Vessel Construction management

TOTE Services offers industry-leading vessel construction management services for the U.S. government and private ship owners. We recognize the unique challenges of building ships that meet government and commercial requests and regulations, while achieving the quality and reliability that our customers expect.

Shipbuilding and vessel construction management is our expertise. In 2019, TOTE Services was named the Vessel Construction Manager (VCM) for the National Security Multi-Mission Vessels (NSMV). These are the next generation of training vessels for U.S. mariners that also provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in times of need.

Decades worth of experience to:
- Streamline shipyard selection
- Improve schedule and budget certainty
- Leverage extensive supply chain network
- Transition to operations

National Security Multi-Mission Vessels

The next generation of training vessels for U.S. mariners that also provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in times of need, are overseen by the most experienced vessel management group in the country.
Read More

LNG Bunker Barges

The world's first LNG Bunker Barge construction was managed by TOTE Services. Decarbonization of the transport sector has greatly accelerated, encouraging U.S. government shipbuilding and private ship owners to adjust operations and make investments in assets that reduce carbon intensity.
Read More

The MARLIN Class

TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico provides fast and efficient, twice-weekly service between the ports of Jacksonville, FL, and San Juan, PR. Our competitive, reliable, process-driven operations means your vehicles, goods, and products make it to the Island and back without issue.
Read More

The ORCA Class

Purpose built for the Alaska trade in 2003, the ORCA class vessels are designed to accommodate a wide variety of commercial, private, and military rolling stock. The hull form and the high freeboard ensures that the vessels and the cargo rides safely in all types of weather encountered in the Gulf of Alaska.
Read More

NSMV timeline

In September 2023, the first National Security Multi-Mission Vessel, Empire State, was delivered for the State University of New York Maritime Academy. Next, the Patriot State is planned for delivery for Massachusetts Maritime Academy in late Summer 2024 then the State of Maine for Maine Maritime Academy and Lone Star State for Texas A&M University Maritime Academy in 2025. The final ship of this class, the Golden State will be delivered for California State Maritime Academy in 2026. LEARN MORE

Vessel construction in the Media

For decades, TOTE Services has built vessels, managed design teams and shipyards, and transitioned vessels into operation for both the government shipbuilding and private ship owners. The support from our various stakeholders and customers continues. Below are some communications that speak to the reputation TOTE Services has built within this newly termed relationship.

Vessel Construction Management Experience

We have assembled a dedicated team of naval architects, marine engineers, vessel operators, and other shipbuilding experts with extensive industry experience to ensure our U.S. government and commercial shipyard partners are employing industry best practices for manufacturing, and to minimize risk at the job site.

Having an experienced consulting team overseeing vessel construction at the shipyard can save you time, money, and prevent accidents from occurring on site. With an extensive history of U.S. government shipbuilding and private owner shipbuilding acting as the central communications and contract manager, we ensure the best possible outcome on every vessel construction project.

Our VCM team consists of alumni from the 5 state maritime academies and the federal maritime academy bringing over 260 years of experience to their current projects.

Full-Service Project Management

Our systematic approach to construction oversight benefits our U.S government and private owner shipbuilding customers by mitigating cost and schedule overruns. At the same time, we maintain the highest standard of quality, performance, and overall value for every vessel management project we work on. Our commitment is to excellence, efficiency, and providing the best end product to our customers.

Find out how we can be a better partner for you, contact us today.

As a reference to our work, The Isla Bella and Empire State were delivered within 1% of the baseline cost.  Our track record of delivering complex ships on time is unsurpassed in the industry.

“Thanks to the strong bipartisan support that the NSMV has received in Congress and the leadership of Secretary Chao, this program will further advance excellence in American maritime education and reignite the jobs engine that is America’s shipyards.” MARAD Administrator, Mark H. Buzby, Dec 2020 [MARAD Press Release]

Shipyard Evaluation & Selection

Selecting the proper shipyard for government shipbuilding and private owner shipbuilding  is critical to successful project execution. Our ship building staff has experience working with nearly every commercial shipyard in the U.S. We help our customers identify yards with the relevant experience and necessary resources to build a world class vessel.

TOTE Services can evaluate the shipyard’s safety, quality, production, and project management processes and help owners select a shipbuilder that offers the overall best value. There is not a better vessel construction management group, who has the experience, the history, and the resources to help organizations like yours build better ships.

Design Review & Plan Approval

Our in-house experts and engineering partners can provide technical oversight during all phases of design for U.S. government or private ownership construction. Whether your project is in the initial phases of concept design, or entering functional engineering, TOTE Services can conduct a detailed review of your design package and provide feedback to improve producibility, reliability, and ensure compliance with key performance objectives.

We work hand-in-hand with your organization’s stakeholders to ensure all objectives are clear, every vessel requirement is met, each shipbuilding contractor and entity is working as needed, while also mitigating delays and additional costs through transparent problem-solving and superior project management.

“It’s great to see how you’ve put this partnership [between MARAD, TOTE Services, and the Philly Shipyard] together,” said Franchetti. “Your philosophy, core values, and teamwork are great for our nation. You are creating opportunities to procure ships in different ways. Increasing U.S. ability to affordably build ships is critical to our national security.” Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti  [Navy Press Release]

Maker’s List and Vendor Selection

As a leading Jones Act operator, TOTE Services has extensive experience with the installation and long-term operation of marine equipment from manufacturers both domestically and internationally. Our vessel construction management team can help identify experienced vessel manufacturers that offer high-quality, affordable marine equipment with reliable post-delivery service networks.

For our National Security Multi-mission Vessel fleet, we are working with over 21 states across the U.S. to provide goods and services.

Vessel Cybersecurity Support

TOTE Services delivers fully-developed cybersecurity programs as part of our construction offering to the U.S. government and private ship owners. We have supported commercial and government vessel cyber security programs using industry and classification society guidelines and achieved ATO using the NIST 800-53 controls. Cybersecurity and IT integration are integral to our design, construction, and operations. Our maritime cybersecurity experts employ robust cyber security protocols, including proven policies and procedures, that are practical and well-implemented onboard.

Transition into Operations

TOTE Services offers additional technical support to promote the successful transition of the vessel into service. This includes the development of shipboard operating manuals, creating the preventative maintenance program, warranty oversight, and the identification of recommended spare parts to ensure ongoing safe and reliable operation of the vessel.

As a full-service operator, we offer a seamless transition from Vessel Construction Management to Operations & Maintenance.