Maersk Line Ltd. wins MSC contract

   The Department of Defense said that Maersk Line Ltd., the U.S.-flag arm of Maersk based in Norfolk, Va., has been awarded a $73,677,038 firm-fixed-price contract for the time charter of one U.S.-flagged, twin-shaft vessel, which shall function as a maritime support vessel for the Military Sealift Command.
   MSC said the ship is the M/V Cragside, which the maritime data base Equasis says is a 2011-built, 11,325-dwt, ro/ro cargo ship that is currently flagged in the UK and owned by a UK Maersk affiliate.
   This contract includes four, 12-month option periods, which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $143,149,058.
   The DOD said work will be performed at sea worldwide and is expected to be completed in November 2014. If all options are exercised, work will continue through October 2018.
   Working capital contract funds in the amount of $73,677,038 are obligated for fiscal 2014, and they will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Navy initially received 13 offers in response to its charter request.