TOTE Services, LLC, a leading U.S. maritime services company specializing in vessel construction management and ship management, and Hanwha Philly Shipyard (HPSI), one of the nation’s leading commercial shipbuilders, announced they have been selected to deliver the Missile Defense Agency’s (MDA) Missile Range Instrumentation Vessels (MRIV). TOTE Services will serve as vessel construction manager (VCM), and HPSI will build the ships at its Philadelphia shipyard.
The MRIV will replace the Pacific Tracker and Pacific Collector, which currently support missile range instrumentation missions, and were constructed in 1965 and 1970, respectively.
The selection of a VCM for the MRIV program comes as the federal government sharpens its focus on rebuilding the U.S. maritime industrial base, with shipbuilding capacity now recognized as a major national security priority.
TOTE Services and HPSI will use the same commercially managed VCM model they are currently deploying under the National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV) program for the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD). That five-vessel program has already delivered three ships, with the fourth, Lone Star State, christened today and set for delivery in the coming months, and the fifth and final vessel expected in mid-2027. The NSMV program has demonstrated how commercial management brings stronger cost control, schedule performance, and execution to complex vessel classes.
HPSI will build the MRIV using the proven hull form, active production line, existing supply chain, and skilled workforce already in place at its yard, under the existing VCM contract vehicle between MARAD and TOTE Services. This project will be executed as an interagency collaboration between the Department of Transportation, Department of War, and the Missile Defense Agency. The first MRIV is scheduled for delivery in 2030.
The VCM approach used in this program offers significant advantages over traditional government acquisition strategies, reducing acquisition costs by at least 50%. By defining requirements upfront and approving change orders quickly, the model also accelerates delivery timelines and ensures the vessels are mission-ready upon delivery.
That success extends beyond the vessels themselves. The NSMV program transformed Hanwha Philly Shipyard from a dormant yard with a few dozen workers into a robust national security asset now employing more than 2,000 production workers. The MRIV award builds directly on that momentum, bringing new defense construction work to the yard and positioning it for continued growth as the nation rebuilds its shipbuilding capacity.
As the current ship manager and operator of the existing MARAD and MDA vessels, TOTE Services brings unmatched operational and technical expertise to the MRIV program, while HPSI brings the proven hull form, active production line, and skilled workforce that delivered the NSMV class. Combined with their experience integrating mission-critical systems, managing complex vessel design and construction, and ensuring long-term readiness, the team is uniquely positioned to deliver the next generation of maritime assets while providing continuity, reducing program risk, and supporting mission success from construction through operations.