WASHINGTON (August 7, 2026) — TOTE Services, LLC, a leading U.S. maritime services company specializing in vessel construction management and ship management, today hosted more than 30 commercial shipbuilders, equipment manufacturers, marine suppliers, and defense contractors from over a dozen states across the country for its Medium Landing Ship (LSM) Industry Day.
The Industry Day serves as the foundational step in assembling a reliable, nationwide supply chain to support multi-yard construction and ensure cost and schedule discipline.
“Delivering the Medium Landing Ship program for the Navy and Marine Corps relies on a resilient, high-performing industrial base,” said Jeff Dixon, President of TOTE Services. “Under the Vessel Construction Management model, our suppliers are not just vendors—they are critical execution partners. Gathering this supplier network in one room is where production speed, supply chain stability, and cost discipline begin. TOTE Services is committed to leading a disciplined management framework that harnesses the very best of American maritime expertise to deliver these mission-critical vessels on schedule.”
Attendees learned about the project timeline, technical specifications, and upcoming bidding requirements for the LSM program. Sessions covered the program’s construction schedule, vessel design standards, and subcontracting opportunities, giving shipyards, suppliers, and equipment manufacturers a clear view of how to engage with TOTE Services as work on the program moves forward.
The LSM program is a complex, multi-ship effort calling for standardized configuration across the fleet, multi-ship procurement to support favorable pricing, and delivery of mission-ready vessels with lifecycle logistics already in place.
TOTE Services was awarded the vessel construction management contract for the LSM program in July 2026. Under the contract, TOTE Services will provide a single, accountable management structure connecting government requirements to shipyard execution, helping accelerate delivery, strengthen cost and schedule discipline, and expand the U.S. shipbuilding industrial base. The award is valued at $2.2 billion for vessel construction management services covering the new construction of up to eight (8) Medium Landing Ships, part of the Navy and Marine Corps’ planned 35-ship LSM fleet.
“The LSM contract serves as an opportunity to grow America’s domestic shipbuilding supply chain,” said Chris Clark, Vice President of New Construction at TOTE Services. “We’re not just building ships, we’re building a pipeline of demand that American manufacturers can plan around for years to come. Every domestic supplier we bring onto this program strengthens our U.S. industrial base and expands America’s maritime capabilities.”
Organizations that attended the LSM Industry Day include:
| PAE Maritime Leidos Gibbs & Cox MAD Security TMMG Bollinger Shipyards Eastern Shipbuilding Group Fincantieri Marinette Marine Hanwha Defense USA Hanwha Philly Shipyard International Kiewit Offshore American Bureau of Shipping Alfa Laval Appleton Marine Bronswerk Group Cadmatic CAT Defense Coastal Marine Equipment Defense Maritime Solutions | Delta Marine Technical Fairbanks Morse Defense Hiller Karl Senner L3 Harris LeBlanc and Associates MacGregor Marine Interior Systems Palfinger Pure Flow Processing (GEA) Schottel SMS – Terma Inc. Supreme Integrated Technologies Thompson Marine CAT Thrustmaster U.S. Outfitters W&O Supply World Wide Metric |
TOTE Services’ vessel construction management model has also been used to oversee construction of the National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV) program, delivering four of five vessels to date. The fourth ship, LONE STAR STATE, is set to be delivered to Texas A&M University in August 2026 and the fifth, GOLDEN STATE, is currently under construction at Hanwha Philly Shipyard.
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About TOTE Services
TOTE Services is a U.S.-based maritime company providing ship management and vessel construction services for government and commercial customers. As the nation’s leading Vessel Construction Manager, TOTE Services delivers mission-ready vessels with schedule and budget certainty. The company also manages a fleet of more than 30 ships and provides turnkey technical, safety, crewing, and operational solutions.
TOTE Services is part of the TOTE Group, an industry leader in transportation and logistics, and a member of the Saltchuk family of companies.
For more information about TOTE Services, please visit https://www.toteservices.com/.
