VT Halter Marine lays keel on Navy survey ship

Published 2:59 pm Friday, February 4, 2011

VT Halter Marine has laid the keel for a multimillion dollar oceanographic survey ship.

The event was held Tuesday at the shipyard in Moss Point.

The USNS Maury Survey Ship will have state-of-the-art survey equipment to undertake oceanographic surveys anywhere in the world.

Navy officials say the $87 million ship will also assist with humanitarian and disaster aid missions.

VT Halter has built six of the original vessels.

The all-steel vessel can carry a 67-person crew.

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Bill Skinner, CEO of VT Halter, says it will take about 18 months to complete the ship.