National Harbor News

Louisiana-based boat builder Metal Shark has unveiled Prowler, its new autonomous, amphibious, and semi-submersible military craft engineered to meet the current and near future warfighting requirements of the U.S. military and its allies. The company is also debuting Frenzy, a high-performance, low-cost, amphibious micro-USV (uncrewed surface vehicle) with a payload carrying capacity of up to 14 pounds.“Prowler represents the sum total of everything we’ve learned while building 400-plus autonomous and remote operated vessels for our military customers over the past decade…

Brian Cuccias, the retired president of Huntington Ingalls Industries' (NYSE: HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division, accepted the Navy League of the United States' Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz Award today. The Navy League presented the award at the annual Sea-Air-Space exposition in National Harbor, Maryland.The Nimitz award honors an industry leader who has made a major contribution to the nation's maritime strength or enhanced national security. The award committee, appointed by the national president of the Navy League…

Huntington Ingalls Industries, the largest shipbuilder for the U.S. government, said new tariffs on steel and aluminum should not impact the price of its own shipbuilding in the near-term, but does not know if tariffs will raise prices for its suppliers. Huntington's Newport News Shipbuilding yard in Virginia has a multi-year financial agreement that guarantees steady pricing for its steel, known as a hedge, Jennifer Boykin, president of Newport News Shipbuilding in Newport News, Virginia, told reporters on Tuesday at the Sea Air Space Exposition in National Harbor, Maryland.

Matt Mulherin, former executive vice president of Huntington Ingalls Industries and president of Newport News Shipbuilding, was recognized by the United States Navy League today as a 2018 recipient of its annual Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz Award. This award honors an industry leader who has demonstrated the leadership, statesmanship and dedication to the nation that were exhibited by the award’s namesake. Mulherin, who retired from the company in July 2017 after a distinguished 36-year career…

Scania advances into 2018 on the strength of prior year successes and new visibility in one of the North American marine industry’s hottest sectors. In the fourth quarter of 2017, the first two passenger vessels built by Louisiana-based shipbuilder Metal Shark for Entertainment Cruises’ Potomac Riverboat Company division were delivered to Washington, D.C. Both are now in service. The two 88’, 149-passenger high speed aluminum catamaran vessels – the Potomac Taxi I and Potomac Taxi II – departed Metal Shark’s Franklin, La. shipyard and eventually proceeded northward up the Atlantic Coast to Washington. How they got there is less important than what powered the delivery.

The first two passenger vessels built by Louisiana-based shipbuilder Metal Shark for Entertainment Cruises’ Potomac Riverboat Company division have been delivered to Washington, D.C. and are now in service. The  two 88’, 149-passenger high speed aluminum catamaran vessels “Potomac Taxi I” and “Potomac Taxi II” departed Metal Shark’s Franklin, Louisiana shipyard in mid-September, traveled the Gulf of Mexico coastline and crossed Florida via Lake Okeechobee before proceeding northward up the Atlantic coast to Washington, D.C. Powered by twin Scania DI13 081M engines delivering 500 HP at 1800 RPM, the USCG Subchapter T vessels were designed by BMT Designers and Planners and BMT Nigel Gee, and feature an environmentally friendly low wake / low wash hull design.

Louisiana-based shipbuilder Metal Shark said it has been awarded two separate contracts to produce passenger vessels for the Potomac Riverboat Company division of Entertainment Cruises, and for the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority. For the Potomac Riverboat Company, Metal Shark will produce four 88’, high speed/low wake, 149-passenger aluminum catamarans. The new passenger vessels will provide commuters in the Washington DC metro region with service between Old Town Alexandria, Virginia; National Harbor, Maryland; and Georgetown and The Wharf in Washington DC.

Designed to combat below-the-surface terrorism, Sea Wasp is the latest generation remotely operated vehicle (ROV) from defense and security company Saab. Presented at the Navy League’s Sea-Air-Space Exposition in National Harbor, Md., Sea Wasp has been engineered to relocate, identify and neutralize underwater improvised explosive devices (IEDs). While most underwater IED threats are disposed of manually by trained explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) divers, Sea Wasp is operated remotely by two-person teams from the surface, allowing operators to keep a safe distance from the explosives.

She’s tough—capable of punching through 30-foot waves and riptides or smashing into rocks and reefs. But she’s also tender, providing hope to those in peril. Meet EMILY the robotic lifeguard—officially known as the Emergency Integrated Lifesaving Lanyard—a remote-controlled buoy that recently was used to rescue nearly 300 Syrian migrants from drowning in the waters off the Greek island of Lesbos. Created with support from the Office of Naval Research (ONR), several EMILY devices…

For the past 15 years, the Department of the Navy’s “Forum for SBIR/STTR Transition” (FST) – the nation’s premier small business technology venue – takes a major step forward in allying with the Navy League’s Sea-Air-Space Exposition (S-A-S) on 16-18 May 2016 at the Gaylord National Harbor near Washington, D.C. “Our collaboration with the Navy League marries the most significant large and small business marketplaces for defense technology, with our respective policy venues that have consistently attracted top Congressional leaders…

Irwin F. Edenzon, the retired president of Huntington Ingalls Industries' (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division, accepted the Navy League of the United States' Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz Award last night. The Navy League presented the award at the annual Sea-Air-Space Black Tie Reception and Banquet at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland. The Nimitz award honors an industry leader who has made a major contribution to the nation's maritime strength or enhanced national security.

Retlif Testing Laboratories, a strategic compliance organization and independent testing laboratory, has received the Cogswell Outstanding Industrial Security Achievement Award from Defense Security Service (DSS). Presented at the annual National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS) training seminar at National Harbor, Maryland, the Cogswell Award recognizes industrial security excellence and outstanding achievement in matters related exclusively to a facility’s security program.

The Great Lakes shipping industry is calling on Congress to quickly pass the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) approved by the House/Senate conference committee. The bill contains provisions that will significantly reduce the dredging backlog on the Great Lakes by increasing the amount of tax dollars the government spends on maintaining deep-draft ports and waterways and designating the Great Lakes a “navigation system” for the purposes of maintenance dredging. “It is critical that Congress move this bill now,” said James H.I Weakley, President of Great Lakes Maritime Task Force (GLMTF), the largest labor/management coalition ever to represent shipping on the Lakes. “More than 18 million cubic yards of sediment clog the Great Lakes Navigation System.

Monday, April 7, 2014, at the Sea Air Space Exposition at the Gaylord National Convention Center - National Harbor, MD, Brian D’Isernia, Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc’s president, was presented a NYC Firefighter Plate which honors the 343 NYC firefighters who sacrificed their lives during the 9/11 World Trade Center disaster. Presenting at Eastern’s booth was Jim Carney with the JCarney Company, a retired NYC Firefighter and Kevin Traver, Staff Vice President of Corporate Affairs for the Navy League of the United States.

Leading officials from the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard spoke about operating forward and being partners with global presence at the 2014 Navy League Sea-Air-Space Exposition at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md., April 7. The Sea-Air-Space Expo is an annual event that brings together key military decision makers, the U.S. defense industrial base and private-sector U.S. companies for an innovative and educational maritime based event. Vice Adm. Michelle Howard, deputy chief of naval operations for Operations, Plans, and Strategy, delivered opening remarks. "It's my pleasure to sit with such a group of, not just distinguished panelists, but in many cases good friends," said Howard.

The Coast Guard Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to the education and welfare of all Coast Guard members and their families, recognized its Commander Daniel J. Christovich Scholarship awardees and 2013 college graduates at its recent 9th Annual Tribute to the United States Coast Guard in Washington DC. The Daniel J. Christovich Scholarship is generously funded by Lisa Kazor Christovich in honor of her husband's distinguished career in the Coast Guard. The scholars honored at the dinner were Joseph "Joey" Heimburger of Gloucester…

On April 10, 2013 the American Shipbuilding Suppliers Association (ASSA) hosted a roundtable discussion between 35 representatives from member companies; the Honorable Sean Stackley, assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development & acquisition (ASN RD&A); and Elliott Branch, deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for acquisition and procurement (DASN AP). Member companies raised concerns related to timely issues such as FY13 and FY14 budgets, foreign competition, contracting timeliness…

On April 10, 2013 the American Shipbuilding Suppliers Association (ASSA) is hosting a roundtable discussion between member companies and the Honorable Sean Stackley, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Research, Development & Acquisition (ASN RD&A). ASSA will discuss major issues affecting the entire shipbuilding supplier industry with Secretary Stackley. This members only meeting is collocated (but unaffiliated) with the United States Navy League Sea Air Space Expo 2013 at the Gaylord Hotel in National Harbor, Maryland.

Concurrent Technologies Corporation (CTC) to showcase technologies at Navy League's upcoming Sea-Air-Space Exposition. CTC is an independent, nonprofit, applied scientific research and development professional services organization providing innovative management and technology-based solutions to government and industry. The organization will highlight a number of innovative technologies and solutions that have assisted, and will continue to assist, the Navy League with their mission of maritime policy education and sea service support. •    Laser Coatings Removal System. CTC's award-winning laser coatings removal system uses a continuous wave laser to strip paint and other coatings from aircraft.

GE Marine’s General Manager, Brien Bolsinger, participated in a panel during the United States Navy League’s Sea Air Space industry exposition held recently in National Harbor, Maryland. Bolsinger discussed how GE’s LM aeroderivative gas turbines can help the United States Navy keep ship power costs effective, while employing modern technologies. During the panel session, Obsolescence: From Design to Modernization* held on April 17, Bolsinger indicated he believes the U.S. Select equipment with total ownership cost (TOC) weighted more heavily than acquisition price.

Goodrich Corporation will display its advanced marine composite products and acoustic materials at the Navy League's annual Sea-Air-Space Exposition at National Harbor, Md. April 16-18. The exposition brings the U.S. defense industrial base, private-sector U.S. companies and key military decision makers together for an annual innovative, educational, professional and maritime-based event. Goodrich's Engineered Polymer Products (EPP) business in Jacksonville, Fla. delivered its 336th sonar dome rubber window (SDRW) to the U.S. Navy on Jan 9, 2012. EPP, part of Goodrich's Aerostructures business, has been the exclusive supplier of sonar domes to a variety of U.S. Navy and allied navy vessels for more than 40 years.

Collisions between powered and non-powered personal watercraft (PWC) and sail or powered craft (SPC) are a serious concern for professional mariners and recreational boaters alike. USCG statistics show that in recent years, collisions with a recreational vessel have consistently ranked as the leading primary marine accident type. The topic of collisions will be explored at a three-day symposium April 3-5, which brings marine professionals and historians together in National Harbor…

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. – Today at the Navy League Sea Air Space Exposition, BAE Systems announced it has delivered two production units of the U.S. Navy’s primary shipboard intelligence system for U.S. naval forces, providing significantly greater intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and targeting capability over legacy systems. The first BAE Systems-built production system of the Distributed Common Ground System-Navy (DCGS-N), is currently being installed onboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) in Norfolk, Va. The second system was delivered to the government for immediate shipment to the USS George Washington (CVN 73) in Yokosuka, Japan.