Today Department of Defense awarded Offshore Service Vessels, LLC $7,264,728 contract to support up to 30 military personnel for 30 days without resupply for U.S. Navy missions. The vessel will also provide support to Maritime Security Operations.

Offshore Service Vessels, LLC (Edison Chouest Offshore) provides marine transportation services for customers in the United States and internationally. The company also engages in operating a marine port to transfer cargo and to provide support services to accommodate deepwater offshore vessels; the design, engineering, manufacture, and installation of custom control and monitoring systems to the general public and the marine industry; distributing marine PCs; the design, manufacture, and installation of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems; and providing repair services and parts.

EOD Technology announced last week that it has merged with Sterling International to form Sterling Global Operations.

The new company will be based in Lenoir City, and EODT CEO Matt Kaye will serve as president and CEO of the new venture.

Kaye said Wednesday that the combined companies form "the world's preeminent conventional munitions disposal organization."

When asked about the benefits of the deal to EODT, Kaye said that "it really diversifies our customer base. It strengthens our footprint around the world and provides us greater breadth and depth of resources."

EODT got its start in 1987 as a company specializing in explosive ordnance disposal, and for years specialized in cleaning up contamination at former U.S. military sites. During the George W. Bush administration, EODT branched out into security operations and eventually became a major player in that market.