Emerging shipbuild ‘readiness divot’

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. – American and Canadian naval officers and industry leaders looked forward to more coordination and better times for shipbuilding, according to Vice. Adm. William Merz, a panelist in “The Future of Shipbuilding” program May 7 at Sea-Air-Space conference. The shipbuilding process was only recently coming out of a four decade “readiness divot” where the U.S. had been flirting dangerously with a shrinking fleet for more than 40 years, the 3-star flag officer said. Fellow panelist, Rear Adm. Casper Donovan of the Royal Canadian Navy, gave insight into Canada’s 20-year shipbuilding program. “For the first time, we have a long-term shipbuilding strategy,” Donovan remarked. Sequestration was a major topic of discussion among panelists. FYs 2019-20 may helping the U.S. Navy turn the corner, said Merz. The FY-20 shipbuilding plan that is “now on the streets” and it stresses adaptability, efficiency and agility among several programs. For the Coast Guard, its 6/3/1 cutter construction strategy is well underway, which fits under the National Defense Strategy, said another panelist, Coast Guard Rear Adm. Douglas Schofield. “We’re finally recapitalizing a good portion of the Coast Guard fleet,” he told the audience at a panel discussion moderated by Matt Paxton, president of the Shipbuilders Council of America. Everyone agreed that the “boom/bust” cycle hurts shipyards and private industry, because when shipyards stand down from military construction, it’s very hard to re-engage without lost time and expertise. (Source: Seapower Magazine 05/08/19) Gulf Coast Notes: The CG’s program of record calls for buying eight National Security Cutters (NSCs), 25 Offshore Patrol Cutters, and 58 Fast Response Cutters (FRCs) as replacements for 90 aging cutters. The CG’s proposed FY-20 budget requests a total of $657M for the NSC, OPC, and FRC programs. HII-Pascagoula, Miss., has delivered eight Legend-class NSCs and has one under construction and two under contract. The CG awarded detail design for 25 Offshore Patrol Cutter to Eastern Shipbuilding Group of Panama City, Fla. The CG has ordered 50 FRCs to date. Thirty-two are in service. Bollinger Shipyards of Lockport, La., has successfully utilized this parent craft design model to deliver over 138 patrol boats to the CG and Navy since 1985. In March, Bollinger delivered USCGC Joseph Doyle, the 33rd FRC to the CG.