Huntington Ingalls Cites Interest in Building US Icebreakers
Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc, which builds aircraft carriers and U.S. Navy warships, on Tuesday said it was keen to bid to build new icebreakers for the U.S. Coast Guard, after President Barack Obama pushed for quicker work on the program. The company's Ingalls shipbuilding unit, based in Pascagoula, Miss., built the newest U.S. icebreaker in the U.S. fleet, the USCGC Healy, which was delivered in November 1999. Huntington Ingalls spokesman Bill Glenn said his company had…
Avondale Shipyard for Sale
Local media quote Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) as announcing this week the Avondale Shipyard, just upriver from New Orleans, is being sold. The historic, 206-acre facility is on the market after a tumultuous last five years that have included layoffs and threats to close the shipyard. But members of the community hope the new owners will bring business back to the area. Only a skeleton staff remains at the sprawling West Bank facility that once employed more than 5,000 skilled workers. The company that shuttered the shipyard after 76 years may now be looking for a buyer. Jerry Bologna, executive director of the Jefferson Economic Development Commission (JEDCO), said HII is expected to have the property listed for sale in the next 30 to 60 days.
Shipbuilders Rely On Training To Fill Crafts Jobs
With skilled craftsmen in short supply in U.S. coastal areas, many shipbuilders turn to their own, sometimes extensive, internal training. Because fewer young people are entering shipbuilding out of high school, the industry is faced with an aging workforce that will soon have to be replaced. As good jobs for shipfitters and welders go begging, industry leaders say it's way past time to spread the word about these opportunities. Pascagoula, Miss.-based John Lotshaw directs Operations Workforce Training and Development at Huntington-Ingalls Industries (HII).
U.S. Snub on Cutter Funds Seen as Threat
The Obama administration’s failure to budget $1.6 billion for two of the Coast Guard’s flagship vessels is drawing criticism from U.S. lawmakers, who contend that the service’s missions will be threatened. The Department of Homeland Security’s proposal for the fiscal year, beginning October1, requests $683 million to fund only the sixth of eight planned National Security Cutters, made by Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc. The agency, which oversees the Coast Guard, didn’t seek funding for the remaining two cutters for fiscal years 2014 to 2017. The 418-foot-long cutters are needed to replace an aging fleet of vessels, many of which are more than 40 years old and expensive to maintain, according to the service.
PMV Mishaps Exceed FY-06 Targeted Limit
The Naval Safety Center reported, Dec. 27, that the Navy has exceeded its targeted limit of 29 mishaps for the entire fiscal year (FY)—a critical statistic because nine months remain in the fiscal year. Two PMV mishaps late last week put the Navy over the number that would have allowed it to stay on track to reduce mishaps 75 percent by FY '08. “We are shocked at the numbers,” said Capt. Bill Glenn, Director of Shore Safety Programs at the Naval Safety Center. “A lot of dedicated people around the fleet have done an enormous amount of work to prevent traffic-related mishaps and deaths. Fiscal year 2006 started off poorly with a series of motorcycle and PMV mishaps in October. After a short decline, mishaps continued their climb to the highest limit in 17 years.
