Edward Lundquist News

Washington Island Ferry Line (WIFL) has been the essential link between the residents, business and visitors of Washington Island and Wisconsin's Door Peninsula for more than eight decades.Picturesque and peaceful Door County isn't named for some intrepid settlers named Door. The name has a more ominous meaning. It's derived from the treacherous passage between the peninsula and Washington Island that mariners called Porte des Mortes, or Death's Door.A unique combination of environmental…

Manama, Bahrain -- Advancing maritime domain awareness in the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. Fifth Fleet area of responsibility (AOR) is a challenging task. Yet keeping the sea lanes open is critical for the region, for the U.S. and the world.U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT), U.S. Fifth Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) are all headquartered here in Bahrain, under the command of Vice Admiral Brad Cooper. U.S. Fifth Fleet oversees the operations for all U.S. naval forces in the Middle East.

The Swedish-built Combat Boat 90 (CB 90) has established itself with military forces around the world as both a warrior and a workhorse. The 52-foot boats first entered service in 1991 as troop carriers with the Swedish Marines, which is still procuring them. There are more than 250 operating worldwide today.These rugged boats are optimized for high-speed / shallow-draft operations in and around Sweden’s many coastal islands, but they have also proven to be ideal for a variety of other applications and operating environments.The CB 90 is 52 feet long, with a draft of just 2 feet 7 inches.

While the December 2021 edition of Maritime Reporter & Engineering News examines 'Great Ships' delivered this calendar  year, Edward Lundquist takes a look back into U.S. Navy history and America's first aircraft carrier —CV 1, the USS Langley.Most people think of USS Langley as America’s first aircraft carrier — CV 1. While that’s true, and being the first flattop in the fleet is an honorable distinction, Langley began life as a collier — USS Jupiter, which itself was a relatively new concept of delivering fuel to the afloat forces where they need it. Today, the U.S.

Introducing a new class of warship can be fraught with pain, and the first ship is always the hardest – almost always behind schedule and over budget. And trying something new and transformational is even harder.The U.S. Navy knows this from experience. That’s one reason why the Navy is opting for a lower risk design for its next class of guided missile frigates (FFGs).Just about every new class has experienced a rough start. Although the USS Arleigh Burke-class of guided missile destroyers (DDGs) today represent the largest and most successful class of warships…

As tensions mount globally, naval budgets are growing in tandem. While the U.S. Navy and its global footprint are well recorded and widely reported, other navies from smaller countries are less known, but nonetheless important to the fabric of global security operations, particularly working in tandem with allies. Navies operate on a spectrum between deterrence and defense, to include offensive operation, support of foreign policy, and power projection to civil affair and humanitarian assistance and disaster response.

An interview with Rear Admiral Ronald A. Boxall, Director, Surface Warfare (N96), conducted by Capt. Edward Lundquist, U. S. Navy (Ret.)The theme of the recent SNA West Coast Symposium was “Take a Running Fix.” So what’s your “fix” right now about where we are regarding surface warfare?The SWO Boss is thinking about that from a man/train/equip standpoint, and being able to ensure that we’re trained to the best we can, that we’re manned properly, and have the equipment we need.

The March 2017 edition of Maritime Reporter & Engineering News, with U.S. President Donald Trump on the cover, is now available. Read it online here. As this is Maritime Reporter & Engineering News’ ‘Green Marine’ annual, one might be surprised to see a recent photo of President Trump gracing our cover. Regardless of your personal feeling or political view, the story of President Trump and his new administration is arguably the maritime story of the year, as it touches on nearly every sector, from defense and national security to international commerce and infrastructure.

Ebeneezer Scrooge would be proud. This is our annual United States Coast Guard edition, and it could best be dubbed the “Christmas Carol” edition as we examine USCG Past, USCG Present and USCG Future. First looking back (but not too far back), and in step with our continued celebration of Maritime Reporter & Engineering News’ 75th Anniversary, Patricia Keefe takes an insightful look at the times, tribulations, leadership and legacy of Thad Allen, past Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard.

Naval officers and industry experts will gather in Portsmouth, U.K., Jan. 30-31 for the IQPC Surface Warships 2014 conference to share ideas and concepts for designing, building, manning and maintaining naval combatants today and into the future. The opening keynote address will be delivered by U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Thomas Rowden, the director for surface warfare on the chief of naval operations staff. Speakers from the Royal Navy will discuss the U.K.’s new Type 26 frigate program from the government acquisition industry design and construction, and operations point of view. Of emphasis will be the U.K. approach to open architecture in the Type 26 and other ship programs.

Edward Lundquist talks to welder and apprentice instructor Ashley Wilber at BAE Systems Ship Repair’s Norfolk shipyard. Tell me how you came to be a welder here at BAE Systems Ship Repair. I have been here at BAE Systems going on seven years now. I was just doing odd jobs out of high school – Hardee’s, driving jobs like delivering pizzas – anything that was making money. I have a cousin, who at the time was an electrician apprentice, and he was telling me about the shipyard. I’d never heard of a shipyard even though I drove past it all the time.

Attendees at the IQPC Offshore Patrol Vessels Middle East 2013 conference agree that what happens at sea in the Arabian Gulf and the Middle East has implications that ripple, or more correctly rumble throughout the globe. Speakers and panelists underscored the importance of maritime domain awareness and security for military, commercial, legal and environmental reasons, and how they are all connected. The IQPC Offshore Patrol Vessel conference at the Jumeirah at Etihad Towers in Abu Dhabi is being attended by naval, coast guard, security, and other maritime and military professionals.

As policy leaders wrapped up the Manama Dialog, an international security conference in Bahrain, maritime and naval leaders commenced their meetings in Abu Dhabi to discuss practical implementation of those policies and improving abilities of nations and partners to meet growing challenges to maritime security, safety and sovereignty. The IQPC Offshore Patrol Vessel conference at the Jumeirah at Etihad Towers in Abu Dhabi is being attended by naval, coast guard, security, and other maritime and military professionals.

Rear Admiral Mark “Buz” Buzby, commander of the Military Sealift Command, sat with Maritime Reporter contributing editor Edward Lundquist talked with a week before his retirement aboard USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1) at Little Creek, Virginia, on May 10, 2013. The talk centered on a unique event in maritime history. MSC had seven ships in the area east of Japan, responding to the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami that killed 19,000 people. One of them was the fast combat support ship USNS Bridge (T-AOE 10)…

Capt. Edward Lundquist, U.S. Navy (Ret.) talks with Vice Admiral Jerry Beaman, the commander of the U.S. THIRD Fleet, about the 2012 “Rim of the Pacific” (RIMPAC) multi-national fleet exercise. How has the Rim of the Pacific or “RIMPAC” exercised evolved to the current involvement of more than 20 nations? Our naval heritage and our tradition really began in the War of 1812. In February of 1813, the frigate USS Essex was the very first Navy ship to sail into the Pacific. Our young nation giving notice that we had as much right to the seas as anyone else.

Composite materials are used to make cars, planes and boats, and have been used to build minesweepers and small surface combatants. Now, the largest composite structure ever built—the DDG 1000 destroyer deckhouse—has been fabricated in Mississippi and is being shipped to Maine for assembly aboard the future USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000). In this dramatic example of a “shared build,” General Dynamics Bath Iron Works is the lead yard, but the superstructure and hangar are being built at Huntington Ingalls Industries (formerly Northrop Grumman Ship Systems) Composite Center of Excellence at Gulfport…

As Director of Innovation, Dr. Larry Schuette is one of three portfolio directors at the Office of Naval Research (ONR). His counterparts are the director of research (discovery and invention) and director of transition. The Office of Innovation promotes, fosters, and develops innovative science, technology, processes and policies that support the Department of the Navy. “I manage the ‘leap ahead’ portfolio here at the Office of Naval Research,” he says. Schuette leads both technological innovation in as well as the business of innovation.

Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Gary Roughead answers questions during the 20th annual Surface Navy Association symposium. Roughead spoke on the important role that ships, submarines and aircraft play in the maritime strategy. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Tiffini M. Attendees at the 20th annual Surface Navy Association Symposium heard the message loud and clear: The Navy needs more ships. The Surface Navy Association, founded in 1985 to "promote greater coordination and communication among those in the military…

A Wärtsilä Lips LJ210E reversible waterjet. What was once a way to makes waves with small craft, contemporary high-powered waterjet propulsion systems are winding up on bigger vessels including warships. Why waterjets? They are simple and reliable, with the pump impellor turning at a constant speed and flow in one direction. Engine loading is constant. In most cases a gearbox is not required. The entire propulsion system receives less stress and requires less maintenance. Waterjets have plenty of pickup, can sustain high speed operations, but can stop on a dime by reversing thrust. They’re responsive, and idea for precise maneuvering or station keeping. Waterjets can be used in very shallow water. There’s no screw to foul.

The surface combatant Integrated Power System (IPS) propulsion Engineering Development Model (EDM) for the U.S. Navy’s new Zumwalt-class DDG 1000 destroyer is being tested at the Land-Based Test Site (LBTS) at the Ships Systems Engineering Station, Philadelphia, PA. The new destroyer will be an all-electric ship. Unlike conventional arrangements where the installed prime mover devotes power to main propulsion, the Zumwalt-class ships will have two large gas turbine generators and two smaller ones that provide power that can be used for propulsion, weapons or ship services. Efficient power management makes the ship’s installed power available to all of the electric loads throughout the ship.

Commander Master Chief Mark Davidson becomes the U.S. Navy's “Old Tar,” symbolic of the senior Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist. The award was presented by Surface navy Association executive director, Capt. Bill Erickson, USN (Ret.), at the USS Constitution in Boston. For Master Chief Mark Davidson, becoming the “Old Tar” doesn’t mean he’s old, it signifies he’s a seasoned and experienced Surface Warrior, just like the USS Constitution. Davidson, the command master chief at Navy Recruiting District St. Louis, recently was presented with the “Old Tar” award from the Surface Navy Association (SNA), signifying that he has the earliest qualification date as an Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist (ESWS) among all Sailors in the U.S.

The United States must engage with maritime partners around the world to create and build trust, according to senior Navy leaders speaking at the 2007 Surface Navy Association West Coast Symposium, held pier side at Naval Station San Diego, in August. Surrounded by ships and cooled summer breeze coming off the harbor, the many attendees heard about the Navy’s efforts to create and build upon meaningful partnerships. Rear Adm. Pete Daly discussed the Navy’s efforts to create a new maritime strategy. The previous maritime strategy addressed a Soviet threat that no longer exists. “We had one big enemy. We understood that enemy. We knew where they were coming from. In the past, military powers knew that military adventurism would be met with reciprocal force.

The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World is an authoritative and thorough compendium about warships, aircraft and auxiliaries that serve in navies and coast guards worldwide. Combat Fleets is massive, with 1,104 pages and more than 4,000 photos and illustrations. It's even bigger than Jane's Fighting Ships (but costs less). If the seven-pound book is too heavy to handle, save both money and weight and get the CD version instead. Combat Fleets covers the waterfront. From large aircraft carriers and complex cruisers to speedy patrol craft and diminutive utility boats, they are covered in detail. If you are interested in aircraft carriers, you can study the entries from the U.S., Brazil, the U.K., India, France, Italy, and others.