YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan - A bigger, more networked Navy, equipped with the latest weapons systems is needed to deal with security threats like North Korea, CNO Adm. John Richardson told sailors Dec. 19 aboard the USS Ronald Reagan at Yokosuka Naval Base. CNO was wrapping up a tour that included visits to Hawaii, South Korea and other U.S. military facilities in Japan. CNO said the Navy is taking steps to increase naval power, including building more ships. The Navy has a long-term goal of expanding to about 350,000 sailors to meet a 355-ship goal set by President Trump. The Navy currently has some 322,000 sailors and 277 vessels. “There is a near unanimous consensus that we need more naval power than we have now.” He also said the service is exploring newer weapons systems to make ships more lethal. (Source: Stars and Stripes 12/19/17) Gulf Coast Note: Along the Gulf Coast there are several major shipbuilders for the Navy. Austal USA is the prime contractor for two major Navy shipbuilding programs: Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) and the Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF). Both are currently under production at Austal USA’s Mobile, Ala., shipyard. Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Ingalls shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Miss., is the builder-of-record for 35 Aegis DDG 51 class guided missile destroyers, LHA 6 class large deck amphibious ships, National Security Cutters for the Coast Guard, and sole builder of the Navy’s fleet of San Antonio (LPD 17) class amphibious assault ships. The Jeanerette, La.-based shipbuilder Metal Shark was awarded a contract in October to produce the Navy’s next-generation patrol boat, the PB(X). The Navy placed an initial order for 11. It’s the second major Navy contract for MS in 2017. In June, MS was selected to build up to 13 Near Coastal Patrol Vessels (NCPVs). Those patrol boats are being produced at Metal Shark’s Franklin, La., shipyard.
Shipbuilding and maritime related news from the Central Gulf Coast region
