Marine Link
Friday, March 29, 2024
SUBSCRIBE

Shipyard Infrastructure News

06 Feb 2024

Birdon Acquires Metal Shark's Bayou La Batre Shipyard

(Photo courtesy Birdon Group)

Australia's Birdon Group announced its U.S. subsidiary has reached a deal to acquire Metal Shark Boats' shipyard in Bayou La Batre, Ala.Birdon America said it will utilize the 32-acre facility for vessel repair work as well as newbuild activity, including construction of the U.S. Coast Guard's $1.187 billion 27-vessel Waterways Commerce Cutter (WCC) Program awarded to Birdon in 2022.Birdon Group CEO, Jamie Bruce, said, “The investment in this facility will not only ensure we deliver on our promise to the U.S.

20 Dec 2023

What Do MARAD Title XI Changes Mean for Offshore Wind?

The U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) has recently announced an amendment to the Federal Ship Financing Program, commonly referred to as Title XI. The amendments have aligned the program’s financial requirements and tests with common current federal credit and maritime lending best practices. In particular, the amendments aim to move away from inflexible static metrics and Title XI’s limited amortization requirements. The amendments respond to concerns that previous terms acted as a barrier to some companies seeking to apply for Title XI support.

13 Mar 2023

$2.8 Billion Contract Awarded for New Concrete Dry Dock at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard

(File photo: Michael B. Zingaro / U.S. Navy)

The U.S. Navy's engineering systems command has awarded a $2.8 billion contract for the construction of a new concrete dry dock at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PHNSY & IMF).The $2,839,880,250 firm-fixed-price task order, which falls under a previously awarded multiple award construction contract, was awarded by Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Pacific to a joint venture between Dragados, Hawaiian Dredging and Orion. Four…

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…

18 Jan 2023

Heger Dry Dock Gets to Work on AFDM for U.S. Navy

Photo courtesy Heger Drydock

Born in 1998 and celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2023, Heger Dry Dock holds a unique position as one of the few engineering firms in the world dedicated to the design and lifecycle engineering of drydocks, primarily floating dry docks. Premal Shah, P.E., President and Principal Engineer, discussed some of the company’s recent contract wins with Maritime Reporter & Engineering News.Specializing in the design and lifecycle maintenance of floating dry docks, Heger Dry Docks was founded 25 years ago, and still run today by one of its co-founders, Bob Heger.

24 Oct 2022

WSP USA Hires Harris as Navy Program Director

Chuck Harris (Photo: WSP USA)

WSP USA, an engineering, environment and professional services consultancy, has hired Charles "Chuck" Harris as Navy program director for the firm’s Federal Programs national business line.In his new role, Harris directs the growth of the Federal team’s Navy program, which includes a recent joint venture win to directly support the $500 million U.S. Navy’s Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program (SIOP) for improvements to dry docks at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate…

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.

13 Sep 2021

US Navy Awards Shipyard Modernization Contract

FILE PHOTO: USS Nimitz (CVN 68) at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility in Bremerton, Wash. (Photo: Thiep Van Nguyen II / PSNS & IMF)

The U.S. Navy has awarded a $500-million design contract for the modernization of two of its shipyards in Hawaii and Washington.The indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity architecture-engineering contract awarded to Honolulu, Hawaii-based WSM Pacific SIOP by Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) on September 7 is for structural and waterfront-related projects at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PHNSY & IMF) in Hawaii and Puget…

16 Aug 2021

NAVFAC Awards $1.7B Drydock Construction Project

"We look forward to getting this critical construction mega-project underway," said Rear Adm. John Korka, commander, NAVFAC, and Navy chief of Civil Engineers.  "This project -- and other work being planned at all four of our naval shipyards -- is one of the most significant and direct contributions that our systems command team can make to enable our Navy’s lethality and maximize its readiness for many years to come." Image courtesy NAVFAC

Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) awarded a $1.7-billion construction project, an effort toexpand and reconfigure a dry dock complex at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY) in Kittery, Maine, to increase the shipyard's capacity to maintain, modernize, and repair the Navy's attack submarines and return them to the fleet on time.The seven-year project, part of the Navy's comprehensive Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program (SIOP), will construct an addition to Dry Dock 1 within the existing flood basin area…

15 Jan 2021

Wolfson Takes the Helm at Norfolk Naval Shipyard

Captain Dianna Wolfson took the helm January 15 as the 110th commander of Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) and first female leader in its 253-year history. (Photo: Shelby West / Norfolk Naval Shipyard)

Captain Dianna Wolfson took the helm Friday as the 110th commander of Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) and first female leader in its 253-year history.Wolfson also holds the distinction of becoming the first female commander of any of the nation’s four public shipyards when she assumed command in June 2019 of Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF).This marks her third NNSY tour, with previous assignments as Operations Officer and Project Superintendent for the USS Newport News (SSN 750) Engineered Overhaul.NNSY…

20 Apr 2020

MARAD Awards Nearly $20 Mln for Small Shipyards

(Photo: VT Halter Marine)

Two dozen small shipyards in the U.S. have received a combined $19.6 million through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) Small Shipyard Grant Program to help fund upgrades and expansions that often lead to more competitive operations, quality ship construction and improved employee skill.“This $19.6 million federal government investment in the nation’s small shipyards will help maintain the U. S. shipyard infrastructure of our country,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L.

23 Dec 2019

Chantier Davie Pre-qualified under Canada's NSS

© Denis Comeau / Adobe Stock

The Government of Canada announced East Coast shipbuilder Chantier Davie has pre-qualified to become the third strategic partner under the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS), a long-term, multibillion-dollar program to renew the Canadian Coast Guard and Royal Canadian Navy fleets.Back in May, Canada’s Government announced its intention to add a third Canadian shipyard as a partner under the NSS, and on August 2, it launched the competitive process to select the new yard to build six program icebreakers for the Canadian Coast Guard.According to the Government of Canada…

19 Jan 2018

Congressional, Maritime Leaders Support Jones Act on the Hill

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation held a hearing Wednesday on “The State of the U.S. Flag Maritime Industry” during which congressional and maritime leaders stressed the importance of the Jones Act. RADM Mark H. Mr. Mr. The Committee and those testifying expressed bipartisan support for the Jones Act and enforcement of the law. “In order for us to maintain the way of life as we know it as a nation that is secure and is able to project power, be it Navy power or commercial power, the Jones Act is intrinsic to that. Congressman Weber likewise noted the need to maintain a strong domestic maritime industry and the importance of the Jones Act.

25 Aug 2016

MN100: TPG Marine Enterprises, LLC

(Photo: TPG Marine Enterprises, LLC)

TPG Marine Enterprises, LLC is an operations, logistics and consulting company that specializes in all aspects of cargo movement on the Inland Waterways System. The firm owns and operates eight facilities in the Midwest and has about 200 employees. TPG Marine has interests in terminals servicing the Ohio, Green and Illinois Rivers along with a shipyard in Chicago. TPG brings innovation, efficiency, professionalism and harbor service/shipyard infrastructure (new dry docks, new cranes, new boats, and SOTA cleaning equipment to inland rivers facilities.

13 Jun 2016

RINA Awards First Green Ship Recycling Certificate in India

In line with the growing interest in green recycling, RINA Services recently awarded its first ISO 30000:2009 certificate and HKC Statement of Compliance (SoC) in Alang, India to Shubh Arya Steel, on 28th April 2016. Shubh Arya Steel, a ship recycling yard in Alang, made substantial investments in infrastructure in order to meet the requirements of IMO’s Hong Kong Convention for the safe and environmentally sound recycling of ships. The company implemented a management system to meet the requirements of ISO 9001: 2008, ISO 14001: 2004, OHSAS 18001: 2007 and ISO 30000:2009 standards and HKC SoC. There has been a recent spike in shipyard owners making substantial investments to upgrade their yard’s infrastructure to meet the requirements of this Convention…

18 Apr 2016

MARAD Grants $4.9 Million for US Shipyards

Photo: Chesapeake Shipbuilding

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) today awarded $4.9 million in grants to support capital improvements at nine small shipyards located throughout the United States. Provided through the Small Shipyard Grant Program, the funding supports industrial modernizations that increase productivity, allowing our Nation’s small shipyards to compete more effectively in the global marketplace. “Small shipyard grants do more than just improve shipyard infrastructure and equipment or add to the bottom line,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx.

02 Sep 2015

US Navy Awards $22mln Waterfront Inspection Deal

The U.S. Navy has awarded a five-year, $22 million contract to Appledore Marine Engineering, a specialist focusing exclusively on the inspection and design of marine infrastructure, for waterfront inspection services. The contract covers Region 4, which includes the Northwest, Alaska, and all Pacific U.S. Territories including Guam, Wake Island, American Samoa, Midway Island and others. “Our task with this contract is to assure operational readiness for the naval facilities in this vast region,” said Noah Elwood, President of Appledore Marine Engineering. Appledore’s team of in-house engineer-divers will perform underwater and above water inspections along with material condition assessments on the installations waterfront structures including dry docks…

20 Mar 2012

U.S. Provides $9.98 Million to Strengthen Shipyard Competitiveness

Ray LaHood

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced $9.98 million in grants to 15 small shipyards throughout the United States to pay for modernizations which will increase productivity and help the country’s small shipyards compete in the global marketplace. “In cities and towns across America, shipyards are creating jobs and keeping our nation's economy growing," said Secretary LaHood. The U.S. Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) Small Shipyard Grants Program provides equipment and technical skills training for America’s maritime workforce…

03 Mar 2008

Royal Haskoning Buys First Marine

Royal Haskoning acquired First Marine International to develop and expand its services towards the upper end of the supply chain. First Marine International has worked alongside Royal Haskoning on numerous projects over the past 10 years. First Marine International is an independent specialist consultancy providing high level expert advice within the shipbuilding and ship repair sectors. The company currently has a team of 12 experienced consultants working on projects around the world including Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Americas.

07 Aug 2002

MarAd’s Schubert: Building a Better U.S. Business

In part one of a two-part series, William G. Schubert, the new U.S. Maritime Administrator (MarAd) speaks with H. Clayton Cook, Jr. about the current standing and future direction of maritime activities in the United States. Mr. Administrator, this interview is being conducted for a piece that will be published in the August 2002 issue of Maritime Reporter and Engineering News, the largest magazine of general circulation in the maritime community. So, we have a good many readers who are interested in what you are doing. Your interview will be headlined on the magazine cover. And, we are very pleased that you have agreed to speak with us today. Cook: Would you tell our readers about yourself and life in Washington as the Maritime Administrator?