The Navy awarded Vigor Marine LLC a $255 million contract to execute modernization work on the Ticonderoga-class cruisers USS Chosin (CG-65) and USS Cape St. George (CG-71).

The work was awarded on Sept. 26 and includes a combination of maintenance, modernization, and repair of the ships.

USS Chosin (CG-65) prepares to depart Pearl Harbor a last time in 2016 before shifting homeports to San Diego to undergo Cruiser Modernization. (Photo: U.S. Navy)
USS Chosin (CG-65) prepares to depart Pearl Harbor a last time in 2016 before shifting homeports to San Diego to undergo Cruiser Modernization. (Photo: U.S. Navy)

In a statement, Vigor said this work will keep the ships combat effective to support fleet operations “for many years to come.”

The contract includes options that, if exercised, would raise the total value of the contract to $304 million. Work will occur at the company’s Harbor Island facility in Seattle, Wash., and is expected to be finished by November 2021. The company said it expects to start the cruiser work in December.

Vigor said this contract will increase its ship repair workforce to about 650 employees.

“Ship repair and service life extension in the defense sector has been a growth area for Vigor’s Pacific Northwest shipyards. This contract award allows us to maintain and build upon the quality, skilled workforce so necessary to maintain the mission readiness of the U.S. Naval Fleet. We are honored to have that opportunity and we are thrilled for the job growth it represents,” Adam Beck, Vigor Executive Vice President of Ship Repair, said in a statement.

The Defense Department said the contract was competitively procured with three offerors, but did not disclose the other two.

Last year, the Coast Guard noted it finished structural enhancements on its last Legend-class National Security Cutter at Vigor Marine in Seattle to make sure the ship meets a 30-year design fatigue life (Defense Daily, Sept. 4, 2018).