Military Sealift Command Will Keep WestPac Until 2014

July 1, 2013 2:10 PM
Westpac Express High Speed Vessel pulls away from the pier at Naha Military Port, Okinawa. US Navy Photo
Westpac Express High Speed Vessel pulls away from the pier at Naha Military Port, Okinawa. US Navy Photo

U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC) is exercising a contract option on a high-speed aluminum catamaran used to transport U.S. Marines by six-months, MSC officials told USNI News on Monday.

WestPac Express, in use by MSC since 2001 years, has been retained until February of 2014 by MSC, according to a release by the Australian vessel owner, Austal. 

“The contract extension comes almost exactly 12 years after Austal announced it had signed a world first contract to charter the 101 meter high speed catamaran to the US military for the rapid deployment of Marines and their equipment in the Western Pacific,” wrote the company.

The option would be the third declared by MSC for WestPac since MSC signed a new charter for the vessel in 2011.

The original contract — now with all three options exercised — is valued at about $30.3 million with all of the options exercised, according to Austal.

MSC is also acquiring ten Joint High Speed Vessels (JHSV) from Austal. The JHSV is an aluminum catamaran that will be operated by civilian mariners. Although not a direct replacement for WestPac, it will undertake several of the same missions.

Sam LaGrone

Sam LaGrone

Sam LaGrone is the editor of USNI News. He has covered legislation, acquisition and operations for the Sea Services since 2009 and spent time underway with the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and the Canadian Navy.
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