he Ship Introduction Program managed the design, conversion and construction of vessels used by Military Sealift Command for strategic sealift, prepositioning, fleet support and special missions. The program also managed modification of ships transferred to MSC from active duty Navy operation and major modification and repairs to ships currently in service with MSC.

Special Mission Program
     In FY 2001, work continued on the sixth and final ship of the Pathfinder-class of oceanographic research ships, USNS Mary Sears. Sears was scheduled to deliver to MSC in December 2001 from Halter Marine in Moss Point, Miss.

USNS Impeccable, the newest ocean surveillance ship, was scheduled to transfer to MSC in October 2001.

USNS Brittin, shown here at her christening at Litton-Avondale Shipyard in New Orleans is named in honor of Army Sgt. 1st Class Nelson V. Brittin, a Korean War Medal of Honor recipient. Photo courtesy of Litton-Avondale.

Prepositioning Program
     The second of three Maritime Prepositioning Force (Enhanced) ships, USNS Gunnery Sgt. Fred W. Stockham, delivered to MSC in March 2001, increasing stowage capacity for new and upgraded equipment and support elements for the U.S. Marine Corps. The third ship, USNS Lance Cpl. Roy M. Wheat, is completing conversion work in Mobile, Ala., and is expected to deliver in 2002.

Sealift Program
     National Steel and Shipbuilding Company in San Diego, Calif., laid the keel for USNS Soderman, the eighth and final Watson-class large, medium-speed, roll-on/roll-off ship, or LMSR.

Three hulls were christened, including the seventh Watson-class LMSR, USNS Pomeroy, in San Diego and USNS Brittin and USNS Benavidez, the sixth and seventh in the Bob Hope class, in New Orleans.

A layer of anti-corrosive hull coating is sprayed on USNS Mendonca shortly before her January delivery to MSC. Photo by USNS Mendonca First Assistant Engineer Phil Blaha.

USNS Watkins and USNS Pomeroy, the sixth and seventh Watson-class LMSRs, delivered to MSC along with USNS Mendonca and USNS Pililaau, the fourth and fifth Bob Hope-class LMSRs.

Only three ships remain to be delivered to complete the LMSR new-build program: USNS Brittin, USNS Benavidez and USNS Soderman.

Program stand down
     All current acquisition programs will be complete in FY 2002, so the Ship Introduction Program was disestablished at the end of FY 2001. Over a period of five-and-a-half years, Ship Introduction Program personnel brought 30 ships into the MSC fleet. Program personnel were transferred to MSC’s four operating programs to directly monitor delivery and shakedown of the remaining six ships to MSC.