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Contract Valued Over $30Million, Doubles Boatyard’s Employee Roster, Large Economical Impact to Local Vendors

(Chula Vista, Calif., July 21, 2010): Marine Group Boat Works, LLC, a full-service boatyard located on the San Diego Bay, has completed the construction of a 114-foot Range Training Support Craft (RTSC-110)—the first boat out of a three-boat contract secured with the U.S. Navy to be completed in 2013. The boatyard was awarded the contract valued over $30 million after the Government issued an RFP set aside for small businesses for the design and construction of three specialized crafts. Marine Group Boat Works’ newly renovated facility, quality program, experienced personnel and design concept met the Government’s rigorous set of facility requirements, technical capabilities, quality assurance standards and other criteria. As a result of the contract, Marine Group Boat Works has hired over 30 new employees and spent over $5 million in materials and services within the local area economy.

“More than twenty years of boatbuilding experience and the tradesmen on our team give us the background and expertise to effectively exe this contract,” said Todd Roberts, vice president of Marine Group Boat Works. “We’re able to provide employees with job security and local vendors with business. This contract couldn’t have come at a better time.

Named after the vessels’ function and class, RTSC-110s are multi-mission boats with the capability launch and recover objects such as small high-speed crafts, aerial targets and test weapons. Key features and systems include:

• A rugged, all-aluminum hull made to endure extreme physical conditions.
• Twin Caterpillar engines with 1,800 horsepower designed in compliance with the EPA’s Tier 3 emissions standards. They reduce engine-out particle matter (PM) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions—both of which have been found to be harmful to the environment and hazardous to health.
• Unique fuel filtration system designed by Marine Group Boat Works to allow the RTSC-110s to run on one hundred percent biofuel.
• Seakeeper gyro stabilizing system that allows the vessel to maintain excellent stability even in the roughest weather conditions or at zero speed. RTSC-110s and similar military vessel source gyro stability due to the roll reduction performance it provides internally without any hull protrusions that are characteristic of traditional stabilizer fins. Achieving excellent stability gives the crew a workable platform that increases safety and productivity onboard while also eliminating fatigue and seasickness.

RTSC-110s are essentially the new generation of Torpedo Weapon Retrieval (TWR) boats which commissioned over 25 years ago and are no longer capable of supporting evolving fleet training requirements.

“While TWRs continue to support fleet readiness needs, these aging crafts were designed to meet only Anti-Submarine Warfare training requirements,” said Captain Bill Jensen, the Navy Range Office resource sponsor. “The RTSC-110 class of craft will satisfy aviation, surface and subsurface warfare training requirements. The Navy significantly benefits from this multi-mission support capability through cost savings associated with a reduced inventory of more capable craft and modernization of maintenance intensive legacy platforms. Moreover, our Sailors train towards a higher fidelity of threat representative scenarios thanks to the numerous capabilities the 110 brings to the fleet.”

In order to come up with the ideal craft to carry out the missions, Roberts worked closely with the Navy to perfect the design that will be used for all three crafts. Having three exact same sister-ships allows crews to transfer seamlessly between boats.

The Boat Construction Process

Each boat is initially built upside down in an enclosed building and is aided by the development of an aluminum jig, a device used to tame aluminum while it is being welded. The same jig is used for all three boats. Once the hull is built, the boat is taken out of the building and “flipped” right side up with the use of cranes. The hull and the wheelhouse portion are then welded together. By then, the outer shell of the boat is complete, and the generators, engines and stabilizers can be rigged. Marine Group Boat Works then lifts the boat using its 665-ton travelift—one of the fewest in the nation—and launches it into the water for a float test and for dockside work, such as installing the electrical and electronic systems. In the final stages of construction, the boat is lifted back out of the water onto dry land; the boat is fully painted, habitability spaces are furnished and fire systems are installed. The boat is launched back into the water for the final time to undergo sea trials, inspections and final touches before being delivered to the Navy.

The place of performance for all three crafts is on-site at Marine Group Boat Works’ 15-acre facility in Chula Vista. Upon completion, the boats will go to Ballast Point here in San Diego.

The contract was awarded in December 2008 and allocates approximately 18 months for the construction of each boat in order to meet the Navy’s 2013 deadline. Marine Group Boat Works is adding the final touches to Boat 1 and is on schedule to deliver it in July. Boat 2 was recently flipped and work on Boat 3 has begun on the jig.

Live views of the progress of the construction can be seen at www.marinegroupbw.com/cameras.

Impact on the Economy

Already, more than 30 jobs have been created at Marine Group Boat Works. The boatyard is continually hiring tradesmen skilled in fabrication, welding, pipefitting, sheet metal and machinery.

“We’ve researched many vendors in this area to stand by the “buy local” philosophy. Aluminum is sourced from a company in National City; scaffolding is sourced from Chula Vista; the list goes on,” said Roberts.

In the long run, this contract is expected to pump over $15 million into the local area economy, as the company continues its commitment to its philosophy and to the Government by choosing local and buying American.

About Marine Group Boat Works

Marine Group Boat Works is a full-service boat and superyacht repair facility along the San Diego Bay and Los Cabos. The San Diego Bay facility’s core services include repairs, retrofits and conversions for boats, superyachts and government and commercial vessels up to 665 tons. Marine Group Boat Works has been featured on The History Channel’s “Modern Marvels” for having the largest Travelift in the nation. Marine Group Boat Works has serviced superyachts including MR. TERRIBLE, RONIN, TAMSEN, MORNING GLORY, ROSEHEARTY, TRITON and ORION; commercial vessels for companies including Foss Maritime, Evans Hotels and San Diego Harbor Excursion; and government vessels for agencies including the U.S. Navy, Port of San Diego, U.S. Coast Guard and San Diego Harbor Police. For more information, visit www.marinegroupbw.com or call (800) 281-5565 or (619) 427-6767.  
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