TOTE Services to Manage Construction of MARAD Missile Range Instrumentation Vessels

TOTE Services, LLC has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Department of Transportation - Maritime Administration (MARAD) to manage the construction of Missile Range Instrumentation Vessels (MRIV). The company will work with Hanwha Philly Shipyard (HPSI) on this project, which aims to replace two aging vessels currently in service.

Contract and Management Details

TOTE Services signed a vessel construction management contract with MARAD on October 7, 2026. This agreement immediately led to the award of a shipbuilding subcontract to HPSI for the first MRIV. The program involves an interagency collaboration between the Department of Transportation, the Department of War, and the Missile Defense Agency (MDA).

The contract includes one firm vessel with options for two additional ships. Delivery is scheduled for 2030. TOTE Services will act as vessel construction manager under this agreement. The company has been operating and managing the existing Pacific Tracker and Pacific Collector vessels since their construction in 1965 and 1970, respectively.

Vessel Design and Commonality

The MRIV design is based on the National Security Multi-Mission Vessels (NSMV) program managed by TOTE Services. The new ships will share the same hull design as the NSMVs with approximately 70% commonality between the two designs. This shared platform enables HPSI to leverage an existing production line, supply chain, and workforce, reducing construction risk and accelerating the process.

According to TOTE Services, this Vessel Construction Management (VCM) approach offers significant advantages over traditional government acquisition strategies. By defining requirements upfront and approving change orders quickly, the model improves schedule certainty and ensures vessels are mission-ready when delivered. The VCM method is expected to reduce acquisition costs by at least 50% compared to standard government shipbuilding practices.

Process and Timeline

TOTE Services completed the design advancement, contract negotiations, and firm fixed-price arrangements in less than three months, which is a significant improvement over traditional processes that can take up to a year or more. The company brought its operational and technical expertise gained from managing existing MARAD and MDA vessels to the MRIV program.

The first MRIV will be named Golden Defender and will replace the Pacific Tracker and Pacific Collector, built in 1965 and 1970 respectively. These older vessels currently support missile range instrumentation missions. The NSMV series is being constructed for MARAD under TOTE's management at HPSI, with five ships already in production.

What this Means for Operators

The new MRIVs will provide a critical service by monitoring missile interception tests over the Pacific Ocean and gathering data essential for mission success. These vessels are vital to ensuring the safety of missile range operations. For operators, the VCM approach promises faster delivery timelines and cost savings, which can help manage budgets more effectively.

The use of existing infrastructure and commonality in design will also ensure that maintenance and operational support remain efficient. Ship operators can anticipate a smoother transition with less disruption to ongoing missions compared to traditional shipbuilding projects.