By Mark Edward Nero
Portland-based Vigor Marine has won a $9.9 million contract for repair work to be performed on the USNS Yukon, a 677-foot-long underway replenishment oiler that provides fuel to ships at sea and jet fuel for aircraft assigned to aircraft carriers.
The oiler, which was launched in 1993, has been involved in at least three collisions during its years in service, including in July 2000 when it suffered major damage, including multiple large holes and dents on her starboard quarter after it collided with the USS Denver during an underway replenishment off the Hawaii coast.
Also, in May 2012 it collided with the amphibious assault ship USS Essex after the Essex suffered an apparent steering malfunction upon approach for an underway replenishment. No injuries and no loss of fuel were reported however, and both vessels were able to continue to San Diego under their own power.
The work Vigor Marine has been hired to perform includes: flight deck non-skid preservation; port and starboard main engine overhaul; hip service diesel generator overhaul; port and starboard clutch and coupling overhaul; tank deck overhead preservation; habitability repairs; and cargo system wire replacement.
The contract also includes options that, which if exercised, would bring the total contract value to $10.1 million.
Work is to be performed in Portland and is expected to be completed by May 5, according to the US Navy’s Military Sealift Command in Washington, DC, which is the contracting activity.
