Sealift conversion contract

San Diego?s National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) has received $2 million for the first phase of a $25 million contract to convert a US Navy Strategic Sealift Program vessel USNS Soderman.

The ship is being converted to meet the readiness capabilities of the US Marine Corps, and will arrive at the yard this summer for completion by March 1 next year. Phase 1 of the project includes development of design changes, material specifications and planning, and has already begun. The conversion involves adding living quarters for 50 additional personnel, changing the existing stern ramp to an in-water ramp, and upgrading the helicopter landing deck into an all-weather flight deck.

Soderman was originally converted by NASSCO from a commercial container ship into a large medium-speed roro vessel, and was delivered to the Navy in November 1997.