Matson takes delivery of another of its Hawaii fleet renewal ships

Matson Inc., a U.S. cargo carrier in the Pacific, recently took delivery of the 870’x114′ Matsonia, the second of two new Kanaloa Class combination container/roll-on, roll-off (“Con-Ro”) ships built by General Dynamics NASSCO. The two are the largest vessels of their kind ever built in the U.S., Matson officials said. They join two new containerships, Daniel K Inouye and Kaimana Hila, in completing the renewal of Matson’s Hawaii fleet.

Matsonia and sistership Lurline have a deep draft of 38′ and...

https://www.workboat.com/news/shipbuilding/matson-takes-delivery-of-another-of-its-hawaii-fleet-renewal-ships/

NASSCO wins $100 million Navy order

General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Co, San Diego, Calif., has been awarded a $100,040,336 contract for the execution of the a Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Comstock (LSD 45) fiscal 2021 docking selected restricted availability. The contract includes options that, if exercised, could take its cumulative value to $128,231,287.

This availability will include a combination of maintenance, modernization and repair of the USS Comstock (LSD 45). This is a Chief of Naval...

https://www.marinelog.com/shipyards/shipyard-news/nassco-wins-100-million-navy-order/

BWXT CEO: Navy’s Next-Generation SSN(X) Attack Boat Will Build Off Columbia Class

Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Missouri (SSN-780) on May 31, 2018. US Navy Photo

The Navy’s next attack submarine will feature technology in the Columbia-class program and be significantly larger than the current class of the Virginia-class attack submarines, the chief executive of BWX Technologies said on Monday as part of the company’s third-quarter earnings call.

The head of the company that builds the nuclear reactors for the Navy’s aircraft carriers and submarines said the...

https://news.usni.org/2020/11/02/bwxt-ceo-navys-next-generation-ssnx-attack-boat-will-build-off-columbia-class

General Dynamics Not Yet Planning to Build 3 Virginia Subs Each Year

Virginia-class submarine Delaware (SSN-791) was moved out of a construction facility into a floating dry dock using a transfer car system in 2018. HII Photo

While the Pentagon is calling for the Navy to buy three attack submarines on an annual basis, sub builder General Dynamics Electric Boat isn’t preparing for an increase in production just yet.

“We’ve been talking to our Navy customer about the ability of essentially the supply chain and the facilities to ramp up production, and as you can...

https://news.usni.org/2020/10/28/general-dynamics-not-yet-planning-to-build-3-virginia-subs-each-year

Lack of U.S. Warship Repair Capacity Worrying Navy

USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62) pierside at Huntington Ingalls Industries Pascagoula, Miss., shipyard on April 16, 2019. US Navy Photo

A deficit of ship repair capacity and an expected change in the Navy’s needs for large combatants versus smaller ones may force the entire industry to rethink their roles in construction and maintenance work going forward, a panel of officials said this week.

The two halves of the Navy’s Team Ships acknowledged that more companies would need to get involved in ship...

https://news.usni.org/2020/08/26/lack-of-u-s-warship-repair-capacity-worrying-navy

Shuttered Schools Are Biggest Obstacle for Defense Industry Productivity

Norman Bialk TIG welds an aluminum frame in the Hull Outfitting Shop. Newport News Shipbuilding

More than potential supply chain gaps or funding cuts, defense industry productivity during COVID-19 is threatened most by closed schools and a lack of childcare, company executives and government officials have said in the last several weeks.

Workforce absenteeism was cited among the top threats to productivity when company executives discussed their first-quarter financial results during a round of...