A US Navy ship.

General Dynamics American Overseas Marine (AMSEA) has received a contract from the US Navy to continue operating and maintaining military sealift ships.

Under the latest $32.7m deal, AMSEA will provide services for the Navy Military Sealift Command’s seven large, medium-speed, roll-on/roll-off ships (LMSR).

The modified contract will see AMSEA offer vessel services including crewing, engineering, maintenance, procurement and provisioning.

AMSEA president Thomas Merrell said: "AMSEA has successfully operated the vessels in this program for the last nine years and we will continue our superior service for our customer under this new contract."

"The latest contract, which is a modification to a deal signed in 2010, is potentially valued at $238m over a seven-year period."

The latest contract, which is a modification to a deal signed in 2010, is potentially valued at $238m over a seven-year period.

In addition to performing operation and maintenance services on the seven LMSR vessels, AMSEA will also offer similar services for the navy’s three 125,000 moss liquefied-natural-gas (LNG) vessels, and two heavy lift ships.

With a capacity to carry over 300,000ft2 of combat cargo at speeds of 24k, LMSR vessels have played a key role in transporting US military equipment during combat and humanitarian missions.


Image: The LMSR US naval ship Soderman. Photo: courtesy of Military Sealift Command.

Defence Technology