GC shipyards adjusting on the fly

As coronavirus impacts spread across America, U.S. shipbuilders, by and large, continue to build. Most have been deemed essential to marine transportation and/or national security, and have maintained operations. But situations around each is different. Some shipbuilders have had to temporarily suspend activity. It’s far from business as usual especially over the months ahead. Shipyard representatives told Marine News they are diligently monitoring the situation and will adjust as necessary. Eastern Shipbuilding of Panama City, Fla., has maintained “full operations building vessels”, Steve Berthold, VP of sales/marketing, told Marine News on March 20. ESC is building the high-profile Offshore Patrol Cutter for the Coast Guard, with the lead vessel scheduled for in 2022. The shipyard is wrapping up work on A. Thomas Higgins, the second of two 80-foot Z-drive tugs for Bisso Offshore. In addition, Eastern is building three 4,500-passenger ferries for NY’s Staten Island Ferries. The first is scheduled to be delivered this fall. Austal USA of Mobile, Ala., and HII Ingalls of Pascagoula, Miss., and Bollinger Shipyards, which operates 12 sites in Louisiana, are considered among those yards that are essential. Bollinger launched Sentinel Class Fast Response Cutter USCGC Frederick Hatch (FRC-43) for the Coast Guard on March 25 at its Lockport, La., yard. VT Halter Marine in Pascagoula, Miss., has four Navy Auxiliary Personnel Lighter-Small berthing barges, which together form an industry-first offshore LNG bunker articulated tug and barge (ATB), oceanographic research ship T-AGS67 and two LSVs for an unidentified customer all under construction. In the engineering stage is the long-awaited Polar Security Cutter for the CG. Over the last six months, Metal Shark, with facilities in south Louisiana and Alabama, has delivered more than 100 vessels to customers. It continues to build for militaries, state and local law enforcement agencies, fire rescue operators, passenger vessel operators, and pilot associations. COVID-19 and the drop in the cost of oil have “created question marks in many sectors,” said Metal Shark CEO Chris Allard. “We see our government work remaining solid, and, so far, our commercial business has remained strong.” Among its key aluminum projects underway are a wide range of military vessels varying in size from the mid 20-foot range to 85-foot patrol vessels. In 2020, Metal Shark plans to announce a naval fleet order for high-speed offshore interdiction vessels larger than 50-feet. Among 15-plus fireboats under contract, Metal Shark has two 50-footers under construction for Miami-Dade (Fla.) Fire Rescue, and a 70-foot fireboat for Canaveral (Fla.) Fire Rescue. We continue to build law enforcement vessels for multiple agencies, including Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission. At its Mobile, Ala., shipyard, which specializes in the construction of steel vessels, Metal Shark will deliver the first of a series of 120-by-35-foot inland tow boats for Florida Marine Transporters, as well as an 80-foot Z-drive tugboat for North Carolina DOT. While shipbuilding has continued Allard said: “The economic impact of the COVID-19 situation has made us acutely aware of how many of our second and third-tier suppliers are located overseas, or depend on overseas supply.” The company has already seen a disruption of internationally sourced materials. “We will continue to react quickly, to innovate, and to leverage our engineering capability, serialized production methodologies, and economies of scale to support our customers through the challenging times ahead.” Allard also added: “I think it would be foolish to think that, medium-term, the economic impacts of current events will not cause some level of disruption to our industry. Long term, I think the current events will drive a continued push for increased American manufacturing and supply independence.” (Source: Marine Link 04/01/20) https://www.marinelink.com/news/us-shipyards-forge-ahead-covid-477185