The U.S. Defence Department announced Monday that Alpha Marine Services is being awarded a USD 8 million firm-fixed-price contract for the 12-month time-charter of a Deep Submergence Elevator Support Ship, the MV Kellie Chouest.

The San Diego based MV Kellie Chouest will be performing various tasks worldwide during the contract period, those being recovering, refueling and re-provisioning small boats, serving as a platform for launching and providing limited assistance to maintenance of small boats.

This contract includes two additional options, one for one-year and the other for up-to-six months, which, if exercised, would total to USD 20.3 million.

The 310-foot vessel, constructed in 1996 by North American Shipbuilding in Larose, will be used to support between 29 and 44 government personnel for up to 90 days without resupply for Navy missions.

The chartered vessel will also perform manned rotary wing aircraft operations.

This is not the first time for MV Kellie Chouest to be contracted by the U.S. Navy, on the contrary, its capabilities have been used on various occasions in submarine rescue, salvage operations and scientific exploration missions.