NOAA moves ahead on FSV 6

NOAA is moving right along with acquisition of FSV 6, an additional FSV 40 Fisheries Survey Vessel being funded through the Recovery Act. The solicitation has been posted on the FBO website and the most recent update is that NOAA will be holding a a "ship check" for interested offerors July 21, 2009 aboard the NOAA Vessel HENRY BIGELOW at its homeport of Newport, RI. A brief conference will commence at 9AM to be followed by a guided tour of the vessel. Contact Contracting Officer Paul Reed at Paul.J.Reed@noaa.gov or 206-526-6034. no later than Close of Business July 16, 2009. If you wish to attend.

The 40 day endurance fisheries survey vessel (FSV) HENRY BIGELOW is a constructed vessel similar to the FSV 6, which is being solicited under solicitation number AB133M-09-RP-0112.

The first four FSV 40 vessels (FSV 1 through FSV 4) were all ordered at VT Halter Marine. The next vessel in the series is designated FSV 6 as FSV 5 will be a shallow draft survey vessel of a new design. NOAA video on this page shows last year's launch of FSV 4, Bell M. Shimada