GasBuddy: Gas prices going up

A GasBuddy executive expects gasoline prices at the pump to rise between five to 15 cents a gallon due to Hurricane Ida. The national gas price average is currently $3.15 per gallon, according to AAA. The storm paused much of the gasoline refining and oil production along the Gulf Coast. Shell, Phillips 66 and Exxon temporarily closed refineries. About 96 percent of oil production in the Gulf of Mexico was brought to a stand-still. (Source: CNN 08/31/21)

EPA issues emergency fuel waivers

DALLAS - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued emergency fuel waivers for Louisiana and Mississippi effective immediately. EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan determined that extreme and unusual fuel supply circumstances exist in Louisiana and Mississippi related to the impact of Hurricane Ida. EPA issued a waiver of the Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) requirements of the Clean Air Act beginning Aug. 30 through Sept. 16. As required by law, EPA and the Department of Energy evaluated the situation and determined that granting a short-term waiver was consistent with public interest. The Clean Air Act provides strict criteria for when fuel waivers may be granted and requires waivers be limited. EPA and DOE respond quickly to address fuel supply disruptions caused by, for example, refinery or pipeline infrastructure damage as the result of a hurricane by issuing emergency waivers of certain fuel standards. The temporary waivers are necessary to help ensure that an adequate supply of fuel is available, particularly for emergency vehicle needs. (Source: EPA 08/30/21) Fuel Waivers | US EPA

CG overflight to assess Ida damage

The Coast Guard was to conduct an overflight of areas impacted by Hurricane Idea in the afternoon of Aug. 30 from Naval Air Station/Joint Reserve Base in Belle Chasse, La. The HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft will conduct assessment operations and damages. (Source: Coast Guard 08/30/21) Additionally, the CG has brought to bear more than 28 aviation assets and nearly 21 shallow-water response assets to respond to flooded and damaged areas. MULTIMEDIA: Coast Guard conducts Hurricane Ida post-storm overflights along the Gulf Coast (govdelivery.com)

Prez pledges Ida recovery support

President Joe Biden pledged to get the Gulf Coast region “back on its feet” and to full recovery for areas hit by CAT 4 Hurricane Ida that stormed ashore in Louisiana on Aug. 29. The storm produced mass flooding, power outages and destruction in New Orleans (currently without power) and the region. Biden stopped at FEMA's National Response Coordination Center after returning to Washington from a trip to Dover AFB, Del., to honor 13 service members killed in a terrorist attack in Kabul, Afghanistan. Once the storm has passed, the president said, “we’re going to put the country’s full might behind the rescue and recovery;.” FEMA had prepositioned 2.5M meals and 3M liters of water ahead of the storm. The federal government deployed 16 urban search and rescue teams and 200 ambulances to the region, FEMA spokeswoman Jaclyn Rothenberg said. (Source: Bloomberg News 08/29/21) Mississippi Note:  Nearly 113,000 Mississippi residents woke Aug. 30 without power as Hurricane/Tropical Storm Ida tore its way through the Magnolia State. The storm hit SW Mississippi counties hard, leaving the majority of residents in the dark. In Wilkinson County, more than 67 percent of residents while Hinds County had about 6,000 without power. 

Pascagoula 1% of NAVSEA pact

Serco - IPS Corp., Herndon, Virginia, is awarded a $12,526,821, cost-plus-fixed-fee and cost-only modification to previously awarded contract (N00174-18-C-0015) to procure professional support services for the Naval Sea System Command’s director for surface ship maintenance and modernization (SEA 21). This procurement is for professional support services in the areas of program management, administrative support, surface ship modernization, inactive ships, surface ships readiness, surface training systems, business and financial management, records management, and information technology (IT) support. Work will be performed in Washington, D.C. (55%); Norfolk, Virginia (19%); San Diego, California (18%); Mayport, Florida (2%); Yokosuka, Japan (2%); Sasebo, Japan (1%); Manama, Bahrain (1%); Pascagoula, Mississippi (1%); and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (1%), and is expected to be complete by October 2021. Fiscal 2019 other Navy procurement funds in the amount of $2,290,333; fiscal 2020 Navy research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $4,334; fiscal 2020 other Navy procurement funds in the amount of $1,456,683; fiscal 2021 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $260,868; and fiscal 2021 Navy operation and maintenance funds in the amount of $7,570,412 will be obligated at time of award, of which $9,865,079 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C. is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 08/30/21)

Aurora enters next X-plane phase

Multiple companies have been selected to continue the federal Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) X-plane project to demonstrate advanced capabilities of active flow control (AFC). The Control of Revolutionary Aircraft with Novel Effectors (CRANE) program will use AFC, which alters the aircraft's aerodynamic flow field to add energy or momentum to the flow of air over aircraft. The coplanar joined-wing configuration was previously wind-tunnel tested by Aurora Flight Sciences.  Effectors and actuators are typically light weight, without moving parts, and energy-efficient. The CRANE project excludes large external moving parts (i.e. rudders, flaps and trim surfaces). DARPA selected Boeing’s Aurora Flight Sciences and Lockheed Martin to enter Phase 1, which includes system requirements and software development, design work, and initial airworthiness in a preliminary design. Phase 1 researchers have completed conceptual designs, according to Alexander Walan, program manager for CRANE at DARPA’s Tactical Technology Office. AFC technologies will continue to be matured through advanced analytical and testing activities for incorporation in relevant demonstrator designs. (Source: Aerospace Manufacturing 08/27/21) Mississippi Note: Headquartered in Manassas, Virginia for integration and test operations, Aurora operates production plants in Bridgeport, West Virginia and Columbus, Mississippi.

NWS: Ida's worst yet to come

 The National Weather Service meteorologist Christopher Bannan had some hard warnings for residents of Central Mississippi and Louisiana on Sunday afternoon regarding CAT 3 Hurricane Ida: “You have not even seen the impacts yet from this storm,” the Sun Herald reported on its website. “Do not let your guard down. The worst is to come during the evening and overnight," he said. Waveland has seen a storm surge of 6 to 7 feet. With high tide coming tonight, it could reach 10 to 11 feet in Waveland and Hancock County, Miss., he said. (Source: Sun Herald 08/29/21)

Ida's landfall near Port Fourchon

Hurricane Ida made landfall at 11: 55 a.m. (Aug. 29) near Port Fourchon, La. Keesler AFB reserve reconnaissance aircraft and Doppler radar indicated Ida's maximum sustained winds at landfall were estimated to be 150 mph (a CAT 4 hurricane). Within the last hour, sustained winds of 43 mph were reported at Lakefront Airport in New Orleans. A NOAA National Ocean Service tide gauge in Shell Beach recently reported a water level of 6.4 feet above mean higher high water, which is an inundation of that area. A NOAA National Ocean Service tide gauge at Bay Waveland Yacht Club, Miss., reported a water level of 5.5 feet above mean higher high water, an approximation inundation in that area. (Source: Daily Iberian 08/29/21)

SUN HERALD PHOTO SCENES FROM BILOXI-GULFPORT AREA AHEAD OF IDA'S LANDFALL  Scenes from Biloxi, Gulfport before Hurricane Ida on MS Coast | Biloxi Sun Herald

Xfinity wi-fi open to all

Comcast network's public Wi-Fi hotspots in Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama and Tennessee will be available to anyone for free, including those who aren't Xfinity customers, as Hurricane Ida approaches the Gulf Coast. Comcast has committed to keeping them open through the end of 2021. (Website: Xfinity.com/wifi.) Once in range of a hotspot. users can select "xfinitywifi" and launch a browser, ta Comcast news release said. (Source: Clarion Ledger 08/28/21) Public Xfinity Wi-Fi hotspots available to use during Hurricane Ida (clarionledger.com)

CG pre-staging response assets

NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard is pre-staging response assets on Saturday and establishing an area command in preparation for Hurricane Ida. CG assets across the region were repositioned and pre-staged to preserve readiness and to provide support for areas expected to be impacted by the impending hurricane. The following assets have been pre-staged: Four MH-65 Dolphin Helicopters and six shallow-water response boats in Louisiana. Two MH-65 Dolphin Helicopters and three shallow-water response boats in Houston. Two MH-65 Dolphin Helicopters and three HC-144A Ocean Sentrys in Corpus Christi. Five MH-65 Dolphin Helicopters, three MH-60T Jayhawk Helicopters, and two HC-144A Ocean Sentrys in Mobile, Alabama. Three shallow-water response boats in Memphis, Tennessee. More assets are in the process of being repositioned as Hurricane Ida. (Source: Coast Guard 08/28/21)

Escaping Ida: MS north, LA west

Where should you go to escape Ida’s path? As far north as possible, says Mississippi Department of Transportation public information officer Katey Hornsby on Saturday morning. “...(C)loser to the Delta and north Mississippi is a safe bet.” she said. “Today is the day to do it.” Hattiesburg and Jackson are both in Ida’s path, forecasts from the National Hurricane Center. Rainfall may be up to 10 inches for the coast, Jackson, and much of central Mississippi. Louisiana is expected to Ida’s worst winds and storm surge effects. Louisianans should evacuate westward. Ida’s eye is expected to make landfall in Louisiana late Sunday and move inland over Louisiana or western Mississippi into Monday. Harrison, Hancock and Jackson counties are all under a storm surge warning, hurricane watch, and tropical storm warning. (Source: Sun Herald 08/28/21)

Hancock MS 1st to issue evac order

Hancock County is the first in South Mississippi to issue a mandatory evacuation order ahead of Hurricane Ida’s projected landfall as a potential CAT 4 hurricane. The mandatory evacuations start at 10 a.m. Saturday in all low-lying areas, according to Hancock County EMA Director Brian Adam. (Source: Sun Herald 08/27/21) Mandatory evacuations issued on MS Coast for Hurricane Ida | Biloxi Sun Herald

DDG 121 builder’s trials completed

PASCAGOULA, Miss. - Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding announced Aug. 27 the successful completion of builder’s trials for the guided missile destroyer Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121). The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer spent three days in the Gulf of Mexico testing the ship’s combat system, which included firing a missile. HII-Pascagoula has delivered 32 destroyers to the Navy and currently has four under construction: Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123), Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125), Ted Stevens (DDG 128) and Jeremiah Denton (DDG 129). DDG 121 is named for Frank E. Petersen Jr., who was the Marine Corps’ first African-American aviator and general officer. After entering the Naval Aviation Cadet Program in 1950, Petersen would go on to fly more than 350 combat missions during the Korean and Vietnam wars. (Source: HII 08/27/21) https://newsroom.huntingtoningalls.com/file/ddg-121-builders-trials.

Pascagoula DDG-51 AWS work

AEGIS Weapons System (AWS) element assessments. This contract will cover the AWS ship integration and test efforts for AEGIS Ashore, nine new construction DDG-51 class ships, and the major modernization of seven DDG-51 class ships. It will additionally cover the integrated combat system modifications and upgrades for all current ships with all AWS baselines up to and including ACB 16. Work under this modification will be performed in Moorestown, New Jersey (46%); Norfolk, Virginia (9%);Deveselu, Romania (9%); Pascagoula, Mississippi (8%); Washington, D.C. (7%); San Diego, California (6%); Everett, Washington (4%); Bath, Maine (4%); Mayport, Florida (3%); and various places each below one percent (4%); and is expected to be completed by September 2022. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $13,309,663 (46%); fiscal 2013 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $7,575,151 (26%); fiscal 2017 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $5,348,901 (18%); fiscal 2021 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $2,327,839 (8%); fiscal 2021 defense-wide procurement funds in the amount of $100,000 (1%); and fiscal 2019 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $64,114 (1%) will be obligated at time of award, of which $18,722,678 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 08/27/21)

MS emergency shelters; Ida CAT 1

JACKSON COUNTY, Miss. - Officials in coastal Mississippi are heeding the warnings about Hurricane Ida, which is expected to make landfall Sunday along the Louisiana/Mississippi region on Aug. 29. Jackson County announced two emergency shelters will be opened on Saturday. The county’s east shelter is in Hurley (18413 Hwy. 613) and west shelter in St. Martin (13000 Walker Road). Transportation is available to both of sites, but arrangements must be made before 3 p.m. Saturday by calling (228) 875-4063. Pets are not allowed in these shelters. Residents should make other arrangements or contact the Jackson County Animal Shelter at (228) 497-6350 to inquire about sheltering pets. (Source: WLOX 08/27/21) Jackson County to open two emergency shelters ahead of Ida (wlox.com) 

IDA IS A CAT 1 HURRICANE

A hurricane watch is in effect for New Orleans and most of west Louisiana's coast. The system is now a CAT 1 hurricane and expected to make landfall Sunday on the Gulf Coast - possibly as a CAT 3 - between Port Arthur, Texas, and Biloxi, Mississippi, with an emphasis on the Louisiana coast, but tracking could change between now and Sunday. (Source: CBS 08/278/21)

Gulfport, NOLA ports on alert

Due to the possibility of gale force winds (39-73 mph) associated with Tropical Storm (Hurricane) Ida entering Sector Mobile (Ala.'s) area of responsibility (AOT) within 48-hours, the Captain of the Port (COTP) has ordered Port Status X-RAY for the Port of Gulfport, Miss. Terminal operations may continue, but tenants should be making plans to secure and close operations if/when ordered. All vessels need to finalize plans to leave the port before severe weather arrives. All waterways in the Mobile AOR are open to traffic. Individuals are encouraged to monitor the path of Ida and remain prepared to take action if the storm path changes. For additional updates, please visit https://homeport.uscg.mil/port-directory/mobile. (Source: Port of Gulfport 08/27/21)

PORT NOLA 

NEW ORLEANS - Orleans Terminal and Ports America will be closed on Aug. 30. Empire, Coastal Cargo, Gulf Stream Marine and Ports America for breakbulk operations will be closed Monday. The Coast Guard has set Port Condition to: X-RAY, and is expected to update to Yankee later Friday. The last outbound vessel will be at Pilottown by 12 noon Saturday. No inbound vessels after that time. The Flood Protection Authority will be closing the gates starting Saturday and will likely be closed through Monday. Due to flood gate closures, the New Orleans Rail Gateway will be closing Saturday at 2 p.m., and operations will remain closed through Monday. (Source: Port NOLA 08/27/21) Port NOLA | Storm Update

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)