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United States Marine Repair – Press Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


NORSHIPCO wins a $9+ million contract for USS Whidbey Island
Norfolk, Va. - May 2, 2000 - The United States Navy determined that NORSHIPCO presented the best value to the Government and announced the award of the USS WHIDBEY ISLAND (LSD-41) to NORSHIPCO, a member of the United States Marine Repair (USMR) family of shipyards. The work starts on May 24th and completes on September 1st, 2000. The contract is a topside phased maintenance, fixed-price availability. The work package entails topside repairs, including miscellaneous structural, electrical and mechanical repairs and ship alterations. Specific mechanical repairs include Main Propulsion Diesel Engines. Ship alterations include the RAM Mk31 Mod and Ship's Self Defense System installations. According to NORSHIPCO's President Al Krekich, "We are pleased to have won this contract, however, we are not out of the woods yet. The Navy has de-scoped or canceled at least seven scheduled availabilities in the Atlantic Fleet, some of which we were hoping to win. The WHIDBEY ISLAND will help to keep some of our people employed, but if more funds are not released, and more work is not forthcoming, we will be forced to continue with planned layoffs."

Recently, Reps. Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-CA), Duncan Hunter (R-CA) and Norm Sisisky
(D-VA) were instrumental in convincing the House to pass an emergency supplemental funding bill for ship depot maintenance. Krekich said, "At this point, we are anxiously waiting to see whether or not the U.S. Senate is going to pass the emergency bill, which adds another $220 million to ship depot maintenance. We've been working closely with Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Chuck Robb to help them understand the critical nature of the situation. They are committed to working with their colleagues in the Senate to urge them to immediately pass the supplemental spending bill. Not only are valuable ship repair jobs at risk, but the readiness of the U.S. Navy is jeopardized, and the safety of our sailors may be compromised." United States Marine Repair is America's largest non-nuclear ship repair, modernization and conversion company. In addition to NORSHIPCO, the company has facilities located in San Diego, San Pedro and San Francisco, Calif. (San Francisco Drydock) and Ingleside, Texas. The Carlyle Group, a Washington, D.C.-based investment bank, owns USMR.

Contact:
Tommy Seitz (757) 494-2943
Jackie Kreisler (619) 557-4289