THE AMERICAN SHIPBUILDING

Dugan Elected Chair of ASA

The American Shipbuilding Association (ASA) announced that Mr. John F. “Dugan” Shipway, President of Bath Iron Works, Bath, ME, has been elected Chairman of the Board of ASA for calendar years 2009 and 2010. Mr. Matthew J. Mulherin, Sector Vice President and General Manager of Newport News Shipbuilding, Newport News, VA, has been elected as the Association’s Vice Chairman. Dugan Shipway joined Electric Boat in July of 2000 as a Special Assistant to the President and was appointed President of Bath Iron Works on April 28, 2003. Prior to joining Electric Boat, he was a career Navy officer, retiring as a Rear Admiral after 35 years of service.  He commanded a nuclear attack submarine for more than four years after previously serving on various other submarine platforms.  At BIW, Dugan has led the way in introducing larger module construction to reduce costs and has spearheaded facility investments to make possible the “Ultra Hall” module construction facility. “His extensive shipbuilding experience, including the management of all facets of submarine and destroyer construction and manufacture, contracting and business development makes him extremely qualified to lead the American Shipbuilding Association at a time when the Nation needs to commit itself to rebuilding the naval fleet. His years of shipbuilding and program acquisition experience will be a tremendous asset to the industry association,” said Cynthia L

ASA - New Advisory Council Officers

The American Shipbuilding Association (ASA) announced the election of four new Partner Advisory Council officers for calendar years 2009 and 2010.  They were elected by their fellow ASA members in the fall of 2008. The four newly-elected officers of the Council are Pete Goumas, General Manager, The Babcock and Wilcox Company, Nuclear Operations Group, Euclid, OH; Shoun Kerbaugh, Vice President, Naval Systems/Merchant, Converteam Inc., Pittsburgh, PA; Bruce Rosenblatt, President, Bruce S

ASA's Passionate Push For 300-Ship Navy

The American Shipbuilding Association, led by president Cynthia L. Brown, again reiterated the desperate need for increased naval ship construction now to stave off the natural progression of the U.S. fleet below the 300-ship level. The fact that the fleet has shrunk from 600 ships in 1987 to 324 ships today is only part of the problem, according to Brown, who says that procurement levels from DoD over the past seven years is, in essence, a budget for a 200 ship fleet.

Tugboat Towed To Maritime Museum

WPBF reported that before it was retired in 1994, the tugboat, the Huntington moved an estimated 40,000 vessels during a 61-year career at the Newport News Shipyard in Virginia, including the USS John F. Kennedy and the Queen Elizabeth 2, along with other luxury lines and submarines. Officials said the tugboat is a fixture in American shipbuilding. Now the 109-ft. Huntington is in Florida for an exhibit at the Palm Beach Maritime Museum.

Honey, they Shrunk the Fleet!

The Congressional Shipbuilding Caucus met yesterday with shipbuilding industry officials to discuss commercial and military shipbuilding priorities. The event was part of the Shipbuilding Industry Day Conference hosted by the American Shipbuilding Association. During a discussion among members of Congress, presidents of the Big Six shipyards, shipbuilding labor representatives, and major ship system and component manufacturers from across the country

ASA Touts Shipbuilding Victory

In a victory for the defense shipbuilding industry, Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis (R-VA)garnered overwhelming bipartisan support for an amendment to the Department of Defense Authorization Bill limiting leases of foreign-built ships to not more than one year. Her amendment was adopted on May 12th by the Armed Services Committee. “Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis stood up for the industry and the security of our Nation with this important

Kitchen Joins Stewart Enterprises, Inc. Board

William E. Rowe, Chairman and CEO of Stewart Enterprises, Inc. announced the election of Thomas M. Kitchen to the Company's Board of Directors. Mr. Kitchen is an investment management consultant with Equitas Capital Advisors, LLC in New Orleans. During a 25-year career with Avondale Industries, Inc., the nation's fifth largest shipbuilder, he served as president, chief financial officer and board member. He currently serves on the board of Conrad Industries

Push Made for $2.9B More Navy Funding in 2003

Yesterday in Washington, D.C., leaders from the Senate, the military and business met to discuss strategies to increase FY 03 procurement funding by at least $2.9 billion to build more new navy ships. Concerned that funding is inadequate to maintain the Federally mandated 300-ship navy as required by the 2001 Quadrennial Defense Review, leaders sought to bring publicity to their plight, magnifying the depth of their need while celebrating the success of the navy in response to the September 11

Coast Guard Commandant Addresses Ship Budget

The Congressional Shipbuilding Caucus, Co-Chaired by Representatives Gene Taylor (D-MS) and Rob Wittman (R-VA), hosted a meeting with the Commandant of the Coast Guard, Adm. Robert J. Papp, to discuss the Coast Guard’s ship force structure needs, its missions, future threats, and the U.S. shipbuilding industry. Members of the Caucus in attendance were Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT), Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC), Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ), and Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA).

The Efficient Tugboat: Efficienty of a Different Type: Laney Chouest

When it comes to large tugs, none is larger than the Laney Chouest, the world's largest anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessel. At 348- x 72- x 31-ft., the Laney Chouest is the king of all tugs in the Gulf of Mexico, or anywhere else for that matter. It was built by the North American Shipbuilding, Larose, La. a part of Edison Chouest Offshore, Galliano, La. who also owns and operates the vessel. The vessel is super efficient since it is designed to do several jobs that formerly needed