Marinette Marine Corporation News

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.

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)…

Richard McCreary was appointed president of Hendry Marine's Tampa, Fla. repair yard Gulf Marine Repair, effective January 31, 2022. He succeeds John Gallagher, who had served as president since 2019 and is retiring.McCreary comes to Gulf Marine Repair from Vigor Works, LLC, where he was vice president of business development. He has also held executive positions at BAE Systems, Marinette Marine Corporation, VT Halter Marine and other shipbuilders in a career spanning five decades.

The U.S. Navy decommissioned the mine countermeasures ship USS Champion (MCM 4) during a ceremony at Naval Base San Diego on Tuesday.Due to public health safety and restrictions of large public events related to the novel coronavirus pandemic, plankowners and former crew members of the Avenger-class ship virtually celebrated its distinguished history.Commander, Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center, Rear Adm. Scott Robertson was the guest speaker, with Capt. Hank Kim…

Small shipyards in the U.S. are critical to the nation’s maritime operations and economic security. Typically family-owned and employing less than 1,200 workers, America’s small shipyards support more than 400,000 jobs, employ more than 100,000 Americans directly and contribute tens of billions in gross domestic product, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD).In an effort to help support these vital assets, MARAD’s Small Shipyard Grant Program provides funds to help drive efficiency…

Former Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead was elected as the chairman of the board of directors of Fincantieri Marinette Marine Corporation July 10.Roughead was the 29th Chief of Naval Operations from 2007 - 2011, after holding six operational commands. He is one of only two officers in the history of the Navy to have commanded both the U.S. Atlantic and Pacific Fleets.Roughead served in several key positions aside from his sea duties, most notably as the commandant of the U.S.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) announced $19.6 million in grants to support capital improvements at 28 U.S. small shipyards as a part of its Small Shipyard Grant program. The grants enable small shipyards to modernize equipment and processes to fuel future growth. “These grants help create jobs in America’s small shipyards, which play a significant role in our country’s maritime sector,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao.In 2013, U.S. shipbuilders produced $37.3 billion in gross domestic product.

One of the U.S. Navy’s newest Freedom variant littoral combat ships (LCS) completed its final significant milestone before its scheduled summer delivery with the conclusion of acceptance trials at the end of May.On May 25, the future USS Sioux City (LCS 11) wrapped up a series of graded in-port and underway demonstrations on the Great Lakes for the Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey. During the trial, the Navy conducted comprehensive tests intended to demonstrate the performance of the propulsion plant…

The U.S. Navy’s newest Freedom-variant littoral combat ship has finally reached its homeport in Mayport, Fla. after a winter trapped in the icy north. Built at the Marinette Marine Corporation shipyard in Marinette, Wisc., the USS Little Rock (LCS 9) was scheduled to sail for its Florida homeport following a December 2017 commissioning ceremony in Buffalo, N.Y., but worse-than-expected ice conditions in the St. Lawrence Seaway delayed the homeward voyage and forced the ship to wait out the rest of the winter in Montreal.

The U.S. Navy officially welcomed its newest littoral combat ship into its fleet during a December 16 commissioning ceremony in Buffalo, N.Y. Constructed at Marinette Marine Corporation, Marinette, Wisc., USS Little Rock (LCS 9) is the Navy’s fifth freedom-variant LCS. The fast, shallow draft vessel has a modular design capable of implementing a variety of mission packages as an asset to the fleet in both the shallow coastal regions as well trans-Atlantic service. The ship was commissioned next to the first USS Little Rock, a Galveston-class guided missile cruiser (CLG 4).

Fairbanks Morse said it has been selected to build and deliver the main propulsion diesel engines (MPDE) that will power the U.S. Navy’s newest Freedom class Littoral Combat Ship, LCS 27. Construction of the engines will begin later this year, and they are scheduled to be delivered in 2019 to Marinette Marine Corporation in Marinette, Wis., where the new warship is being built. The engine manufacturer will then support installation and testing including sea trials for the vessel. The two 16-cylinder Colt-Pielstick PA6B STC diesel engines will deliver over 12 MW of propulsion power and are among the largest medium speed diesel engines manufactured in the U.S. The U.S.

Nearly 6,500 people gathered in front of the General Motors building at the Port of Detroit for the commissioning ceremony for the U.S. Navy’s new Freedom-variant littoral combat ship (LCS), USS Detroit (LCS 7), on October 22, when the ship was officially placed in commission by Adm. Phil Davidson, commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command. “When a ship is commissioned she is placed in service of the American people and is given the charge to do one thing: to execute the Navy's mission – to be prepared to conduct prompt, sustained combat incident to operations at sea,” Davidson said.

A keel laying ceremony was held Monday for the U.S. Navy’s future USS Billings (LCS 15) at Marinette Marine Corporation shipyard in Wisconsin. Sharla Tester, Billings' sponsor and wife of Sen. Jon Tester, authenticated the ship's keel. As the ship's sponsor, Tester serves as an advocate and honorary member of the crew. "Much like her namesake city, the future USS Billings stands as a testament to the spirit of the American pioneers. She will be a pillar of strength in an uncertain world," said Capt. Tom Anderson, LCS program manager.

Krill Systems Inc., leader in advanced Vessel Fuel Measurement and Monitoring Systems (VFMMS), installated and conducted sea trial on-board the NOAA Ship Reuben Lasker. The NOAA Ship Reuben Lasker is the fifth in a series of Fishery Survey Vessels (FSV) and one of the most technologically advanced fisheries vessels in the world. Funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and built by Marinette Marine Corporation in Wisconsin, the ship’s primary objective is to support fish, marine mammal, and turtle surveys off the U.S. West Coast and in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. Reuben Lasker is classed as a Fishery Survey Vessel (FSV). All FSVs are American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) Ice Classed "C0".

The Navy’s newest littoral combat ship (LCS), the future USS Little Rock (LCS 9), will be christened Saturday, July 18, during a 10 a.m. CDT ceremony at Marinette Marine Corporation's shipyard in Marinette, Wisconsin. The event will be webcast live at http://navylive.dodlive.mil under the webcast section. The Honorable Ray Mabus, secretary of the Navy will deliver the ceremony’s principal address. Janée L. Bonner, spouse of the Honorable Josiah “Jo” Bonner, former U.S. representative of Alabama, is the ship’s sponsor. Bonner will officially christen the ship Little Rock. "The christening of the future USS Little Rock is a celebration of our incredible shipbuilding industry and the men and women who worked so hard to build this great ship," said Mabus.

The Lockheed Martin-led industry team officially laid the keel for the U.S. Navy's 13th Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), the future USS Wichita, in a ceremony held at Marinette Marine Corporation in Marinette, Wisconsin, today. Ship sponsor Kate Staples Lehrer completed the time-honored tradition and authenticated the keel of Wichita (LCS 13). Lehrer had her initials welded into a sheet of the ship's steel, which will ultimately be mounted in the ship throughout its entire service.

The Navy will christen littoral combat ship (LCS) Detroit, on Oct. 18 during a ceremony at Marinette Marine Corporation shipyard in Marinette, Wisconsin. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, will deliver the principal address at the ceremony, and Barbara Levin, wife of U.S. Senator Carl Levin (Michigan), will serve as the ship's sponsor. The ceremony will be highlighted by Levin breaking a bottle of champagne across the bow to formally christen the ship, which is a time-honored Navy tradition.

The launch and christening ceremony of LCS 7 (the future USS Detroit) will take place Saturday morning, Oct. 18, at the Marinette Marine Corporation shipyard in Marinette, Wisconsin, where the Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ships are built. The U.S. Navy and the Lockheed Martin-led industry team will launch the seventh Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Detroit at Marinette Marine Corporation (MMC). Before launching the ship into the Menominee River, ship sponsor Barbara Levin will christen the ship with the tradition of smashing a champagne bottle across the ship’s bow.

Fincantieri Marine Group (FMG) subsidiary, Bay Shipbuilding Company (BSC) of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, has been awarded a USCG contract for drydock repairs to the United States Coast Guard Cutter Hollyhock (WLB-21) and a second USCG repair and sustainment contract for the icebreaker Mackinaw (WLBB-30). Hollyhock is a Juniper Class Seagoing Buoy Tender measuring 225-feet long. The Mackinaw is a 240-foot heavy icebreaker for operations on the Great Lakes. Both ships were built by FMG subsidiary, Marinette Marine Corporation (MMC), and launched in January 2003 and November 2005 respectively.

Contract modifications have been issued to Lockheed Martin Corporation and Austal USA under their respective Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) block buy contracts to add funding for construction of two fiscal year 2014 Littoral Combat Ships each, informs the Program Executive Office, Littoral Combat Ships. These are the seventh and eighth ships fully funded for each contractor under its previously-awarded, fixed-price incentive "block buy" contract for the design and construction of up to ten LCS Flight 0+ ships.

Building programs continue, spanning the full range of missions, despite budget concerns. Amidst all the talk of Beltway budget cutbacks and sequestration, the U.S. Coast Guard is quietly investing approximately $30 billion in major acquisition projects to modernize its physical assets. The process of recapitalizing these older and difficult-to-maintain assets has never been an easy task, and the Coast Guard has seen its share of bumps along the way. For example, the initially messy Deepwater debacle initially kicked off what has evolved into today’s more successful recapitalization process, now run by the Coast Guard’s Acquisition Directorate, which stood up in July 2007.

The Coast Guard is alerting residents of ice-breaking activities scheduled to begin Tuesday and last into the weekend. The nearest towns to Pere Marquette Lake are Ludington and Scottville, Mich. The research vessel Sikuliaq is scheduled to transit through Pere Marquette Lake multiple times in order to gain access to Ludington's Occidental Chemical Facility, Feb. 18-22. The vessel has icebreaking capabilities. All ice fishermen should remove their ice shacks and equipment from these areas. Snowmobilers, all-terrain vehicle operators and other recreational users of the ice should plan their activities carefully, avoid shipping channels, and use caution near these areas of operation.

Last month marked the launch of two new Littoral Combat Ships: Milwaukee (LCS 5) launched by Marinette Marine into the icy Menominee River; and Jackson (LCS 6) launched by Austal into the far warmer waters found off of southern Alabama. While the two LCS variants and shipyard climates are a world apart, this innovate U.S. Navy ship production program has the common goal of fortifying U.S. defense interests while spurring investment in the creation of two state-of-the-art ship production facilities. Mid-December in Marinette, Wis., can be described with one word: cold.