HOS Delivers Special Service

For 50 years, the U.S. Navy Military Sealift Command (MSC) has managed ocean transportation for the U.S. Department of Defense. According to the MSC Web site, the organization's unique combination of federal and commercial vessels and crews provides sealift and transportation for all U.S. military services and multiple U.S. government agencies. Hornbeck Offshore Services (HOS) is proud to be a part of the MSC Special Mission Program, providing operating platforms and services in support of many of our nation’s military and government missions.

A unique history
Originally named the Military Sea Transportation Service, MSC reports to three U.S. chains of command:

• The U.S. Fleet Forces Command (for Navy transport matters)
• The U.S. Transportation Command (for defense transportation matters)
• The Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition (for procurement policy and oversight matters)

The MSC workforce is a unique blend of civil service mariners, commercial mariners and on-land civil service and military personnel. This workforce comprises more than 9,000 individuals across the globe; about 80 percent of MSC members serve at sea.

A unique crew
The MSC fleet is as unique as its work force. Crewed by civilians (with some ships also carrying small military departments for communication and supply purposes), the fleet is 123 vessels strong, with another 51 ships ready to be activated if necessary. The ships support MSC’s five programs:

• Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force. These ships function as supply lines to U.S. Navy ships and their crews serving at sea.
• Prepositioning Program. These ships help to ensure availability of equipment and supplies to the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Defense Logistics Agency in the event of major military or humanitarian need.
• Sealift Program. These ships provide ocean transport for federal agencies.
• Ready Reserve Force. These reserve ships can be activated in as few as four days, if needed.
• Special Mission Program. These ships provide operating platforms and services for a variety of U.S. military and government missions. HOS contributes four vessels and crews to this program.

• U.S. Fleet Forces Command
• The Oceanographer of the Navy
• Commander, Undersea Surveillance
• The U.S. Air Force
• Naval Sea Systems Command
• Navy's Strategic Systems Programs Office
• Naval Special Warfare Command
• Commander, Navy Installations Command
• The Environmental Protection Agency
• Commander, Submarine Force

Nine of the MSC’s special mission ships operate as chartered submarine and special warfare support ships for the Navy. In 2007, MSC chartered four vessels to support Navy escort requirements for submarines entering and exiting ports. These four ships are HOS vessels:

• MV HOS Gemstone
• MV HOS Bluewater
• MV HOS Greystone
• MV HOS Silverstar

HOS is there
Each of the four HOS vessels is a 240ED Class “New Breed” offshore supply vessel. The ships are 240 feet in length, with cruise speeds of 10 knots and 11-member crews. Each ship features a variety of state-of-the-art electronics, such as Navtex, DGPS w/AIS, Windbird, joystick control, auto pilot, Fanbeam, C-Nav, MAMS/VMS and CCTV cameras . Each vessel can be used as a fire fighting (FiFi) ship. And in accordance to our emphasis on safety and environmental responsibility, each vessel is certified under USCG Subchapter "I/L", Oceans-SOLAS and SIP.

HOS is proud to be a part of the MSC program. To learn more about Hornbeck Offshore’s commitment to excellence, call (985) 727-2000 or visit www.hornbeckoffshore.com.