Waterways Commerce Cutter

Tony Ardito named president of Birdon America

Birdon Group reports that Tony Ardito has become the new president of Birdon America, effective January 27, 2025.

Ardito, who has held key leadership positions at BAE Systems and Austal USA, brings over two decades of maritime industry experience to Birdon and has an extensive background in naval architecture and marine engineering.

Birdon says that he will play a critical role the company as continues to expand its programs and presence in the United States, including serving as the lead for the...

https://www.marinelog.com/news/tony-ardito-named-president-of-birdon-america/

Birdon buys Metal Shark Bayou La Batre shipyard

Australia’s Birdon Group reports that its Birdon America Inc. subsidiary has acquired Metal Shark Boats’ 32-acre Bayou La Batre shipyard in Alabama. It says that the acquisition brings a fully developed shipyard into Birdon’s growing portfolio of facilities throughout the U.S. and will allow it to provide a further range of shipbuilding and repair services.

Jeanerette, La., headquartered Metal Shark acquired the Bayou La Batre shipyard in 2018 when it acquired the assets of Horizon Shipbuilding.

B...

https://www.marinelog.com/shipbuilding/shipyards/shipyard-news/birdon-buys-metal-shark-bayou-la-batre-shipyard/

GAO denies bid protest of waterways commerce cutter award

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has rejected a bid protest filed by Steiner Construction Company, Inc., a small business of Bayou La Batre, Alabama, against the continued performance of a contract awarded to Birdon America, Inc. under solicitation No. 70Z02321RPRT00300, issued as a small business set-aside by the Department of Homeland Security, United States Coast Guard (USCG) for the design and production of 27 vessels for its waterways commerce cutter program.

Reporting its...

https://www.marinelog.com/inland-coastal/gao-denies-bid-protest-of-waterways-commerce-cutter-award/

Coast Guard seeks industry help for new inland cutters design

The Smilax, a World War II-era cutter and now buoy tender, is the oldest vessel in the Coast Guard fleet. Coast Guard photo/PO3 David R. Marin.

Inland cutters are some of the Coast Guard’s most versatile boats, and the oldest – on average now more than 53 years.

A new class of Waterways Commerce Cutter is next in the Coast Guard’s recapitalization effort, and the WCC team came to the International WorkBoat Show in New Orleans Friday to brief the shipbuilding and design industry.

“We’re looking for what’s state-of-the-market,” said Aileen Sedmak, manager of the WCC program, now in partnership with the Navy’s Naval Sea Systems Command to...

https://www.workboat.com/news/shipbuilding/coast-guard-seeks-industry-help-for-new-inland-cutters-design/