Navy extends ship resupply contract with Erickson

Aviation services company Erickson Incorporated is continuing its support to the United States Navy's Military Sealift Command.

The value and length of period of the MSC's exercising of a contract extension option, however, was not disclosed.

"We see this as a huge vote of confidence," said Udo Rieder, chief executive officer of Erickson. "We were proud last year to have been awarded the contract to provide our airlift services to Military Sealift Command to support our Navy's 5th and 7th fleets around the globe. We are even more pleased for our national defense leaders to extend our service and exercise their option to entrust us with the important responsibility to provide personnel and cargo transport."

Under the extension, Erickson will continue to provide ship-based rotor-wing aircraft for ship-to-ship and shore-to-ship supply replenishment in the Mediterranean Sea and Pacific Ocean using its SA330J Puma helicopters.

The helicopters will be stationed on civilian cargo vessels to support Navy convoys. Erickson said the use of helicopters in resupply is faster and less dangerous than ship-to-ship transfer.