HII Completes Acceptance Trials on Richard M. McCool Jr. (LPD 29)
HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division on Monday announced it has completed acceptance trials in the Gulf of Mexico for amphibious transport dock Richard M. McCool Jr. (LPD 29), the final Flight I transition ship before Ingalls moves into serial production of the LPD Flight II line.The Ingalls’ Test and Trials team spent several days with the U.S. Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey running the ship at full power and through steering maneuvers. The team will now complete final finish work on the San Antonio-class ship in preparation for delivery to the U.S.
Richard M. McCool Jr. (LPD 29) Completes Builder’s Trials
HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division in Pascagoula, Miss. on Thursday announced new amphibious transport dock ship Richard M. McCool Jr. (LPD 29) it is building for the U.S. Navy has completed builder’s sea trials. The San Antonio-class ship spent time in the Gulf of Mexico testing all systems in preparation for the remaining events that will occur prior to delivery of the ship, expected to occur in the spring.“Our shipbuilders have worked hard to get LPD 29 to sea,” Ingalls Shipbuilding Ship Program Manager Davianne Stokes said.
Monjasa Acquires Two Tankers
Monjasa remains active in the market for secondhand tonnage following the acquisitions of three tankers earlier this year. The oil and shipping group on Thursday revealed additional ownership of the two tankers, Monjasa Leader (68,589-dwt) and Monjasa Refiner (13,051-dwt) for floating storage and bunker operations in West Africa.Monjasa recently took delivery of the two vessels Monjasa Leader (formerly Cabo San Antonio) in Algeciras, Spain and Monjasa Refiner (formerly Saturn) in Bremerhaven…
The Need for [U.S. Navy Shipbuilding] Speed
The Navy wants, and needs, more ships; but it can’t build them fast enough.While the U.S. Navy aims to achieve a 355-ship fleet, it is decommissioning older (and some not so old) ships at about the same rate it's adding new ones.A Congressional Research Service report stated that, as of April 17, 2023, the Navy included 296 battle force ships. "The Navy projects that under its FY2024 budget submission, the Navy would include 293 battle force ships at the end of FY2024 and 291 battle force ships at the end of FY2028."But there is progress…
U.S. Navy Shipbuilders & Disaggregated, Dispersed Production
With a lame-duck CNO, a divided Congress and the impending launch of the next Presidential election cycle, America’s naval market is locked into something of a fragile and fearful autopilot, cruising inexorably towards whatever excitement 2024 might bring.Materially, don’t expect much change: The demand for naval platforms will continue to outstrip available funding, meaning there will be little movement or growth in America’s major shipbuilding programs of record. The procurement outlines are already set.
War Games: US and Philippines Sink Mock Enemy Warship
U.S. and Philippine armed forces unleashed a volley of missiles on a mock enemy warship in the South China Sea on Wednesday, in a show of military power and a strengthening alliance at a time of rising regional tension.Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr watched from a four-storey tower as a high mobility artillery rocket system (HIMARS) fired rockets at a decommissioned navy corvette in the waters just a few miles off its western province of Zambales.It was the first time the annual U.S.-Philippines "Balikatan" exercises featured live fire drills at sea…
HII Awarded $1.3 Billion Contract for LPD 32
HII announced Friday that its Ingalls Shipbuilding division in Pascagoula, Miss. has received a $1.3 billion modification to a previously awarded contract from the U.S. Navy for the procurement of the detail design and construction of amphibious transport dock LPD 32. The resulting fixed-price-incentive contract totals $1.54 billion. The ship will be the 16th in the San Antonio class and the third Flight II LPD.In June 2022, Ingalls Shipbuilding was awarded a $240 million advance…
Robbers Pull Off Multimillion-dollar Copper Heist in Chilean Port
Chilean authorities said on Wednesday they were investigating a violent heist in Chile's main seaport where thieves stole several shipping containers filled with copper belonging to state-owned giant Codelco.Juan Carlos Catalan, the local prosecutor, said in a statement that ten armed men entered the San Antonio port early on Tuesday morning, attacked workers and stole 13 containers, 12 of which had copper."There was one guard and four workers that (the assailants)tied up and beat and left locked up…
Shareholders Approve SAAM's $1 Billion Terminals Sale to Hapag-Lloyd
SAAM shareholders at an extraordinary shareholder’s meeting on Tuesday approved a deal valued at about $1 billion to sell 100% of the shares of its subsidiaries SAAM Ports and SAAM Logistics, as well as the real estate assets belonging to the logistics business, to the German liner shipping company Hapag-Lloyd.The agreement, first announced earlier this month, consists of selling SAAM’s stakes in the 10 port terminals it operates in six countries in the Americas (five are in Chile)…
Ingalls Begins LPD 31 Fabrication
HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division started fabrication of the U.S. Navy’s newest San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock Pittsburgh (LPD 31) on Wednesday. The start of fabrication signifies that the first 100 tons of steel have been cut for the ship.“The start of fabrication on LPD 31 demonstrates our ability to continue manufacturing quality ships for our Navy and Marine Corps partners,” said Mike Pruitt, Ingalls Shipbuilding LPD program manager. “Our shipbuilders are excited…
Callan Marine Promotes Two VPs
Texas-based dredging and marine construction company Callan Marine announced the promotions of Chris Dearing to Vice President of Engineering and Production and Oliver Jones to Vice President.Dearing brings extensive experience in the development and management of production and field engineering programs at some of the leading dredging companies in the nation. He will continue to lead the development and training of Callan’s engineering personnel assigned to field-based and office-based roles.
Shipyards Adapt to help Navy, Coast Guard Recapitalize Fleets
U.S. shipyards are making improvements to building ships for the Navy and Coast Guard today and in the future. In some cases, it means phasing out one class of ship and getting ready for the next. Or, it can be a drastic make-over.The yards include mid-tier yards all the way up to very large facilities devoted exclusively to warships. The ships range from the 353-ton Fast Response Cutter to the 100,000-ton nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. Fincantieri Marinette Marine in Wisconsin…
Amphibious Transport Dock LPD 28 Sails Away From Ingalls Shipbuilding
San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28) departed from HII’s (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division on Monday, en route to its commissioning site in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., the shipbuilder announced.Fort Lauderdale was delivered to the U.S. Navy in March following acceptance sea trials and is the 12th San Antonio-class ship delivered by HII. Additional San Antonio-class ships are under construction at Ingalls, including Richard M. McCool Jr. (LPD 29) and the first Flight II amphibious ship in the San Antonio class, Harrisburg (LPD 30).
HII Bags $240 Million Advance Procurement Contract for LPD 32
HII announced Thursday that its Ingalls Shipbuilding division has received a $240 million, cost-plus-fixed-fee advance procurement contract from the U.S. Navy to provide long-lead-time material and advance construction activities for amphibious transport dock LPD 32. The ship will be the 16th in the San Antonio class constructed at Ingalls Shipbuilding.“Our shipbuilders are proud to continue building these amphibious ships that are integral to the Navy fleet,” Ingalls Shipbuilding President Kari Wilkinson said.
Franzke Named President of Scania USA
Jorg Franzke has been appointed president of engine manufacturer Scania U.S.A., Inc., effective May 16, 2022. He succeeds Håkan Sterner, who will move back to Sweden after five years at Scania USA. Franzke will be responsible for Scania USA’s operations. He has been working for Scania since 1995, building a wide experience in various positions such as Services, Truck Sales, R&D, Network Development, and Quality Management. Most recently, he has been the Head of Power Solutions at Scania Germany for the last 10 years.Franzke will be moving from Frankfort…
Ingalls Delivers Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28) to US Navy
Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) announced Friday that its Ingalls Shipbuilding division has delivered amphibious transport dock Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28) to the U.S. Navy.Fort Lauderdale is the 12th San Antonio-class ship delivered by HII. Amphibious transport docks are a major part of the Navy’s 21st century expeditionary force, deployed with a U. S. Marine Corps Air-Ground Task Force for amphibious and expeditionary crisis response operations that range from deterrence and…
LPD 30 Keel Authenticated at Ingalls Shipbuilding
HII announced that the company’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division ceremonially authenticated the keel of the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock Harrisburg (LPD 30). The ship’s sponsor, Alexandra Curry, a resident of Middletown, Pa., and wife of the Middletown mayor, was unable to attend the ceremony so Program Executive Officer Ships Rear Adm. Tom Anderson, stepped in to declare the keel “truly and fairly laid.”“While she could not join us, we welcome Mrs. Curry in spirit as she is now an important part of our shipbuilding family,” said Kari Wilkinson, president of Ingalls Shipbuilding.
Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28) Completes Acceptance Trials
The U.S. Navy's next new amphibious transport dock Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28) completed acceptance sea trials on Friday, shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) announced on Tuesday.The San Antonio-class ship, built at HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division in Pascagoula, Miss., spent several days with the U.S. Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey. Ingalls’ shipbuilders will now complete final finish work on the ship in preparation for delivery this quarter.“Fort Lauderdale is a terrific example of what our collective team is accomplishing together…
HII Launches Amphibious Transport Dock Richard M. McCool Jr. (LPD 29)
Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (NYSE: HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division launched the amphibious transport dock Richard M. McCool Jr. (LPD 29). Richard M. McCool Jr., the 13th LPD in the San Antonio class of amphibious assault force ships, will support U.S. amphibious assault, special operations and expeditionary warfare missions through the first half of the 21st century.“The LPD class ships, like all of our programs, are critically important to U.S. national security,” said Kari Wilkinson, president of HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division.
Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28) Completes Builder's Trials
America’s largest military shipbuilding company Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) announced on Tuesday that its Ingalls Shipbuilding division recently completed the first round of sea trials for San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28).“Shipbuilding is about teamwork. Our shipbuilders work as a team with our Navy partners to make these ships ready to join the fleet,” said Steve Sloan, Ingalls’ LPD program manager. “The success we achieved this week will propel us into a strong finish as we prepare for acceptance trials later this year.
Video: USS Gerald R. Ford Completes Shock Trials
The U.S. Navy's new aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) on Monday underwent its third explosive event off the coast of Jacksonville, Fla., rounding out the ship’s Full Ship Shock Trials (FSST) and validating its shock hardness and ability to sustain operations in a simulated combat environment using live ordnance. During the four-month testing evolution, the first-in-class aircraft carrier withstood the impact of three 40,000-pound underwater blasts, released at distances…
Ingalls Shipbuilding Names Blanchette VP of Quality and Engineering
America's largest military shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries announced Thursday that Brian Blanchette has been promoted to vice president of quality and engineering of its Ingalls Shipbuilding division.Blanchette will be responsible for the management and oversight of the division’s quality program as well as all ship design, engineering, integrated logistics support and planning yard engineering efforts at the Pascagoula, Miss. shipyard. He will relieve Dave Belanger upon his retirement in July.Blanchette served most recently as Ingalls’ director of technical and design engineering…
Video: Ill Tanker Crewmember Medevaced off Bermuda
An ailing crewmember was medevaced from an oil tanker off the coast of Bermuda on Friday.Rescue Coordination Center Bermuda notified watchstanders at the U.S. Coast Guard’s Fifth District command center in Portsmouth of an ill crewmember aboard the Malta-flagged tanker Antonis last Wednesday at approximately 1 p.m.The Coast Guard coordinated the rendezvous of two nearby commercial vessels to deliver needed medical supplies through the Automated Mutual Assistance Vessel Rescue…