Vigor Marine Wins $46 Million USNS Henry J. Kaiser Overhaul Contract

Vigor Marine of Portland, Oregon, has won a Military Sealift Command contract to overhaul and dry-dock the replenishment oiler USNS Henry J. Kaiser. The firm-fixed-price award has a potential value of up to $45.8 million. The 120-calendar-day shipyard availability is scheduled to begin in Portland on Dec. 15, 2026, and conclude April 13, 2027, according to the award notice.

USNS Henry J. Kaiser Overhaul Details

Vigor will carry out a regular overhaul and drydocking availability for the ship at its Portland yard. The announced scope is a base work package for the 120-day repair period; the award notice does not identify individual repairs or ship systems in that package.

The work will take a fleet oiler out of service for scheduled shipyard maintenance. The Navy describes Kaiser-class oilers as part of its at-sea fuel-delivery system, with capacity for about 180,000 barrels of aviation and diesel fuel. A February 2026 Military Sealift Command ship-repair briefing identified Henry J. Kaiser as one of the vessels under a longer-range approach to planning repair availabilities, including earlier development of work packages.

Fleet Oiler Recapitalization Background

The overhaul comes as Military Sealift Command continues operating Kaiser-class ships while introducing the newer John Lewis class. Its fiscal 2025 annual report listed 12 Kaiser-class and two John Lewis-class oilers in service. The Navy plans to procure 20 John Lewis-class ships, but the transition remains underway: the lead ship completed its first fleet-tasked underway replenishment in March 2025.

Award and Contractor Background

Military Sealift Command received one offer for the competitively solicited Henry J. Kaiser work. Vigor also held a $29.9 million mid-term availability contract for the same ship with a performance end date in July 2024. An earlier regular overhaul and drydocking availability was awarded to BAE Systems Ship Repair San Francisco in September 2014 for $9.5 million and 55 days, according to the ship’s Naval History and Heritage Command history.

Vigor’s other recent Military Sealift Command work includes a $47.1 million overhaul and drydocking contract for the Kaiser-class oiler USNS Guadalupe and a $43.3 million post-shakedown availability contract for the John Lewis-class oiler USNS Earl Warren.

This award was disclosed by the DoW in its daily press release. Additional contract details will be available on HigherGov in approximately 90 days under N3220527C0002 after the contract is formally disclosed by the government.