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Marinette Marine News

25 Mar 2024

Fincantieri to Open Support Facility in Everett

A rendering of the first Constellation-class frigate to be constructed by Fincantieri Marinette Marine (Image courtesy of Fincantieri Marine Group)

This spring, Fincantieri Marine Repair (FMR) is expanding its presence to the Port of Everett with a new facility to support U.S. Navy assets.On March 12, the Port of Everett Commission unanimously approved a new one-year lease to establish an FMR office at the Port’s Marina Village at Waterfront Place.The U.S. Navy plans to homeport up to 12 new Constellation-class guided-missile frigates at Naval Station Everett, adjacent to the Port of Everett’s international Seaport. The FMR…

17 Mar 2024

US Coast Guard Cutter Accidentally Discharges Diesel Fuel off California

FILE PHOTO: USCGC Alder (WLB-216). (Photo: Kenneth Honore / U.S. Coast Guard)

The U.S. Coast Guard said one of its buoy tenders accidentally discharged approximately 500 gallons of diesel fuel 30 miles offshore of Fort Bragg, Calif., Friday morning.The vessel, USCGC Alder (WLB-216), was enroute to Humboldt Bay when the incident occurred, the Coast Guard said.Members of Coast Guard Sector San Francisco Incident Management Division notified interagency stakeholders and are investigating the oil spill and cause. They are also evaluating potential impacts to sensitive sites.

22 Feb 2024

Pearlson to Upgrade Shiplift at Australia's Osborne Naval Shipyard

Australian Naval Infrastructure in Osborne, South Australia (Photo: Pearlson Shiplift Corporation)

Pearlson Shiplift Corporation, a subsidiary of The Pearlson Group, announced it has been awarded a multimillion-dollar contract to deliver a large capacity upgrade and extension for Australian Naval Infrastructure (ANI) in Osborne, South Australia.The works will be installed by McConnell Dowell, one of the largest construction companies in the region. Once completed later this year, Pearlson Shiplift Corporation will recommission ANI’s shiplift system as the largest in the Southern Hemisphere.“We are honored to be awarded this project - the largest in the region.

06 Dec 2023

Fincantieri Marinette Marine Dedicates New Blast and Paint Facility

(Photo: Fincantieri Marine Group)

Fincantieri Marinette Marine dedicated its new blast and paint facility in Marinette, Wis. on December 5, 2023.Fincantieri CEO Pierroberto Folgiero and Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers were present to help cut the ribbon on the new facility where shipbuilders will efficiently prepare and paint large portions of Constellation-class frigates prior to final construction. Fincantieri Marinette Marine is on contract to build the lead ship and three additional vessels, with additional options for six more frigates.The 25,000 sq.ft.

15 Sep 2023

Naval Architect Mitchell Levi Joins The Shearer Group

Mitchell Levi (Photo: The Shearer Group, Inc.)

The Shearer Group, Inc. (TSGI) announced Mitchell Levi has joined its naval architecture, marine engineering, and marine surveying firm as a naval architect. He holds a Master of Science and a Bachelor of Science in Engineering in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from the University of Michigan. For his undergraduate research, Levi examined the highly coupled relationships between propulsion loads and cooling systems.While studying at the University of Michigan, Levi completed internships at TSGI, the American Bureau of Shipping and Fincantieri Marinette Marine.

11 Sep 2023

Littoral Combat Ship USS Milwaukee Decommissioned

USS Milwaukee (LCS 5) (Photo: U.S. Navy)

The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship (LCS) USS Milwaukee (LCS 5) has been decommissioned after less than eight years of naval service.The U.S. Navy has been scrapping its fleet of littoral combat ships—including both its Freedom and Independence variants. The latest to get the axe, USS Milwaukee, was decommissioned in Mayport, Fla. on September 8.During the ceremony guest speaker, Vice Adm. Dirk Debbink (USN, Ret), former chairman of Milwaukee’s commissioning committee wished…

28 Aug 2023

Offshore Wind: US Shipbuilders Answering the Call

From left to right: Lasse Petterson, CEO of Great Lakes Dredge and Dock; Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, D-Pa.; President Joe Biden; and Steinar Nerbovik, CEO of Philadelphia Shipyard (Photo: Philly Shipyard)

It’s a big deal when a U.S. president visits an American shipyard, and these trips always send a message. When President Obama spoke at HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding in 2013, he warned of the consequences of sequestration. President Trump’s 2020 speech at Fincantieri Marinette Marine touted a $5.5 billion naval contract that gave a welcome boost to the Wisconsin shipyard and its supply chain partners. Most recently, President Biden traveled to Philadelphia’s Philly Shipyard…

17 Aug 2023

US Shipyards Investing to Add Serious Lifting Power

(Photo: Marine Travelift)

Shipyards across the U.S. are investing in new equipment to increase lift capacity, opening up the door for more projects and improved efficiency.Southern California-based Marine Group Boat Works, which performs a mix of yacht, commercial and government vessel repair work, in 2022 repowered its 665-ton Marine Travelift mobile boat hoist—the largest on the West Coast—with a Tier 4 John Deere engine. And earlier this year it was awarded a MARAD Small Shipyard Grant worth more than…

24 Jul 2023

The Need for [U.S. Navy Shipbuilding] Speed

The world's largest aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) steams in the Adriatic Sea, June 23, 2023.
(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jackson Adkins)

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…

11 Jul 2023

Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding Expands Partnership with Local Technical College

(Photo: NWTC)

Sturgeon Bay, Wis. shipyard Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding (FBS) is expanding its partnership with a local technical college in an effort to advance the maritime manufacturing industry and meet growing workforce demand within the region.In fall 2022, FBS and Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) designed a specialized training program for FBS employees to advance their welding and ship/pipe-fitting techniques. Since the launch, 97 participants have successfully completed this five-week course offered through the NWTC Sturgeon Bay campus.

22 Jun 2023

Shipbuilders Council of America Announces Safety Award Winners

(File photo: Metal Shark Boats)

The Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA), the national association representing the U.S. shipbuilding, maintenance and repair industry, announced its yearly member safety awards for 2023.“Workforce health and safety is embedded into the fabric of our industry because the teams that work in our shipyards and throughout the industrial base are the most important asset we have in building and repairing the U.S. commercial and military fleets,” said Matthew Paxton, president of the Shipbuilders Council of America.

08 Jun 2023

America's Sea Services Building Large Fleet of Small Ships and Craft

U.S. Navy Sailors aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD-48), moor a landing craft, utility during amphibious operations, off the coast of Okinawa, Japan, in March 2023. (Photo: Christopher R. Lape / U.S. Marine Corps)

Not every vessel in the U.S. Navy is built for major combat operations on the high seas. There are large numbers of boats and service craft that provide essential services to the sea services, the nation and its partners.The U.S. Navy procures about 100 small boats per year. Some of these boats are based on commercial designs, procured to a Navy developed specification that tailors the requirements to the end user needs. They are procured and managed by two Naval Sea Systems Command program offices—PMS 300 and PMS 325.Compared to warships and auxiliaries…

19 May 2023

Fincantieri Awarded Contract to Build Fourth Constellation-class Frigate

(Image: Fincantieri)

Marinette, Wis. shipbuilder Fincantieri Marinette Marine (FMM) has been awarded a $526 million contract to build a fourth Constellation class frigate for the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Department of Defense announced. The contract for the lead frigate and nine option ships, signed in 2020, has a cumulative value of $5.5 billion, including post-delivery availability support and crew training. FMM received the $795 million contract for the first frigate in the Constellation class program…

17 Apr 2023

Future USS Cleveland Launched and Christened

(Photo: Fincantieri Marinette Marine)

The U.S. Navy's newest Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ship, the future USS Cleveland (LCS 31), was launched and christened during a ceremony on Saturday, at Fincantieri Marinette Marine in Marinette, Wis.Cleveland is the 16th and final Freedom-variant LCS and the fourth ship to be named in honor of the city of Cleveland, Ohio. Previous USS Cleveland's were the World War I cruiser (C 19), the World War II light cruiser (CL 55), and the Vietnam-era amphibious transport dock (LPD 7)…

22 Mar 2023

MTU Gensets Ordered for US Navy's Second Constellation Class Frigate

(Image: U.S. Navy)

The Power Systems division of Rolls-Royce has been selected to supply a further four of its mtu naval generator sets for the USS Congress (FFG-63), the second ship in the U.S. Navy’s Constellation Class Guided-Missile Frigate program, previously known as the FFG(X) program. Rolls-Royce has made significant investment at its production facilities in Aiken, S.C. and Mankato, Minn. to support the program and manufacture the gensets in the US.Rolls-Royce is currently supplying mtu gensets for the lead ship in the Constellation Class program…

09 Feb 2023

US Navy Takes Delivery of Future USS Marinette (LCS 25)

The U.S. Navy accepted delivery of the future USS Marinette (LCS 25) from Lockheed Martin at the Fincantieri Marinette Marine shipyard (Photo: Lockheed Martin)

The US  Navy accepted delivery of the future USS Marinette (LCS 25) from Lockheed Martin at the Fincantieri Marinette Marine shipyard in Marinette, Wis.“Today marks a significant milestone in the life of the future USS Marinette,” said Capt. Andy Gold, LCS program manager. “I look forward to the commissioning of Marinette later this year and recognizing the contribution of her namesake town and the great shipbuilders who bring these warships to life, ensuring they are ready to…

09 Sep 2022

Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding Breaks Ground on New Facility

(Photo: Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding)

Great Lakes shipbuilding and repair yard Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding broke ground on a new 19,000 sq. ft. machine shop at its Sturgeon Bay, Wis. location on Friday.Inside the future 300-ft. long building, shipbuilders will have access to two overhead cranes capable of lifting 5 and 30 tons, respectively. At the other end of the building there will be offices, restrooms, a lunchroom and a tool room. The facility will primarily support Bay’s repair business.Planning started nine months ago for the new building, which long-time construction partner A.C.E.

27 Jul 2022

From Surface to Subsea to Space: U.S. Navy Shipbuilding Outlook 2022

The Ford-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) and the Italian aircraft carrier ITS Cavour (CVH 550) transit the Atlantic Ocean March 20, 2021, marking the first time a Ford-class and Italian carrier have operated together underway. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Riley McDowell)

As a rudderless U.S. Navy debates maritime strategy, fleet futures and platform performance, America’s naval shipbuilding industry can look forward to another year of relative stasis.Barring a major geopolitical incident or unexpected maritime provocation, government shipbuilding isn’t going to change course. With Admiral Michael Gilday approaching the final “lame duck” year of his four-year term as Chief of Naval Operations and the 2024 election season looming, the prospect for major changes in the Navy’s demand signal seems limited.Aside from the U.S.

07 Jul 2022

Fincantieri Marine Group Names Galbiati CEO

Marco Galbiati (Photo: Fincantieri Marine Group)

Fincantieri Marine Group, a U.S. subsidiary of Italian shipbuilding giant Fincantieri, announced Thursday that Marco Galbiati has been named as its new CEO effective July 6, while former CEO Dario Deste remains the company’s president. Galbiati was previously FMG’s general manager, a role that he held since 2018. In this capacity he has been heavily involved in all aspects of the business and its efforts to grow the workforce in support of important commercial and military contracts. FMG serves commercial and government customers in the U.S., including the U.S.

28 Jul 2022

US Navy: Building Small Combatants to Create Force Structure and Capability

The Littoral Combat Ship has been made more lethal with the addition of the Naval Strike Mis-sile, seen here installed on USS Charleston (LCS 18).   (U.S. Navy photo by Ensign James French)

The U.S. Navy needs more ships. And that means the Navy has to build more ships than it is decommissioning.The sea service has a stated a goal of 355 ships, and as many as 500 and more when unmanned platforms are counted. There are 298 ships in the fleet today. For surface ships, this number includes a high-low mix of highly capable large surface combatants, and smaller ships such as littoral combat ships LCS).The Navy’s smallest combatants are the 330-ton, 197-foot coastal patrol boats (PCs). Up until recently, ten of them have been serving in the Middle East with the U.S.

31 Aug 2022

Fincantieri Marinette Marine Starts Frigate Construction

(Image: Fincantieri Marinette Marine)

Fincantieri Marinette Marine announced on Wednesday that it has officially started construction on the U.S. Navy’s first Constellation-class guided missile frigate in Northeast Wisconsin.The future USS Constellation moved into the next stage of development as shipbuilders began cutting steel for the ship with members of the Navy, representatives of elected officials and community leaders observing this material start to a class of ships.Two years ago the Navy selected FMM to design and build the Constellation-class frigate…

16 Jun 2022

Fincantieri Marinette Marine Awarded Contract for Third Constellation-class Frigate

(Image: Fincantieri Marinette Marine)

The U.S. Navy announced Thursday that Fincantieri Marinette Marine is on contract to build a third Constellation-class Frigate, the future USS Chesapeake.This announcement follows last month’s successful critical design review of the first-in-class FFG-62, which is nearing the start of construction. The value of this contract option is approximately $536 million.“We are pleased with the award, and our focus remains on working with the Navy to build the best frigate in the world…

08 Aug 2022

Shipyards Adapt to help Navy, Coast Guard Recapitalize Fleets

The first Offshore Patrol Cutter, USCGC Argus (WMSM 915) takes shape at Eastern Shipbuilding Group’s Panama City, Fla., shipyard.  The Coast Guard plans to build 25 OPCs. (ESG photo)

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…