East Coast Repair and Fabrication contract to provide mid-term availability of USNS Kanawha fleet replenishment oiler.

According to a contract published by the United States Department of Defense on January 28, 2021, East Coast Repair and Fabrication LLC, Portsmouth, Virginia, is awarded a $12,131,903 firm-fixed-price contract for a 50-calendar day shipyard availability. The work to be performed provides services for the mid-term availability of the fleet replenishment oiler USNS Kanawha (T-AO 196).
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The U.S. Navy USNS Kanawha (T-AO-196) replenishment oiler ship pulls alongside USS Theodore Roosevelt CVN-71 for a Replenishment at Sea. (Picture source U.S. Navy)

The contract also contains five unexercised options, which if exercised, would increase cumulative contract value to $13,566,323. Work will be performed in Newport News, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by April 19, 2021.

The USNS Kanawha (T-AO-196) is a Henry J. Kaiser-class fleet replenishment oiler in service with the United States Navy in non-commissioned service in the Military Sealift Command.  She was laid down on 13 July 1989, launched in September 1990, and delivered to the U.S. Navy in December 1991.

The Henry J. Kaiser class is a series of eighteen fleet replenishment oilers in service with the U.S. Navy which began construction in August 1984. The class comprises fifteen oilers which are operated by Military Sealift Command to provide underway replenishment of fuel to United States Navy combat ships and jet fuel for aircraft aboard aircraft carriers at sea.

The USNS Kanawhahas has a length of 206 m, a beam of 29.69 m, and a draft of 11m. She has a crew of 103 people including 18 civilian officers, 1 U.S. Navy officer, 64 merchant seamen, and 20 U.S. Navy enlisted personnel. The ship has a landing platform located at the rear deck for one helicopter.

The USNS Kanawhahas a displacement of 41,353 tonnes at full load. She has a capacity to carry 180,000 barrels of aviation fuel or fuel oil. It can carry a dry load of 690 square meters and can refrigerate 128 pallets of food. The ship is powered by two 10 PC4.2 V 570 Colt-Pielstick diesel engines that drive two shafts; this gives a power of 25.6 megawatts. She can reach a top speed of 20 knots (37 km/h).