Gene Caldwell News

Timing, they say, is everything. Cliché, for sure, but BAE System’s strategic decision a few years ago to buy, invest and reinvigorate newbuild and repair operations in Mobile, Alabama, seems poised to pay off handsomely as the U.S. maritime market faces a historic rebound. As the energy profile of the United States changes, so too do the prospects for it commercial shipbuilding and repair sector, which virtually overnight has enjoyed an influx of new construction orders and general maritime business.

BAE Systems’ shipyard in Alabama has begun construction on the first of two platform supply vessels (PSVs) for GulfMark Americas, Inc. Executives and employees from both companies gathered recently at the BAE Systems’ facility in Mobile to oversee the initial cutting of steel for the vessel’s first module, which is expected to be delivered in the second half of 2014. The BAE Systems-built 300-Class Green DP2 vessels are designed by MMC Ship Design & Marine Consulting, Ltd. of Poland and will be based on similar PSVs currently under construction for GulfMark abroad. The new vessels will be U.S. flagged and will support the anticipated future demand in the Gulf of Mexico offshore market, as well as other areas around the world.

America's Bay Shipbuilding Co. vice president and general manager, Gene Caldwell, has left the company for personal reasons. Caldwell’s leave was confirmed by Rachel Krummen, human resources manager for Bay Shipbuilding/Fincantieri in Sturgeon Bay. Bay Shipbuilding’s current director of contract services, Todd Thayse, will be acting vice president and general manager, she said. No further information regarding staff changes was immediately available. Bay Shipbuilding employs about 500 people. Fincantieri welcomed Caldwell two years ago on Aug. 2, 2010, as the new general manager after replacing longtime local manager Pat O’Hern.

Fincantieri Marine Group (FMG) announced that its Bay Shipbuilding Company started steel-cutting on two 92.4-meter (303’) platform supply vessels (PSVs), of the MMC 887 LH PSV Design from MMC Ship Design of Poland, for New Orleans, La.-based Tidewater Marine, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tidewater Inc. The deepwater PSVs are state-of-the-art diesel-electric Z-drive propulsion vessels with redundant dynamic positioning (DPS-2), polar class 7 (Ice Class PC 7), firefighting class 2 (Firefighting Vessel Class 2), and ENVIRO ABS notations.

The Administration’s proposal to slash the Great Lakes dredging budget by 32 percent in FY12 has the Great Lakes shipping industry declaring a State of Emergency. The Administration’s proposed appropriation for Lakes dredging next year will remove the smallest amount of sediment since the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers started keeping records more than half a century ago. As a result, only 11 of the 83 U.S ports on the Great Lakes will be dredged. “Never in my 51 years in this industry have I seen such a total abandonment of the Federal government’s responsibility to maintain the Great Lakes Navigation System,” said John D. Baker, President of Great Lakes Maritime Task Force, the largest labor/management coalition ever to promote shipping on America’s Fourth Sea Coast.

A commitment to ending the dredging crisis on the Great Lakes has earned Congresswoman Candice Miller (R-MI) an award as 2011 Great Lakes Legislator of the Year from the largest labor/management coalition representing workers and industries dependent on shipping on America’s Fourth Sea Coast. Rep. Miller, who represents Michigan’s 10th District in the House of Representatives, will formally receive the award from Great Lakes Maritime Task orce (“GLMTF”) in Washington on February 9.

According to the Great Lakes Maritime Task Force, Russia’s decision to suspend grain exports has ships throughout the world steering for the Great Lakes to load wheat and other staples. However, the Great Lakes Navigation System has unused capacity and can meet this unexpected demand. “Grain shipments through the Seaway in September increased 68 percent compared to a year ago,” said James H.I. Weakley, President of Great Lakes Maritime Task Force, the largest labor/management coalition ever to promote waterborne commerce via the Lakes/Seaway system. The surge in grain shipments is forecast to last until the St. Lawrence Seaway closes toward the end of December, and then could well resume in the spring.

Marinette Marine Corporation (MMC) a Fincantieri company, welcomes Gene Caldwell as the new Vice President and General Manager of Bay Shipbuilding Company, a member of the Fincantieri Marine Group. Caldwell’s resume includes shipbuilding experience in multiple facets of the Ship Building Industry including vessel and rig repair, new commercial and government vessel construction, project management, contract negotiation, sales & marketing, safety, QA/QC and financial reporting. Prior to joining FMG, he held a senior management position with Signal International, LLC.