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Bath Iron Works News

04 Jan 2024

Bath Iron Works Gets $34 Million to Bolster Its Workforce

(File photo: Bath Iron Works)

Bath Iron Works (BIW) will receive more than $34 million in federal funding for projects aimed at bolstering the Bath, Maine shipyard's workforce.U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R. - Maine), Vice Chairman of Senate Appropriations Committee and Defense Subcommittee, announced the funding has been approved by the U.S. Navy and included in the Fiscal Year 2023 Defense Appropriations bill as part of a larger initiative to make improvements to the infrastructure of the U.S. shipyards that build the Navy’s destroyers.BIW…

27 Oct 2023

Bath Iron Works Shipyard Employee Killed in Maine Mass Shooting

Peyton Brewer-Ross (Photo courtesy General Dynamics - Bath Iron Works)

An employee of General Dynamics' Bath Iron Works shipyard was killed during a mass shooting event in Lewiston, Maine, on Wednesday.The Bath, Maine shipyard, which designs, builds and supports surface combatants for the U.S. Navy, released the following statement on social media on Thursday: "All of us at Bath Iron Works are heartbroken to share that we have lost a member of our BIW family. We send our deepest condolences, thoughts and prayers to the family and friends of our employee Peyton Brewer-Ross, who was killed in Lewiston on Wednesday night.

02 Aug 2023

US Navy Destroyer Harvey C. Barnum Jr. Christened

(Photo: Shannon E. Renfroe / U.S. Navy)

Bath, Maine shipbuilder General Dynamics Bath Iron Works on Saturday christened the U.S. Navy’s newest guided missile destroyer, the future USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr. (DDG 124). The ship is named for Col. Harvey C. Barnum, Jr., who received the Medal of Honor for his heroism on the battlefield during Operation Harvest Moon in the Que Son Valley during the Vietnam War.The ceremony's speakers included Gov. Janet Mills, Sen. Susan Collins, Sen. Angus King and Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro, who was the principal speaker. Martha E.

02 Aug 2023

Bath Iron Works Awarded US Navy Contract to Build Three Destroyers

General Dynamics Bath Iron Works is currently building several Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. (Photo: Jack Sanders / U.S. Air Force)

Bath, Maine shipbuilder General Dynamics Bath Iron Works announced it has been awarded a contract from the U.S. Navy to build three DDG 51 Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.“We appreciate the opportunity to build on our history of providing these highly advanced ships for the U.S. Navy fleet and are honored to do our part to contribute to protecting the nation and our families,” said Chuck Krugh, president of Bath Iron Works, a business unit of General Dynamics. “Flight…

16 May 2023

Vigor Completes USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) Repairs

Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112). (Photo: Nathan K. Serpico / U.S. Navy)

Vigor announced it completed a nine-month docking selected restricted availability (DSRA) on USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112), returning it to service on-schedule.Work performed includes overhauling machinery, repairing the underwater hull and implementing significant renovations to the ship's superstructure.The contract, which was awarded to Vigor after a successful challenge last year, marks the third DSRA Vigor has completed at Pearl Harbor since 2021. Vigor previously competed DSRAs for USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108) and USS William P.

09 Feb 2023

The U.S. Navy Needs More Ships, Encourages Industry to "Pick up the Pace"

Bryce Woolston cleans up welds on the Virginia-class attack submarine USS Delaware (SSN 791) at HII Newport News Shipbuilding. (HII photo by Chris Oxley)

The demand for warships is strong, and the Navy continues to receive support from the Congress to build more ships. The Navy is working to achieve a fleet of about 355 ships, plus a fleet of about 150 unmanned vesselsBut to achieve something close to that goal requires more than demand, and even more than money. For one thing, it requires an industrial base that can build, repair and sustain that fleet.While Navy leadership acknowledges the challenges of a stressed supply chain…

26 Jan 2023

US Navy Accepts Delivery of Future USS Carl Levin

(Photo: U.S. Navy)

The U.S. Navy accepted delivery of the future guided missile destroyer USS Carl M. Levin (DDG 120) from General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, Jan. 26.Delivery represents the official transfer of the ship from the shipbuilder to the Navy. Prior to delivery, the ship conducted a series of at-sea and pier-side trials to demonstrate its materiel and operational readiness.“Delivery of this ship will provide critical capacity to our surface fleet today and well into the future,” said Capt. Seth Miller, DDG 51 program manager, Program Executive Office (PEO) Ships.

21 Dec 2022

Great Ships '22: USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125)

The guided-missile destroyer USS Mustin (DDG 89) fires a Standard Missile 2 missile from the ship's forward and aft missile decks during a missile exercise. Mustin is one of seven guided missile destroyers assigned to Destroyer Squadron 15 and is forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Devon Dow/Released)

The Arleigh Burke-class Guided Missile Destroyer - The world’s most successful post-war surface combatantsThe USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) class of guided missile destroyers can rightfully be called the most successful class of surface combatants in the post-World War II era. The lead ship was commissioned in 1991, and the Navy is still building them at Huntington Ingalls Industries Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Miss., and General Dynamics Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine. A total of 89 have been procured through FY2022…

15 Dec 2022

Future USS Carl Levin Completes Acceptance Trials

The future USS Carl M. Levin (DDG 120) (Photo: Bath Iron Works)

The future USS Carl M. Levin (DDG 120) completed acceptance trials on December 9, returning to General Dynamics Corp’s Bath Iron Works (BIW) Bath shipyard after spending two days at sea.During acceptance trials, the ship and its crew performed a series of demonstrations for review by the U.S. Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV). These demonstrations are used by INSURV to validate the quality of construction and compliance with Navy specifications and requirements prior to delivery of the ship to the U.S. Navy.

02 Nov 2022

NETSCo Promotes Two Senior Leaders

David Hossenlopp (Photo: NETSCo)

NETSCo, a naval architecture and marine engineering firm located in Columbia Station, Ohio, has promoted two of its senior employees to new leadership roles. David Hossenlopp, P.E, has been promoted to the position of Chief Naval Architect, and Nick Hunter, P.E. to Senior Naval Architect / Marine Engineer.“David has been with NETSCo since 2013,” said Richard Mueller, CEO/President, “and throughout this time he has very successfully been involved with a large variety of projects…

29 Sep 2022

Vigor Wins $131 Million Navy Ship Repair Deal

(Photo: Aja Bleu Jackson / U.S. Navy)

Portland, Ore. based shipbuilding and repair company Vigor Marine has been awarded a $131,151,747 firm-fixed-price contract action to accomplish the USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53) 2C1 dry-docking selected restricted availability (DSRA).The contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $131,826,808.Work will be performed in Seattle (77%) and Everett, Wash. (23%), and is expected to be completed by February 2024.This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(3).

22 Aug 2022

Austal USA Names Kruger VP of Global Services and Support

Michelle Kruger (Photo: Austal USA)

Mobile, Ala. shipbuilder Austal USA welcomes Michelle Kruger as vice president of global services and support. Operating from Austal’s San Diego waterfront services facility, Kruger is responsible for Austal USA’s global post-delivery repair and warranty efforts, including the development of business strategy and strategic alliances. As the primary customer interface for ship repair and maintenance services, Kruger will lead the pursuit of future government and commercial business…

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…

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.

07 Jul 2022

Dirk Lesko Named President of Irving Shipbuilding

Dirk Lesko (Photo: Irving Shipbuilding)

Dirk Lesko will assume the role of President of Irving Shipbuilding Inc., effective September 1, 2022, the Canadian shipbuilder announced.Ross Langley, Vice Chairman of Irving Shipbuilding, will continue as interim President until Lesko joins the company.Lesko retired in April 2022 as a Vice President of the General Dynamics Corporation and President of Bath Iron Works (BIW). Lesko served as President of BIW from 2017 to 2022.A 32-year BIW employee and third generation shipbuilder…

05 May 2022

Krugh Named President of Bath Iron Works

Charles F. Krugh  was named president of General Dynamics Bath Iron Works. Photo courtesy General Dynamics

General Dynamics appointed Gulfstream Aerospace executive Charles F. Krugh as president of General Dynamics Bath Iron Works.“Chuck’s leadership, proven track record in manufacturing and expertise in managing complex supply chains will be an enabler to Bath Iron Works as it expands and increases the pace of shipbuilding for the U.S. Navy,” said Robert E. Smith, executive vice president for Marine Systems.A U.S. Army veteran, Krugh served in a variety of aerospace manufacturing roles before joining General Dynamics in 2011 as a senior vice president and general manager for Jet Aviation.

18 Mar 2022

Bollinger Finalizes Bid to Build USCG Offshore Patrol Cutter

Ben Bordelon, Bollinger president and CEO (Photo: Bollinger Shipyards)

Louisiana shipbuilder Bollinger Shipyards announced Friday it has submitted its final proposal to the U.S. Coast Guard to build the next round of Heritage-class Offshore Patrol Cutters (OPC). If chosen, Bollinger would construct and deliver a total of 11 OPC vessels at its facilities in Houma, La. over the next decade.OPCs will provide the majority of offshore presence for the Coast Guard’s cutter fleet, bridging the capabilities of the 418-foot national security cutters, which patrol the open ocean, and the 154-foot fast response cutters, which serve closer to shore.

11 Feb 2022

U.S. Navy: DDG(X) is a Large Surface Combatant with Room to Grow

The future guided-missile destroyer Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125) is launched, June 4, 2021, at Huntington Ingalls Industries, Ingalls Shipbuilding division in Pascagoula, Miss. Jack H. Lucas is the first Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer to be built in the Flight III configuration. The Flight III upgrade is centered on the AN/SPY-6(V)1 Air and Missile Defense Radar and incorporates upgrades that provide enhanced warfighting capability. The Flight III baseline begins with DDG 125 and will c

“DDG-51 hull form is maxed out in nearly every mission area. Meanwhile, the threat marches on.”Rear Adm. Paul Schlise, director for surface warfareThe U.S. Navy’s highly successful USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) surface combatant program is still going strong and growing in capability. Nearly 40 years later, new ships are still being built. But, the navy said, the ship cannot support the systems of tomorrow needed to meet the future threat.“DDG 51 has been in production for over 40 years with basically the same hull we started with in 1985…

24 Jun 2021

Shipbuilding; NSRP Elects New Officers

Tom Perrine

The National Shipbuilding Research Program (NSRP) has announced the election of new officers to its Executive Control Board (ECB).Tom Perrine, Vice President of Engineering at Austal USA in Mobile, Ala. has been elected as ECB Chair for a two-year term, effective May 2021. Perrine earned his undergraduate degree in Naval Architecture from the University of Michigan and is a licensed professional engineer. He succeeds Don Hamadyk, Director of Program Development and Integration at Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding division in Newport News…

13 Jan 2022

Final Zulmwalt-class Destroyer Departs Bath Iron Works

(Photo: Bath Iron Works)

The third and final Zulmwalt-class destroyer built for the U.S. Navy sailed away from General Dynamics' Bath Iron Works (BIW) shipyard in Bath, Maine on Wednesday.Crewed by BIW shipbuilders, the warship Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG 1002) is heading to Huntington Ingalls Industries' Ingalls Shipbuilding in in Pascagoula, Miss. for final outfitting, combat systems installation, testing and activation.At 610 feet long with an 80.7-foot beam and 15,995 metric tons displacement, Zumwalt-class (DDG 1000) guided missile destroyers are the largest and most technologically advanced surface combatant in U.S.

09 Aug 2020

General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, Union Reach Agreement

General Dynamics announced today that the negotiating teams from Bath Iron Works and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Local S6 reached agreement last night on mutually acceptable terms to end the ongoing strike by shipyard workers in Bath, Maine. Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service deputy director Rich Giacolone and IAM International President Robert Martinez helped to facilitate the tentative agreement.“We are pleased to have reached agreement with our union partners and look forward to getting back to the job of building ships for the U.S. Navy,” said Phebe Novakovic, chairman and chief executive officer.

08 Feb 2021

Future USS Daniel Inouye Completes Acceptance Trials

The future USS Daniel Inouye (DDG 118) departs General Dynamics Bath Iron Works shipyard on Feb. 3 for acceptance trials. (Photo by SUPSHIP Bath)

The future USS Daniel Inouye (DDG 118) completed acceptance trials February 4 after spending a day underway off the coast of Maine.INSURV inspected the ship during a series of demonstrations while pier side and underway. Many of the ship’s onboard systems, including navigation, damage control, mechanical and electrical systems, combat systems, communications, and propulsion applications, were tested to validate performance and met or exceeded Navy specifications.“Following an outstanding Combined Alpha and Bravo trials this past December…

02 Sep 2021

Future USS Lyndon B. Johnson Conducts Builder’s Trials

(Photo: Bath Iron Works)

The U.S. Navy's future USS Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG 1002) recently conducted builder’s trials, consisting of in-port and at-sea demonstrations that allow the shipbuilder General Dynamics Bath Iron Works and the Navy to assess the ship’s systems.“Trials provide an opportunity for the Navy and industry team to test the capability and readiness of the ship,” Capt. Matthew Schroeder, DDG 1000 program manager, Program Executive (PEO) Ships. “DDG 1002 is a warship that is going to equip…