Bollinger Shipyards’ Post

For Breaking Defense, I took a thorough look at the icebreaking capabilities of the three signatory nations of ICE Pact to better understand why the United States is seeking help from Canada and Finland in the race with Russia and China to establish a stronger presence in the Arctic. The answer: This is a unique sector of shipbuilding and one that is not the forte of most American shipyards. Further, it is a specialty with which Russia has vast experience and China has big ambitions and investment plans moving forward. That said, both Canada and Finland will bring decades of expertise to the table that would otherwise take generations for the United States to accrue on its own. For the veteran icebreaker observers out there: I ask for your grace. This subject, as I learned, is filled with countless nuances and ambiguities. We did our best to provide folks with the broad overview, but I am certain there are intricacies we missed or didn’t cover thoroughly. I am but a humble ship-loving reporter at the end of the day. https://lnkd.in/eKTeAQ5s

Chinese shipyards are now in the best times and prepared to back a long war in the Indo-Pacific. The fact that they are ready to build at wartime rates seems to be an indicator of the high level of preparedness for a long war. In contrast, the state of the shipbuilding industry in the United States is viewed as in tatters. The country's industrial base is faced with several critical challenges that have to be corrected with urgency in order to discourage a probable conflict with China. This is through increasing the country's shipyards' capacities and capabilities so as to be able to meet demands in the wake of war. The preparedness of China's shipyards in an extended war and the relative unpreparedness of American shipyards underline strategic challenges for the United States. The imperativeness of the challenges requires the United States to be engaged in reducing those risks to make sure the appropriate balance and deterrence in the Indo-Pacific are obtained. This circumstance underscores the need for having such shipbuilding capabilities in national defense and strategic preparedness, especially under the ever-growing tensions that exist between China and the United States. At Armes Precision of Lynchburg, Virginia, we are committed to significantly enhancing the nation's shipbuilding readiness. We invest in our workforce, nurturing skills to meet future challenges, and actively engage in research and development collaborations to bridge technology gaps. These initiatives are central to our mission to help streamline ship production, bolster the capabilities and efficiency of naval vessels, and secure the US's leadership in naval defense and strategic preparedness. #ShipyardReadiness #USChinaTensions #NationalDefense #AdvancedManufacturing #WorkforceDevelopment #StrategicPreparedness

Great article. Thanks for sharing. Would add that Tier 3 shipyards and small engineering houses should be a part of the solution as well. They can design and produce sub-systems / modules helping to offload some of the effort from Tier 1 and 2 yards. This would further strengthen our industrial base while also functioning to diversify the supply chain and increase innovation. Would also suggest that we consider utilizing existing ships where possible that are modified to include required systems for troop and material transport missions or other missions that do not have the same challenges that combatant ships face to help close the gap faster. We should also take a close look at requirements and avoid forcing MIL-STD requirements over ABS requirements where it makes sense. This requires realistic assessment of associated risks and opportunities as well as a change in the organizational culture within the Govt that currently pushes MIL-STD requirements in some cases simply because it is the low risk solution for requirements writers while driving increased cost and schedule. This would also function to support the use of current designs generated from commercial shipbuilding without creating a requirement to completely change many basic shipboard systems to incorporate MIL-STD requirements. Finally, we should should leverage modern communications to embrace remote workers with the skill sets required for ship design and innovation vs. attempting to force qualified personnel to relocate when possible. This functions to increase the talent pool significantly when compared to limiting the pool to applicants that are either local or willing to relocate while providing shipbuilders with access to the best and brightest candidates.

US Navy quick assault submarine breaks by means of Arctic ice https://lnkd.in/djWUnqWc The Commander, U.S. Navy Submarine Forces (COMSUBFOR) formally launched Operation Ice Camp (ICE CAMP) 2024 within the Arctic Ocean, marking the start of a three-week operation geared toward researching, testing and consider operational capabilities within the area. The Los Angeles-class assault submarine USS Hampton (SSN 767) broke by means of the meter-thick ice of the Arctic Ocean and raised the nationwide ensign at Ice Camp Whale within the Arctic Ocean, throughout ICE CAMP 2024. ICE CAMP 2024, previously often known as Train on Ice (ICEX), has grow to be a significant multinational effort involving personnel from varied branches of the US navy, in addition to allied forces from Canada, France, the UK and Australia. – ADVERTISING – CONTINUE READING BELOW – The operation, carried out in collaboration with the Arctic Submarine Laboratory, underscores the Navy's dedication to sustaining an enhanced presence within the Arctic, strengthening alliances, and constructing a extra succesful Arctic naval power. Because the Arctic is experiencing a decline within the extent and thickness of sea ice, ICE CAMP goals to arrange for elevated maritime exercise within the area. Serving as a brief command middle for the operation, Ice Camp Whale offers a novel setting to conduct analysis and check underwater programs. The camp, named after the united statesWhale, a submarine that made historical past by reaching the North Pole in 1969, facilitates important coaching important to working within the difficult circumstances of the Arctic. The U.S. Submarine Forces think about ICE CAMP essential to sustaining proficiency in navigation, communication and maneuver within the demanding Arctic maritime setting. Supply hyperlink

This is a very eye-opening article in the Wall Street Journal on a subject those who follow U.S naval shipbuilding and merchant marine trends have been warning about for years. While China has spent decades building up a shipbuilding capacity, the U.S. has seen its own sector dwindle to a handful of manufacturers solely focusing on naval - and not commercial - manufacture. U.S. defense industrial capacity has steadily shrunk since the end of the Cold War and efforts to support Ukraine against Russia's invasion have exposed this reality. The Covid pandemic, followed by the war in Ukraine, should serve as warnings that resiliency needs to be a key factor in U.S. strategic economic considerations moving forward. #defenseindustry #shipbuilding #naval #merchantmarine https://lnkd.in/eVr4NW79

America's shipbuilding capability in comparison to China's is alarming.   If a long conflict were to break out tomorrow between the two countries, China would have a significant upper hand, as their shipyards can dramatically outperform America's in ship maintenance and production.   #Navy #Shipyard #China #US #GPC #NPC

Submarines are an integral part of the U.S. Navy’s future force design, and rightly so. The United States needs more submarines if it is to deter China in the Indo-Pacific, particularly given the Chinese navy’s growing undersea fleet. But the question remains — can America build and maintain the number of submarines it needs?  The end of the Cold War gave rise to a balancing act within the world of U.S. naval acquisitions — how to make cuts under falling defense budgets while retaining a sufficient industrial base for the future. The cancellation of the SSN-21 Seawolf program in 1992 was a rational choice in this context, but it led to a long hiatus in submarine construction. As a result, a decision that was reasonable in the short term has caused damage to the production capacity and workforce of the submarine industrial base that has not yet been repaired. 

At the christening ceremony of the #USNavy USS Idaho, a Virginia-class #submarine, General Dynamics Electric Boat celebrated the contributions of its skilled workforce and supplier community. Kevin Graney, the President of Electric Boat, emphasized the company's purpose of delivering the advantage that protects sailors, families, and freedom. The relationship between the ship's sponsor, Teresa Stackley, and the crew was highlighted as a special bond that lasts a lifetime. The submarine, which began construction in 2017, will be the 26th Virginia-class fast attack submarine and the fifth U.S. Navy ship to be christened with the name Idaho. The last ship named Idaho was battleship BB 42, commissioned in 1919. The Virginia-class, also known as the VA-class or 774-class, is a class of nuclear-powered fast attack submarines in service with the U.S. Navy. The submarines are designed for a broad spectrum of open-ocean and littoral missions conceived as a less expensive alternative to the Seawolf-class attack submarines, designed during the Cold War era, and are replacing older 688 Los Angeles-class submarines. The Idaho may have fewer sister boats than planned in the future, as the Virginia-class attack submarines face budget cuts in the Fiscal Year 2025, threatening to reduce their procurement rate. With 23 of a planned 66 submarines already in service, these cuts could significantly impact the U.S. Navy's undersea dominance. The reduction to one submarine from the planned two per year has alarmed House Armed Services Committee members, highlighting risks to the defense supply chain and geopolitical standing. The shift suggests a strategic focus on maintaining technological superiority and fleet effectiveness in the immediate future, even as concerns about the fleet's size and capability in a potential conflict persist.

"Many in Washington are justifiably skeptical of the U.S.’s ability to catch up to China’s investment in their shipbuilding industrial base as China does not operate on a level playing field. I personally refuse to accept this narrative," writes Joey D'Isernia, CEO and chairman of Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. "The bottom line is that the United States cannot afford to let our shipbuilding fall further behind, we are the leader of the free-world, and we must maintain our maritime dominance. I firmly believe that Tier 2 shipyards have the capacity, talent, and infrastructure to augment our Tier 1 shipyards if the proper initiatives are put into place." #shipbuilding #maritime #shipsandshipping #nationalsecurity #navy #coastguard

Today I read an article rightfully advocating for the employment of Tier 2 shipyards to counter Chinese global navy ambitions amongst other global freedom of navigation concerns. Thank you Joey D'Isernia of Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. for openly advocating for what concerns so many persons in our country and our allies - our seeming current inability to support freedom domestic and abroad as an Arsenal of Democracy. The idea of employing Tier 2 shipyards to support national defense is great, however, provided we (USA) have corespondingly appropriate vessel designs which are optimized for production in these U.S. Tier 2 shipyards. Suggest this means taking a page from the past and looking to naval defense vessels where simplicity and quantity were a winning a quality all their own. In WWII the USA was the Arsenal of Democracy not because of expensive wonder weapons, but rather because we could out produce our enemies, i.e. PT Boats, Liberty Ships, T2 Tankers, LSTs, LCVPs (Higgins Boats), etc. Perhaps the USA should look for modern analogies to these vessels with some added twists therein to reduce their manning needs in the face of a smaller number of persons needed to operate such a vast fleet of vessels. This means embracing solutions that can unlock reduced manning and zero physical manning on vessels. #USA #Shipbuilding #Innovation #Defense #Naval #USNavy #USMC #USArmy #USCG #MerchantMarine #JonesAct #Manufacturing #Logistics #USV #AI #Unmanned #Democracy