the refinery. The order could affect some 6,800 residents, most of whom live on the West Bank in communities that include Port Sulphur, Empire and Buras. (Source: NOLA.com 08/27/21) Thousands of people ordered to evacuate Plaquemines Parish ahead of Hurricane Ida | Environment | nola.com

Barlow takes rein of 43rd FTS

COLUMBUS AFB, Miss. - Lt. Col. Jason Barlow relinquished command of the 43rd Flying Training Squadron “Firebirds” to Lt. Col. David Easterling Jr., during a change of command ceremony Aug. 26 aboard Columbus Air Force Base. Easterling is a veteran pilot with more than 5,600 flying hours in the T-38 Talon, at Randolph AFB, Texas; Williams AFB, Arizona; and Columbus AFB. The 43rd FTS is an Air Force Reserve unit providing Active Guard Reserve (AGR) and Traditional Reserve (TR) instructor pilots. Barlow has nearly 21 years of military service and was the first T-6 instructor pilot at CAFB. (CAFB 08/26/21) Easterling accepts command of Firebirds > Columbus Air Force Base > Article Display (af.mil)

MS guardsman dies in training

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Mississippi National Guardsman, Staff Sgt. Jason Belue of Iuka, Miss., age 44, died Aug. 26 while undergoing the Army Combat Fitness Test at the 154th Regiment’s Regional Training Institute at Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center in Hattiesburg. The Mississippi National Guard said he died while being taken by ambulance to Forrest General Hospital. Belue was assigned to Charlie Troop, 1-98th Cavalry Regiment, 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team. The guardsman had 24 years of military service and earned several awards and decorations, including the Army Commendation Medal. (Source: The AP 08/27/21)

Army plans $10B IT contracts

The Army kicked off bidding on its potential $10B multiple-award “ITES-4H” contract for acquiring IT products from industry. Companies have until 4 p.m. (CT) on Sept. 24 to get proposals submitted for a fourth iteration of the IT Enterprise Solutions hardware vehicle, the Army said in a contracting notice Aug. 25. A minimum of 17 awards are up for award - seven for small businesses but is contingent on whether those small businesses are in the “competitive range.” Delivery will take place over five base years and up to five individual option years if the Army exercises all of them. Product categories in the solicitation include servers, workstations, thin clients, desktop computers, notebook computers, storage systems, networking equipment, imaging equipment and support devices. The Army also wants companies to include in their proposals a variety of potential finance options. (Source: Washington Technology 08/25/21) Army unveils solicitation for $10B IT product contract -- Washington Technology

CG says prepare now for storm

The National Hurricane Center announced the formation of Tropical Depression Nine, which is expected to become a tropical storm later on Aug. 26 and forecasted to be a hurricane by Aug. 29. The system is forecast to make landfall along the Gulf Coast as a hurricane. Coastal Mississippians could see a lot of rain and gusty winds. The tropical system has maximum sustained winds of 35 mph, according to an NHC advisory at 1 p.m. The storm was located about 95 miles SW of Negril, Jamaica, and moving NW at 13 mph. This motion should continue over the next few days. (Source: Clarion Ledger 08/26/21) Tropical Depression 9: Track the spaghetti models for storm and impact (hattiesburgamerican.com) 

COAST GUARD URGES PUBLIC TO PREPARE NOW!

NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard is urging the public to prepare for a hurricane threat across the northern Gulf Coast. The CG is advising boaters to prepare now, and secure vessels, well ahead of the storm. Current port conditions can be viewed on the following CG homeport webpages: Sector Mobile, Alabama; Sector New Orleans; Sector Houston-Galveston; and Sector Corpus Christi; Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur, Texas; and Marine Safety Unit Houma, Louisiana.  The CG asks mariners to heed evacuation orders and follow tips to help protect themselves. Small craft advisories and warnings can be monitored on VHF radio channel 16. Owners of large boats are urged to move their vessels to inland marinas. For information on the hurricane and preparedness, visit the National Hurricane Center’s web page at https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/. Visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s site for tips to prepare, plan and stay informed at http://www.ready.gov/. For more information on hurricane preparedness visit Ready.gov and NOAA websites, as well as following them on Twitter at ReadyGov and NOAA.  (Source: Coast Guard 08/26/21) The potential hurricane’s cone of uncertainty stretches from Texas to NW Florida, and may reach the coast on Sunday.

Wind in Louisiana's off-shore sails

Offshore wind advocates see the Gulf of Mexico the next step for developing the industry - and wanting to use Louisiana’s lead – to possibly re-use offshore oil and gas platforms and pipelines as assets for an allied “green hydrogen” industry. Business Network for Offshore Wind (BNOW) advocates made a push for the idea Aug. 24 at its International Partnering Forum in Virginia. BNOW’s Gulf of Mexico working group conferred by video with officials of the Louisiana governor’s office and the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), which has been working since June on Gov. Bel Edwards’ request to seek commercial interest in wind power off his state. BOEM is looking at areas of the GoM’s outer continental shelf out to a depth of 4,000-foot for potential siting of fixed-foundation and floating wind turbines. There seemed to be more interest toward fixed development, according to Mike Celata of BOEM. Most of it is focused west of Lafayette, La., he said. An early schedule by BOEM calls for possibly offering leases for bid in December 2022, but that “may slip” because there’s still work to do, and having discussions with commercial fishing interests to reduce potential conflicts, he said. (Source: Work Boat 08/24/21) Offshore wind advocates see Gulf of Mexico opportunity | WorkBoat

1st public Jones Act allegation

The Offshore Marine Service Association (OMSA) released the first allegation under its Jones Act Enforcer program. The report details a Chinese-built, Vanuatu-flagged vessel called the Epic Hedron transporting merchandise between points off the coast of Louisiana. OMSA generated the report after it received a tip. Vessels transporting cargo between U.S. points must be built in the U.S. The Jones Act is also “an important law” because it protects U.S. workers from unfair competition from foreign workers, said OMSA President Aaron Smith. In the report, the company admitting using a Chinese-built vessel to transport cargo. “That's illegal,” he continued, and also a record of failing Coast Guard inspections. (Source: Work Boat 08/24/21) OMSA releases Jones Act violations report | WorkBoat

Eaton's Bosserd new senior VP

DUBLIN - Eaton (ETN) announced that Christina Bosserd has been named senior vice president with Internal Audit beginning Oct. 1. She is succeeding Jack Matejka, who retires Sept. 30. Bosserd has been with Eaton for 17 years, beginning as an accounting intern. She served as plant controller in Greenwood, S.C., and Jackson, Miss. She later joined Eaton’s Aerospace business as group controller, followed by her current role as group vice president of finance. (Source: Eaton 08/20/21) Eaton Names Christina Bosserd Senior Vice President, Internal Audit; Jack Matejka to Retire | Business Wire

Healthcare help for 61 MS hospitals

More than 1,000 health care workers are scheduled to be deployed across Mississippi by week’s end, Gov. Tate Reeves announced Aug. 24, to aid 61 hospitals that have been overwhelmed by COVID-19 caseloads. The aid will allow 50 hospitals to add 994 beds (237 will be for intensive care, said Stephen McCraney, executive director of the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency. The other 11 hospitals also will receive supplemental medical personnel. Personnel being added: 808 nurses, 3 nurse anesthetists, 22 nurse practitioners, 193 respiratory therapists, and 20 paramedics. Air Force and Army teams, with 23 personnel each, 20 of which are medical, is deploying to Mississippi, Reeves said. (Source: Sun Herald 08/24/21)

MS power sends help to NE

GULFPORT, Miss. - Dozens of Mississippi Power employees are headed to the New England coast to help restore power in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Henri. A storm team of more than 30 linemen, engineers and support personnel along with 50 additional contracted employees left Aug. 22 from Gulfport to travel north on a two-day journey. They are headed to assist customers in the New York City area. (Source: WLOX 08/22/21) Mississippi Power headed northeast to help after Tropical Storm Henri (wlox.com)

La. chem plants reduce emissions

The EPA has had five Louisiana chemical plants – across the southern sector - under its microscopes for the release of ethylene oxide, which is a cancer risk. But the federal regulators are telling local communities - between Baton Rouge and New Orleans and near Lake Charles – those plants are producing significantly less of the chemical than estimated in previous years, reducing health risks. In recent years, those plants have improved equipment and processes to reduce emissions or developed calculations showing emissions aren't as bad as feared, the regulators say. Two of the five - Taminco Inc. and BCP Ingredients in St. Gabriel - meet EPA's safety standard. The other three, Evonik Corp. in Reserve, Union Carbide near Hahnville and Sasol Chemicals in Westlake, have cancer risk levels two to six times greater than that minimum safe level, even after the emissions reductions, the EPA says. (Source: The Advocate 08/22/21) Five Louisiana plants producing less cancer-causing chemical than previously feared, EPA says | News | theadvocate.com

Down of the (Sanderson) farm

The pending sale of Sanderson Farms, HQ'd out of Laurel, Miss., has local officials running around like chickens without heads. It’s kind of frightening, according to Laurel Mayor Johnny Magee. Sasnderson Farms produces, processes, markets and distributes fresh and frozen chicken and other prepared food items. The farm employs about 1,100 people. After the $4.5B deal was announced by Cargil Inc. and Continental Grain Co., no company officials have addressed locals’ questions on whether those corporate jobs will be flying the coop. At best, the positions will likely be eliminated or drastically reduced. Sanderson is the state’s only Fortune 1000 company. Sanderson CEO/Chairman Joe Frank Sanderson Jr. told the Leader-Call that he’s confident the deal will be good for employees and customers. (Source: Leader-Call 08/20/21) Future is hazy at Sanderson Farms | News | leader-call.com

DoD: Afghan evacuation news

Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby and Army Maj. Gen. William "Hank" Taylor, Joint Staff deputy director for regional operations, spoke at a media briefing on the morning of Aug. 21 stating that the U.S. has started using additional intermediary way station sites - other than Qatar - for refugee evacuations from the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Afghanistan. Among the sites are Germany, UAE and Britain. Discussions are underway to open others, Taylor said. Once processed at these way stations, evacuees are flown to the U.S. and are taken to Fort Bliss, Texas; Fort Lee, Virginia; or Fort McCoy, Wisconsin. Since mid-day Aug. 20, six U.S. C-17 aircraft and 32 charter flights departed Kabul with a total of about 3,800 passengers. The U.S. military has 5,800 troops at the Kabul airport with the mission of operations and security. Kirby described the situation outside the airport in Kabul as "very fluid and dynamic," and that "it changes almost by the hour." (Source: DoD 08/21/21)

Conrad delivers ABS to McDonough

Conrad Shipyard, Morgan City, La., has delivered the first of four ABS class spud barges to McDonough Marine Service of Metairie, La. The spud barges measure 180-feet- long and with a deck strength of 2,500 pounds per square foot. The remaining barges are on schedule for delivery in the third and fourth quarters of this year. The barges are being constructed at Conrad’s Deepwater South facility in Amelia, La., one of five Conrad shipyards located along the Louisiana/Texas Gulf Coast. McDonough Marine Service is involved in the marine transportation and logistics industry, and owns the largest fleet of deck barges available for charter on the market, according to a Conrad media release. The company’s fleet consists of inland and ocean barges, including deck barges, spud and power spud barges, hopper barges and shale barges. (Source: Work Boat 08/19/21) Conrad delivers first of four spud barges to McDonough Marine | WorkBoat

Crosby merges with SEA.O.G.

Seattle-based SEA.O.G. Offshore, an integrated services provider to the offshore energy industry in Seattle, has announced a merger with Crosby Tugs of Golden Meadow, La. The partnership will focus on delivering installation support and operations and maintenance services for the U.S. offshore wind industry. The partnership allows SEA.O.G. to combine its services with Crosby's assets and experience to deliver low-cost and innovative solutions to the industry. Crosby Tugs delivers wide-ranging offshore and inland marine towing, dredging, and rock placement services along the Gulf Coast and beyond. Since the 1970s, Crosby Tugs has grown into a multi-functional operator in the Gulf of Mexico and internationally. The partnership will focus on delivering installation support and operations and maintenance services for the U.S. offshore wind industry. (Source: SEA.O.G. Offshore 08/18/21) Blog (seaofgravity.com)

DoD regional contracts 08/19

General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT) Inc., Falls Church, Virginia (N00039-21-D-5001), is awarded a $136,502,136 indefinitely-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to support the consolidation of all Tier 1 information technology help desks and transition them to the managed service provider, GDIT. GDIT will provide service desk as a service using a knowledge-based solution, employing artificial intelligence, machine learning, predictive analytics and natural language processing. Fiscal 2021 Navy operation and maintenance funds will be used for obligations at the task order level. Concurrent with the award, the first task order will be issued in order to satisfy the minimum guarantee of $5,000 per the terms and conditions of the contract. Funding will expire at the end of the fiscal year. Work will be performed primarily in Bossier City, Louisiana (50%); and New Orleans, Louisiana (50%). Performance is expected to be completed by August 2025 if all options are exercised. This contract includes a one-year base ordering period and three one-year optional ordering periods, which if exercised, would bring the estimated cumulative value to $136,502,136. Pursuant to the Other Transactions Authority (OTA) of 10 U.S. Code 2371 for prototype projects, this contract is not competitively procured because this is a production contract following the successful completion of the OTA prototype effort that originated in 2019. The Naval Information Warfare Systems Command, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity.

*Alabama Shipyard LLC, Mobile, Alabama, is awarded a $13,066,191 firm-fixed-price contract for a 72-calendar day shipyard availability. The work to be performed provides for services for the mid-term availability of the fleet oiler USNS Patuxent (T-AO 201). The contract includes four unexercised options, which if exercised, would increase cumulative contract value to $13,314,208. Work will be performed in Mobile, Alabama, and is expected to be completed by Dec. 4, 2021. Fiscal 2021 working capital contract funds (Navy) in the amount of $13,066,191 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the beta.sam.gov website, with six proposals received. Military Sealift Command, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity. *Source: 08/19/21)

HII: LPD 28 christening 8/21

PASCAGOULA, Mississippi - Huntington Ingalls Industries’ shipyard will host a limited-attendance christening Aug. 21 for the amphibious transport dock ship San Antonio (LPD 28). San Antonio is the 12th of the LPD 17 class built at the Pascagoula yard. (Source: GulfLive 08/19/21) Ingalls to christen 12th amphibious transport ship Saturday - gulflive.com 

Saturday's christening photo from HII - 

Sen. Wicker is COVID-19 positive

JACKSON, Miss. - U.S. Sen. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) has tested positive for COVID-19 and is in isolation in Tupelo, his spokesperson said Aug. 18. (Clarion Ledger 08/18/21) U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker tests positive for COVID-19; has mild symptoms (clarionledger.com) 

HCPHC wins best practices award

KILN, Miss. – The Mississippi Economic Development Council (MEDC) has announced that Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission’s (HCPHC) aerospace strategy project won the 2020 Community Economic Development Award (CEDA). The “Best Practices” program recognizes exceptional contributions of communities in Mississippi for: business retention and expansion; business recruitment; community development; and community involvement. HCPHC invested over $7M to grow its portfolio of hangars and technology parks to support growth. (Source: HCPHC, 08/18/21)

Virgin Orbit wraps up SSC tests

Virgin Orbit, a California-based satellite-launch company, wrapped up a series of tests on the E-1 Test Stand, Cell 1, at Stennis Space Center (SSC), Miss., last month. The stand was configured for the tests in the beginning of this year, and the hot fire series began March 30. The final testing day was July 20. Virgin Orbit’s test campaign had team members focused on the 75,000-pound force Thrust Chamber Assembly (TCA), which consists of an injector, combustion chamber, and nozzle. The TCA is not an entire engine. Instead, it is where the propellants are mixed, combusted, and exhausted. The objective is to test different propellant injector configurations to determine which configuration will maximize performance and efficiency. Most of the main engine can be simulated with the test stand itself. The Space Act Agreement lets NASA enter a partnership with organization like Virgin Orbit, which reimburses SSC for any testing costs. Originally there were 30 tests scheduled involving 10 different injector configurations at a minimum of three tests each. But the project was later expanded to 14 injector configurations and many more tests. The testing directly contributed to the design changes appearing on the first-stage Newton 3 engine. Virgin Orbit uses Newton 3 to propel the LauncherOne rocket, a two-stage, orbital, air-launched vehicle carried to the upper atmosphere and released over the Pacific Ocean. This rocket holds the title of the first orbital class, air-launched, liquid-fueled rocket to successfully reach space. (Source: Stennis Space Center, 08/18/21)