Marinette Marine News

Saildrone has announced its newest platform, Spectre. At 52 meters (170 feet) long, weighing 250 tonnes, and capable of up to 30 knots, Spectre is a high-endurance USV designed to deliver multi-mission effects above and below the surface. Spectre’s design is engineered from the keel up for long-range, quiet, persistent operations.Spectre is Saildrone’s largest, fastest, and most capable platform to date.The US Navy is facing unprecedented challenges in maintaining maritime superiority across numerous regional hotspots simultaneously, says the company.

Fincantieri Marinette Marine (FMM) appointed former U.S. ambassador to Norway and the 77th Secretary of the Navy, Kenneth J. Braithwaite, as Chairman of their Board of Directors. Braithwaite brings a career in defense and public service to the role, as well as deep Navy ties. He is a 1984 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and earned a master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania. His active naval service included time as a naval aviator flying anti-submarine missions in the Pacific and Arctic…

Fincantieri and the U.S. Navy have reached an agreement to redefine the future of the Constellation-class frigate program, ensuring work continues on the first two ships while cancelling four later units as part of a wider fleet review.The shift follows the Navy’s overhaul of its force-structure plans and aligns with new priorities aimed at accelerating next-generation ship designs and revitalizing segments such as icebreakers, amphibious platforms and special-mission vessels.Fincantieri…

The military and Coast Guard budgets are established that will benefit the U.S. ship building and repair sector, but what will stimulate the commercial yards?This author has been scratching his head of late, after a thrilling dive into July’s U.S. Big Beautiful Bill Act, and has asked several colleagues where the funding for support commercial shipbuilding can be found? To answer that, we need to look elsewhere and to future programs.Setting the SceneMany column inches have been dedicated to the decline U.S. shipbuilding, whether signaled by the relatively small presence of a U.S.

The Coast Guard (including its heritage services) have employed boats since the beginning. Boats are just as important, if not more so, than ever.America’s first “boat force” came about in 1878, with the creation of the United States Life Saving Service (USLSS), whose boat crews rescued mariners in distress along the nation’s coast line. In 1915, the USLSS merged with the United States Revenue Cutter Service (established in 1790) to form the modern-day United States Coast Guard.

Officials at Fincantieri Marinette Marine hosted University of Wisconsin-Madison Chancellor Jennifer L. Mnookin and members of her team on May 2 in the Marinette shipyard, 50 miles north of Green Bay.The purpose of the visit was to update the chancellor on the international internship program Fincantieri started last year with engineering students at University of Wisconsin–Madison.FMM’s leader, Jan Allman, was joined by Fincantieri Marine Group CEO, Marco Galbiati, and together…

Fincantieri Marinette Marine’s Board of Directors approved Jan Allman to assume the duties as FMM’s CEO beginning this week. Current FMM CEO Mark Vandroff is returning to Fincantieri Marine Group in a new role as the Senior Vice President of Government Relations in Washington D.C.Allman is quite familiar with Fincantieri operations in Northeast Wisconsin, as she has served as the VP and General Manager of Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding since April 2023, and previously served as…

Fincantieri Marinette Marine (FMM) will receive $3 million from the State of Wisconsin to improve marine infrastructure along the Menominee River where the company builds surface combatant ships for the U.S. Navy.Governor Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation announced today that five in-state projects will receive more than $10 million in Harbor Assistance Program grants. These grants are intended to strengthen supply chain reliability, support waterborne freight and assist with economic development of Wisconsin’s coastal communities.

While the U.S. Navy’s first Constellation-Class Frigate (FFG 62) is under construction in the United States, Norway is showing serious interest in the guided-missile frigate, as well as bolstering its longstanding strategic partnership with America.Last week Norwegian Minister of Defence, Mr. Bjørn Arild Gram, released a statement confirming that Norway is considering the Constellation-Class Frigate, as well as three other designs from outside the country. Norway is interested in procuring five or six ships…

The U.S. Navy will commission the future USS Beloit (LCS 29), a Freedom-variant littoral combat ship, on Nov. 23, 2024, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.As the ship’s sponsor, retired Army Maj. Gen. Marcia M. Anderson will lead the time-honored Navy tradition of giving the order during the ceremony to “Man our ship and bring her to life!” At that moment, the commissioning pennant is hoisted, and the Beloit becomes a proud ship of the fleet.Following its commissioning, the Beloit will depart Milwaukee for its homeport assignment of Naval Station Mayport in Jacksonville…

The U.S. Navy announced it has accepted delivery of the second-to-last Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), the future USS Beloit (LCS 29), from Lockheed Martin at the Fincantieri Marinette Marine shipyard in Marinette, Wis, on September 30.The 15th Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ship and the 29th in the LCS class, Beloit is the first Navy warship named in honor of the city of Beloit, Wis.“Beloit is another shining example of what it means to finish strong,” said Capt. Matthew Lehmann, program manager of the Littoral Combat Ship program office.

The U.S. Navy on Monday accepted delivery of the future USS Nantucket (LCS 27) from the Fincantieri Marinette Marine shipyard in Marinette, Wis.Delivery of the latest Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) follows the successful completion of Acceptance Trials in December 2023. Nantucket will commission later this year, and will be homeported in Mayport, Fla.“The future USS Nantucket serves as a shining example of the perseverance of the United States maritime industrial base and shows that the partnership we have with industry is built to last,” said Capt.

The Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA), the national association representing the U.S. shipbuilding, maintenance and repair industry, today announced its annual member safety awards for the 2023 calendar year. This year, 18 shipyards are receiving awards for their achievements in safety. “Safety isn't just a priority; it's a fundamental pillar of our industrial base. These awards not only recognize excellence in safety practices but also show our industry's dedication to ensuring every worker returns home safely each day.

The U.S. Department of Defense announced that Fincantieri Marinette Marine was awarded a contract valued at more than $1 billion to build the fifth and sixth Constellation-class Frigates for the U.S. Navy. FMM received the contract for the lead ship of the Constellation-Class in April 2020, and the Navy has since exercised five options for follow-on vessels. This two-ship option, for FFG 66 and FFG 67, is valued at $1,044,529,113, the Pentagon said.Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro announced this week that FFG-66 will be named USS Hamilton.

A new union deal aims to help bolster the workforce of the U.S. Navy shipbuilding and repair industrial base, which has struggled alongside many other sectors to attract and retain the volume of employees needed to achieve efficient operations.The International Brotherhood of Boilermakers (IBB) and the Bartlett Maritime Corporation (BMC) have signed an agreement as part of ongoing efforts to mobilize skilled workers across the Midwest in support of critical Navy programs.It permits…

The U.S. Navy on Friday celebrated the keel laying of the lead ship of the Constellation class of guided-missile frigates, the future USS Constellation (FFG 62), at the Fincantieri Marinette Marine shipyard in Marinette, Wis.Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti participated in the ceremony along with Wisconsin governor Tony Evers and Fincantieri Marine Group CEO Marco Galbiati.Hundreds of FMM shipbuilders gathered with guests inside the shipyard’s massive new climate-controlled Building 34…

Virginia-class submarines, an aircraft carrier and frigates being built for the U.S. Navy are now years behind schedule because of skilled labor shortages, design issues, and supply chain challenges stemming from the pandemic, the Navy said on Tuesday.U.S. Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro in January ordered a comprehensive review to examine national and local causes of the challenges to shipbuilding with Tuesday's results showing that five classes of ships being built for the U.S.

This spring, Fincantieri Marine Repair (FMR) is expanding its presence to the Port of Everett with a new facility to support U.S. Navy assets.On March 12, the Port of Everett Commission unanimously approved a new one-year lease to establish an FMR office at the Port’s Marina Village at Waterfront Place.The U.S. Navy plans to homeport up to 12 new Constellation-class guided-missile frigates at Naval Station Everett, adjacent to the Port of Everett’s international Seaport. The FMR…

Fincantieri Marinette Marine dedicated its new blast and paint facility in Marinette, Wis. on December 5, 2023.Fincantieri CEO Pierroberto Folgiero and Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers were present to help cut the ribbon on the new facility where shipbuilders will efficiently prepare and paint large portions of Constellation-class frigates prior to final construction. Fincantieri Marinette Marine is on contract to build the lead ship and three additional vessels, with additional options for six more frigates.The 25,000 sq.ft.

Pearlson Shiplift Corporation, a subsidiary of The Pearlson Group, announced it has been awarded a multimillion-dollar contract to deliver a large capacity upgrade and extension for Australian Naval Infrastructure (ANI) in Osborne, South Australia.The works will be installed by McConnell Dowell, one of the largest construction companies in the region. Once completed later this year, Pearlson Shiplift Corporation will recommission ANI’s shiplift system as the largest in the Southern Hemisphere.“We are honored to be awarded this project - the largest in the region.

The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship (LCS) USS Milwaukee (LCS 5) has been decommissioned after less than eight years of naval service.The U.S. Navy has been scrapping its fleet of littoral combat ships—including both its Freedom and Independence variants. The latest to get the axe, USS Milwaukee, was decommissioned in Mayport, Fla. on September 8.During the ceremony guest speaker, Vice Adm. Dirk Debbink (USN, Ret), former chairman of Milwaukee’s commissioning committee wished…

The Shearer Group, Inc. (TSGI) announced Mitchell Levi has joined its naval architecture, marine engineering, and marine surveying firm as a naval architect. He holds a Master of Science and a Bachelor of Science in Engineering in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from the University of Michigan. For his undergraduate research, Levi examined the highly coupled relationships between propulsion loads and cooling systems.While studying at the University of Michigan, Levi completed internships at TSGI, the American Bureau of Shipping and Fincantieri Marinette Marine.

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.