Vigor Alaska Begins Maintenance, Repair Work on Coast Guard Cutter

Coast Guard cutter John McCormick. Photo: U.S. Coast Guard via Vigor Alaska.

The U.S Coast Guard has awarded Vigor Alaska, a Titan Acquisition Holdings company, a contract to perform maintenance and repairs on U.S. Coast Guard cutter John McCormick at Vigor’s Ketchikan shipyard.

CGC John McCormick is the first Coast Guard maintenance solicitation awarded to Vigor’s Ketchikan shipyard since 2011. The Fast Response Cutter is stationed at Coast Guard Base Ketchikan, just 3.5 miles from Ketchikan Shipyard, ensuring work on this locally-based vessel supports jobs in Ketchikan’s local economy.

Work on the vessel began in mid-September.

“Having a strong partnership with the Coast Guard supports family wage jobs in Ketchikan and helps get vessels back into service patrolling our coastlines faster,” Vigor EVP of Ship Repair Adam Beck said. “We are grateful for the opportunity to serve the Coast Guard and ready to get to work.”

The $3.65 million contract represents a significant milestone in Vigor’s tenure as operator of Ketchikan Shipyard, which is owned by the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, known as AIDEA.

“We applaud USCG in trusting the Ketchikan Shipyard for this important maintenance work and look forward to similar projects in the future,” AIDEA Executive Director Randy Ruaro said. “The U.S. Coast Guard’s District 17 fleet has an Alaska maintenance facility to rely on.”

Work on the McCormick is expected to cover comprehensive maintenance and repair of the vessel. After it was dry docked, the Ketchikan Shipyard team’s tasks included inspected the hull plating, conduct maintenance on the ship’s propulsion system and renew hull coatings, as well as several other key maintenance and repair operations.

Work is anticipated to last through the fall, with about 40 employees supporting the project.

In addition to the McCormick, Vigor conducts work for the Alaska Marine Highway System at Ketchikan Shipyard. Maintenance work on the m/v Kennicott began last month and is expected to continue into November. Work on the m/v Stikine was completed earlier this year.