Port, Ocean Aero lease agreement

GULFPORT, Miss. - Mississippi State Port Authority (MSPA) commissioners have entered into a lease agreement with Ocean Aero for construction, testing, and demonstration of Autonomous Underwater and Surface Vehicles (AUSVs) at the Port of Gulfport. The announcement comes as OA prepares to transfer its manufacturing operations and HQ from San Diego to Gulfport. Ocean Aero will occupy 67,000 square feet of warehouse space on the port’s East Pier and is expected to create 45 new jobs by the end of the year. The lease is for an initial 10-year term and provides for two 5-year extensions, with the new space being operational by early 2022. The Mississippi Development Authority (MDA), as well as the Harrison County Development Commission and Mississippi Power, were instrumental in discussions to solidify Ocean Aero’s relocation. OA’s applications span defense, offshore commercial, and research industries. The company’s AUSVs are currently deployed with the Defense Department, Homeland Security, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and offshore energy companies. (Source: Port of Gulfport 09/08/21) PORT OF GULFPORT SECURES LEASE AGREEMENT WITH OCEAN AERO | Port of Gulfport, Mississippi (shipmspa.com)

V-Quad award grants

JACKSON, Miss. - ‘Pitch in the V-Quad' innovative energy competition, supported by the Energy Program for Innovation Clusters Prize from the U.S. Department of Energy, is an opportunity for innovators to showcase potential advancements in energy and agriculture technology. The Mississippi Development Authority awarded a $7,500 grant to Magna Gold Oil of Meridian, whose pitch was focused on a patented process in recycling roofing shingles. MDA also awarded $7,500 to a team of scientists from Mississippi State University that has patented a cost-effective process to produce biomass-based graphene nanomaterials using renewable and sustainable by-products from the wood product industry. Graphene significantly improves the properties of concrete. A $10,000 grant was awarded to ConnectVNA of Jackson. ConnectVNA is creating a digital workflow via an online portal, synced with oil and gas business management software. The company is developing affordable and effective tools for upstream and midstream O&G companies to help move to more seamless interactions with owners and stakeholders, vendors and employees. V-Quad is a partnership of private industry and public institutions with the goal of supporting Mississippi entrepreneurs launching businesses that focus on energy- and agriculture-related technologies. (Source: Mississippi.org 09/07/21) Mississippi Development Authority awards grants to V-Quad competition winners | Mighty Mississippi

DoD regional contract for MS, LA

Jacobs/HDR JV, Arlington, Virginia, is awarded a $34,017,960 firm-fixed-price task order (N6247021F4068) under an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for third party inspections of all Navy privatized homes with the exception of units scheduled for disposition or demolition. The work to be performed provides for all management, labor, supplies, equipment, information technology, materials, and transportation necessary to perform a thorough inspection and assessment of the structural integrity and habitability of each home at selected locations of privatized housing in the U.S. Work will be performed in California (31%); Virginia (11%); Hawaii (11%); Washington (9%); Florida (7%); Connecticut (5%); Illinois (5%); Maryland (4%);  Mississippi (3%); South Carolina (3%); Louisiana (2%); Rhode Island (2%); New York (1%); Maine (1%); Washington, D.C. (1%); Texas (1%); Georgia (1%); Tennessee (1%); and Nevada (1%), and is expected to be completed by September 2022. Fiscal 2020 and 2021 family housing, operation and maintenance (Navy and Marine Corps) contract funds in the amount of $34,017,960 are obligated on this award. The contract funds expire on Sept. 30, 2021. One proposal was received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 09/08/21)

MNG aviators deploying to Calif.

JACKSON, Miss. - About 10 Mississippi National Guard aviators and maintainers are being deployed to California to help quell raging wildfires.  The guardsmen will provide aerial water bucket operations and aviation maintenance support as needed. The Chinook flight crew members and maintenance personnel will be on a month-long mission through mid-October. According to Capt. Lewis Howard, B Company commander. The soldiers are based in Jackson, Meridian and Gulfport. (Source: WTVA 09/07/21) UPDATE: The Mississippi National Guard is sending additional military personnel to help provide emergency relief in Louisiana. The forces include the Meridian-based Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 111th Aviation Regiment and the 255th Air Control Squadron Air National Guard in Flowood. The aviation team is providing a CH-47 Chinook heavy lift helicopter and five personnel to provide vital air support to the Louisiana National Guard during their relief efforts. The airmen of the 255th ACS are providing communication support to military and civilian authorities during relief and recovery missions as needed throughout the state. These additional forces will join MNG service members currently assisting the Louisiana National Guard.

Expanded medical for Austal EPFs

Seapower Magazine reported that the Navy’s modified Expeditionary Fast Transports (EPFs) will have expanded medical capabilities that include an 18-bed ICU, two operating rooms, and feeding and berthing for a medical team of about 100. Its flight deck would be capable of landing helicopters and V-22 tiltrotor aircraft. Navy spokesperson Lt. Lewis Aldridge explained to Naval News: “The Navy continues to expand Role 2 afloat medical capability through construction of USNS Cody (EPF 14) and Point Loma (EPF 15). Role 2 provides limited hospital capability consisting of advanced resuscitation and surgery. The Navy also continues the sustainment of the two T-AH hospital ships (Comfort and Mercy), which offer Role 3 medical capability. Role 3 provides full, but short-term, hospital capability, consisting of surgery, intensive care, postoperative care, and specialty care.” (Source: Naval News 09/05/21) Gulf Coast Note: EPFs 14 and 15 are under construction at Austal USA’s shipyard in Mobile, Ala. U.S. Navy expands Expeditionary Medical Capability with two EPFs - Naval News

Pentagon 9/11 event livestream

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Mark A. Milley will host an observance ceremony Sept. 11 at 8 a.m. (CT) at the Pentagon Memorial in honor of the 184 people killed in the 2001 terrorist attack on the Pentagon. Prior to the 9/11 ceremony, there will be a flag unfurling at sunrise on the westside of the Pentagon. Both events will livestream on Defense.gov. (Source: DoD 09/07/21)

Navigating into hostile environs

WASHINGTON - Most pilots navigate around storms, but not Keesler AFB, Miss., reserve squadron – known as the ‘Hurricane Hunters’ - charts its course right down the middle. Driving rain and swirling winds are normal flight conditions for the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron. During Hurricane Ida duty, the co-pilot's windshield was cracked at the end of Aug. 28’s morning mission. It’s a rare event,” said flight navigator, Lt. Col. Mark Withee. “We’re flying in a hostile environment.” The crack didn’t put the crew at danger, but forced them back to Keesler AFB early. They didn’t have time to use a spare aircraft to finish the data-collection clock. Forecasters rely on getting measurements in real-time. Flight data tell a great deal about how the storm is reacting, according to Prof. Mark Bourassa with Florida State University’s Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies. Weather computers digest terabytes of data collected by AF and NOAA flights. NOAA now has a backup set, but still needs to be outfitted with specialized research technology before it’s ready to fly a mission. Hurricane Hunters’ flights end when the storm makes landfall, but pilots and crew are likely going to be back in the air again very soon. This hurricane season is producing more named storms than usual and the peak typically arrives arounds Sept. 10. (Source: Gray DC 09/06/21) USAF Navigator: “We’re flying in a hostile environment” (wlox.com)

National Voter Registration Month

Mississippi’s Secretary of State Michael Watson joins fellow members of the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) in observing September as National Voter Registration Month. Throughout September, government agencies and organizations across the country will promote the importance of voting and the significance of keeping voter registration information up-to-date. “The right to vote is one of the greatest liberties in our country,” Watson said in a media release. In 2020, more than 113,000 Mississippians registered to vote. Through the first eight months of 2021, there have been about 31,000 newly registered voters. Sept. 28 will be highlighted by NASS and voter outreach groups as National Voter Registration Day (NVRD). In 2020, 1.5M+ people used National Voter Registration Day to register or update registration making it the largest NVRD in history, according to Watson. (Source: MS Secretary of State 09/01/21) For questions regarding voter registration or elections, please contact our Elections Division at ElectionsAnswers@sos.ms.gov or call our Elections Hotline at 1-800-829-6786. Press Releases & Columns | Michael Watson Secretary of state (ms.gov)

Port captain opens LMR to traffic

NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard captain-of-the-port at New Orleans, Capt. Will Watson, has opened the Lower Mississippi River (LMR) to all vessel traffic in New Orleans and key ports throughout SE Louisiana on Sept. 3 following Hurricane Ida. After the successful removal of several power lines obstructing the waterway due to a downed transmission tower near mile marker 106.5 and a survey of the ship channel in key areas of concern, the waterway has been deemed open for all marine traffic. (Source: Coast Guard 09/03/21) Coast Guard opens Lower Mississippi River to all vessel traffic following Hurricane Ida (govdelivery.com)

CG transports shark victim

NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard medically evacuated (medevaced) an injured crew member from the fishing vessel Moon Glow after a shark attack about 35 miles SE of Grand Isle, La., on Sept. 3. CG New Orleans received a call just before 1 a.m. via VHF-FM channel 16 from personnel aboard the vessel   reported that a 64-year-old male crewman had been attacked by a shark and had a severe leg injury. The man had been untangling fishing nets from the vessel’s propeller when he fell overboard and bitten by a shark. Crew members applied a tourniquet to the man’s partially amputated leg. The CG consulted with the duty flight surgeon, who recommended a medevac. A CG Air Station New Orleans MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and crew were launched to the scene. A CG rescue swimmer administered first aid and applied a new tourniquet. He was hoisted aboard the helo and transported to University Medical Center New Orleans in critical condition. (Source: Coast Guard 09/03/21, link includes video) IMAGERY AVAILABLE: Coast Guard medevacs shark attack victim from fishing vessel 35 miles off Grand Isle, Louisiana (govdelivery.com)

Regional flag officer assignments

The Secretary of the Navy and Chief of Naval Operations announced Sept. 3 the following assignments with Gulf Coast states’ regional commands. 

*Rear Adm. (lower half) Robert C. Nowakowski will be assigned as reserve vice commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. Fifth Fleet, Manama, Bahrain. Nowakowski is currently serving as deputy commander, Navy Recruiting Command, with additional duties as deputy commander, Naval Education and Training Command Force Development, Millington, Tenn.

*Capt. Scott W. Ruston, selected for promotion to rear admiral (lower half), will be assigned as deputy commander, Naval Education and Training Command Force Development, Pensacola, Fla. Ruston is currently serving as deputy commander, Navy Reserve, Navy Region Southwest Reserve Component Command, San Diego, Calif.

*Capt. Michael J. Schwerin, selected for promotion to rear admiral (lower half), will be assigned as deputy commander, Navy Personnel Command, Millington, Tennessee.  Schwerin is currently serving as commanding officer, Navy Reserve, Officer Training Command, Newport, R.I. (Source: DoD 09/03/21)

Ida donation sites in south MS

Companies, first responders and cities across South Mississippi are collecting supplies and donations to help those impacted by Hurricane Ida in Louisiana.  (Source: Sun Herald 09/04/21) Link to those locations at List of places in South MS accepting Hurricane Ida donations | Biloxi Sun Herald

Camp Shelby: FEMA staging area

Camp Shelby, near Hattiesburg, will serve as a staging area for FEMA in preparation to deliver disaster relief efforts to Louisiana. The Mississippi National Guard at Camp Shelby’s Joint Forces Training Center are supporting the combined effort. FEMA Director Deanne Criswell joined Gov. Tate Reeves in a press conference to highlight multiple resources posturing and deploying in support of those citizens. The MNG is also providing lodging to Georgia National Guardsmen as they forward deploy to Louisiana. Additionally, about 250 MNG personnel are deploying for the emergency response mission. MNG soldiers from the 112th Military Police Battalion and the 223rd Engineer Battalion will provide emergency debris removal and logistical distribution of food and water. (Source: Magnolia State Live 09/02/21)

CG works w/ ports; body found

NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard is working to reopen the ports and waterways throughout SE Louisiana following Hurricane Ida. Capt. Will Watson, CG captain-of-the-port for the Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) is working in coordination with federal, state, parish, city and maritime stakeholders to safely reopen maritime traffic along the Mississippi River and Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. Some key areas along the river remain closed as recovery operations continue. CG crews conducted post-storm port assessments to ensure maritime commerce is safe to resume. CG crews are working with port partners on the identification and mitigation of grounded and submerged vessels along banks of the Lower Mississippi River. 

CG SEARCHING FOR TEEN NEAR DESTIN  

MOBILE, Ala. - The Coast Guard and partners are searching Sept. 2 for a 14-year-old boy who went missing while swimming at Henderson Beach State Park in Destin, Fla. The boy was last seen wearing gray shorts. The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Department contacted the CG about 6:45 p.m. on Sept. 1 and reported that the boy’s friends last saw him struggling to swim in the surf 200 feet offshore before going under water. He did not resurface, according to the report. CG Sector Mobile issued an urgent marine information broadcast and launched a 45-foot Response Boat–Medium crew from CG Station Destin, an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crews from both Air Station New Orleans and the Aviation Training Center in Mobile; and the Cutter Ridley, a patrol boat homeported in Panama City. Crews are still searching the area for the teenager, which include the sheriff’s office, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, and local lifeguards. Anyone with information about this case, are urged to call the Mobile, Ala., command center at (251) 441-6211. (Source: Coast Guard 09/02/21)

UPDATE 1 

CG ENDS SEARCH FOR TEEN NEAR DESTIN

The Coast Guard ended its search Sept. 2 for a 14-year-old boy who was last seen swimming at Henderson Beach State Park in Destin, Fla. A beachgoer found a body matching the description of the missing boy on James Lee Beach at 2:22 p.m. (Source: Coast Guard 09/02/21)

HASC amendment for 4 more ships

The U.S. House of Representatives’ Armed Services Committee (HASC) adopted an amendment Sept. 1 authorizing four more combat ships for the Navy, and an increase by $23.9B to the total Defense Department FY-22 budget. The amendment was authored by Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.). It authorizes funding for a third Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, one America-class amphibious assault ship, one Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) ship, and another T-AO-205 John Lewis-class fleet oiler. Under the amendment, HASC would authorize $1.53B for the third destroyer, $1.2B for the amphibious warship, $270M for the EPF, and $668.2M for the second oiler. Rogers offered the amendment during the full committee markup meeting. (Source: USNI News 09/01/21) Mississippi Note: HII-Pascagoula builds DDG 51 Arleigh Burke-class Aegis guided missile destroyers; LPD 17 San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ships; LHA 6 America-class amphibious assault ships, among others.  

HASC Adopts Amendment That Would Authorize 4 More Battleforce Ships, Increase DoD Topline to $23.9B - USNI News

DoD regional contracts 09/01

ACME/RHB JV, Sparks, Nevada (W9128F-21-D-0066); MRM/Sundt JV, Phoenix, Arizona (W9128F-21-D-0067); Southwest Concrete Paving Co., El Mirage, Arizona (W9128F-21-D-0068); and RC Construction Co., Greenwood, Mississippi (W9128F-21-D-0069), will compete for each order of the $400,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for airfield paving. Bids were solicited via the internet with six received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 31, 2028. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha, Nebraska, is the contracting activity. 

 

Cummins, Memphis, Tennessee, was awarded an $8,861,139 firm-fixed-price contract for three marine-rated diesel generator sets. Bids were solicited via the internet with four received. Work will be performed in Memphis, Tennessee, with an estimated completion date of July 23, 2023. Fiscal 2021 Plant Replacement and Improvement Program funds in the amount of $8,861,139 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 09/01/21)

Port NOLA, Carnival updates

Port New Orleans (NOLA) crews are assessing damage and cleaning up after Hurricane Ida impacts. Initial reports indicate no major damage. Officials are coordinating with its navigation partners, local and state officials to allow the facility to resume safe operations. Terminal operators continue restoration efforts, which will depend on power restoration. New Orleans Terminal and Ports America for containerized operations; and Empire, Coastal Cargo, Gulf Stream Marine and Ports America for breakbulk operations are closed until more information is known, and dependent on power. The Mississippi River at Southwest Pass through to New Orleans continues to be surveyed. Port NOLA officials expect the Coast Guard Port Captain to re-open the river below Mile Marker 106 by midnight Sept. 1, with possible restrictions to daylight hours. The Inner Harbor Navigation Canal remains closed. Rail Operations have resumed with modified hours between 7 am to 4 pm to connect with BNSF, NS and UP. The Port Administration Building and LIT Community Connection Office are temporarily closed. Due to Hurricane Ida, and following a post-storm assessment, Carnival Cruise Line has canceled the Carnival Glory’s Sept. 5 sailing from New Orleans. Guests will receive a full refund. Guests whose plans are flexible and are fully vaccinated may consider transferring reservations to the Carnival Vista departing from Galveston, Texas, on Sept. 4. Carnival https://www.carnival.com/about/contact-us.a (Source: Port NOLA 09/01/21)

CG rescues 13 during Ida

NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard conducted six search and rescues, in Louisiana and Texas, rescuing 13 people and two animals, and assisting six other people Aug. 31 in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida. Flight crews from CG Air Station New Orleans, CG Aviation Training Center (ATC) Mobile, Ala., and CG Air Station Cape Cod, Mass., conducted flights for more than 27 hours. The SAR efforts conducted by Air Station New Orleans on Aug. 30 included an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew landing on a Leesville, La., highway to take an injured man to West Jefferson Hospital in stable condition. In Port Sulphur, La., the CG sent another Dolphin to aid a shrimp boat that had caught fire and rescued a crew member that swam to shore. He was transported to West Jefferson Hospital in Marrero. On August 3, in Grand Isle, La., an MH-65 aircrew responded to a report of two men needing medical assistance; one having difficulties from a pre-existing condition and the other with a leg injury. The aircrew lowered a rescue swimmer to assess the patients who were transferred to University Medical Center in New Orleans. The following search and rescue efforts conducted by ATC Mobile: On Aug. 31 in Houston, Texas, an MH-60 Jayhawk aircrew assisted in hospital transfers of four patients. On Aug. 30, in La Place, La., an MH-65 aircrew medevaced a middle-aged woman suffering from seizures and transferred her to West Jefferson Hospital. A secondary MH-65 Dolphin helicopter also transported two of her family members to Air Station New Orleans where a vehicle was waiting to drive them to the hospital. On Aug. 30, Air Station Cape Cod, conducted a beach landing in Grand Isle, La., in an MH-60 to check for signs of distress and found eight people and two felines in a severely damaged motel. They requested to depart the island to safety. The aircrew transported everyone to the Houma (La.) Civic Center. (Source: Coast Guard 08/31/21)

AF 'First Look' had roots at CAFB

ROBINS AFB, Ga. - The Air Force is going to make it easier for base government purchase card-holders to do business with their local communities by introducing the wing-commander driven First Look Program initiative. The FLP initiative is designed to employ purchasing power to GPC users to align micro-purchase spending with the Secretary of the Air Force’s vision for smarter business practices. Maj. Gen. Cameron Holt, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics deputy assistant secretary for Contracting said AF GPC holders spend $1.8B annually. Holt, who was previously a Columbus (Miss.) AFB contracting squadron commander, learned from the Columbus Chamber of Commerce that it could be difficult to do business with the base. “What I decided (at CAFB) was we were going to fix that.” CAFB conducted a “reverse vendor fair,” he said, by having all base requirement organizations come and set up information booths for the vendors. Michael Hogan, Air Force HQ deputy assistant secretary for contracting sourcing and transformation chief, said First Look is going to use the 26,000 GPC holders as a tipping point in bringing $1.8B into local communities around AF installations. “Through partnerships we have found 107,000 businesses,” he said. “That’s a huge engine to be able to drive opportunities to those local small businesses.” (Source: Robins AFB 08/31/21) AFSC Contracting host Air Force First Look Program workshop > Robins Air Force Base > Article Display

9 MS airports share $6.6M grants

WASHINGTON – Nine Mississippi airports will share $6.6M in federal FAA’s Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grants, U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde-Smith, announced Aug. 30. The airports include:  Brookhaven-Lincoln County Airport - $2,278,182 to rehabilitate runway and taxiway lighting, and rehabilitate runway and airport beacons; Greenwood-Leflore Airport, City of Greenwood – $1,560,800 to reconstruct runway lighting; Houston Municipal Airport – $1,040,436 to rehabilitate runway and apron; Hardy-Anders Field Natchez-Adams County Airport, Natchez – $572,928 to rehabilitate runway and taxiway; Vicksburg Municipal Airport – $276,801 to improve airport drainage/erosion control; Grenada Municipal Airport – $248,100 to install weather reporting equipment; Iuka Mississippi Airport – $234,740 to install weather reporting equipment; Roscoe Turner Airport, Corinth – $221,464 to update airport master plan/study; and University-Oxford Airport – $207,200 to improve airport drainage and erosion control. (Source: Sen. Hyde-Smith 08/31/21) WICKER, HYDE-SMITH ANNOUNCE $6.6 MILLION FOR MISS. AIRPORT IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS | Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (senate.gov)