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Hyde-Smith announces $1 million to...

Hyde-Smith announces $1 million to Mississippi shipbuilder for polar icebreaker engineering studies

By: Sarah Ulmer - February 6, 2019

Homeland Security Dept. Grant to VT Halter Marine Advances U.S. Coast Guard Priority

U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced a $1 million contract for work in Mississippi to support production engineering studies for the U.S. Coast Guard Polar Security Cutter (PSC) acquisition program.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security award to VT Halter Marine, Inc. in Pascagoula is part of a larger contract to analyze certain PSC production areas to determine ways to maintain an accelerated design and construction timeline for recapitalization of the U.S. Coast Guard heavy icebreaker fleet.

“This contract marks a significant milestone in the recapitalization of the Coast Guard’s heavy icebreaker fleet,” said Hyde-Smith, who now serves on the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee.  “I’m proud a Mississippi shipyard is competing to build the PSC.  These ships will play a pivotal role maintaining U.S. sovereignty in the Artic, a region critical to our national security.”

While other U.S. shipyards are also funded to participate in the study, the contract to VT Halter indicates it remains in competition to build PSCs.  The Coast Guard plans to build up to six new ice breaking ships capable of operating in polar regions.

Commissioned over 40-years ago, the Polar Star is the only remaining operational heavy icebreaker in the Coast Guard fleet.

This contract is funded through FY2018 appropriations, which included funding for detailed PSC design.  These new ships will become the U.S. military’s most advanced surface ships able to effectively address national security, law enforcement, and humanitarian missions in the polar regions.

Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith Press Release

2/6/2019

About the Author(s)
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Sarah Ulmer

Sarah is a Mississippi native, born and raised in Madison. She is a graduate of Mississippi State University, where she studied Communications, with an emphasis in Broadcasting and Journalism. Sarah’s experience spans multiple mediums, including extensive videography with both at home and overseas, broadcasting daily news, and hosting a live radio show. In 2017, Sarah became a member of the Capitol Press Corp in Mississippi and has faithfully covered the decisions being made by leaders on some of the most important issues facing our state. Email Sarah: sarah@magnoliatribune.com
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