Vic Rhoades 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 has begun construction on the first of two dump scows for Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company. Employees and executives from both companies gathered yesterday for a ceremony to mark the start of construction for the first module, which will weigh approximately 87 tons. When complete, the entire first vessel will weigh about 1,600 tons and measure 295 feet long and 62 feet wide, with a draft of 17 feet. The second vessel, which is scheduled to start in January, will be of the same dimensions and capacity. Both 7,500-cubic-yard, split bottom dump scows will be used to support U.S.

1 of 7 Navy Ships under construction at Austal USA. On October 1, 2012, Austal USA successfully completed the launch process of the second Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV), the recently christened USNS Choctaw County (JHSV 2). This 103-meter high-speed catamaran represents the U.S. Department of Defense’s next generation multi-use platform. It is part of a 10-ship program potentially worth over US$1.6 billion. Brian Leathers, Austal USA Interim President and Chief Financial Officer commented, “This is the ship’s first voyage, one of many in its future.

BAE Systems Southeast Shipyards Alabama wins Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co. The announcement came at the christening of the American Phoenix, a 616-foot-long, 105-foot-wide chemical tanker that BAE built for owner Mid-Ocean Tanker Company LLC of South Norwalk, Conn., a joint venture between private equity firm Alterna Capital Partners and Mid-Ocean Marine, a shipping company also based in South Norwalk. BAE Systems said the shipyard has picked up a contract from Illinois-based Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co., to build two dump scows, a project that is expected to add about 125 workers to the company's Mobile shipyard. Vic Rhoades…

BAE Systems has begun construction on the MV Magdalen, an 8,500 cubic yard capacity trailing suction hopper dredge for Weeks Marine, Inc. Executives from the two companies gathered this week at the BAE Systems Mobile shipyard to oversee the initial cutting of steel for the vessel’s first module, which will weigh 130 tons. When complete in 2014, the entire vessel will measure 340 feet long and 79 feet wide, with a draft of 27 feet. “A tremendous amount of effort has led us to this point,” said Vic Rhoades, director and general manager at BAE Systems Southeast Shipyards Alabama.

Demonstrating its growing presence in the defence and vessel support markets, Austal’s US operation has been awarded a subcontract by BAE Systems to provide structural maintenance services for “Sea Fighter” (FSF-1), a US Navy Research Vessel which is used for advanced technology demonstrations. The vessel is a 79.9 metre high-speed aluminium catamaran, designed to operate at speeds in excess of 50 knots. It is operated by Great Eastern Group for the Office of Naval Research. Austal’s Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Bellamy, said the contract was in line with key company strategies to expand its defence and vessel support businesses. “This contract is further recognition from the defence community that our core skills add value in the in-service support phase.

Mid Ocean Tanker Company, a joint venture of private equity firm Alterna Capital Partners and Mid Ocean Marine, has contracted with BAE Systems Southeast Shipyards in Mobile, Ala. for work required to launch MOTC’s 49,000dwt US Flag/Jones Act product-chemical tanker MV American Phoenix. MOTC acquired the vessel from the estate of American Heavy Lift in February of this year, and intends to complete it for service in US coastwise trade by late 2011 or early 2012. MOTC has worked closely with BAE Systems Southeast Shipyards…