The Maritime Minute
News from The American Maritime Partnership, June 30, 2011
AMERICAN SHIPBUILDING AND REPAIR INDUSTRY WELCOMES STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH MAJOR DEFENSE SHIPYARDS; INDUSTRY WILL NOW SPEAK WITH ONE VOICE: The Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA) – a founding member of AMP – announced last week that Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding and Ingalls Shipbuilding Divisions and General Dynamics’ Bath Iron Works (General Dynamics NASSCO is currently a member of the SCA) have joined its national trade association. The move enhances SCA’s ability to communicate the critical role that the shipbuilding and repair sectors play in bolstering economic, national and homeland security. “Today’s announcement is an important development for the effective representation of the shipyard industry in our nation’s capital. The integration of these major defense construction shipyards into the SCA will improve the industry’s ability to speak with one voice to Congress and the Administration about the critical need for a strong shipyard industrial base. We are excited about the strategic opportunities to advance the shared goals and interests of our diverse membership,” SCA President Matthew Paxton said. Click here to read more.
PORT POTENTIAL HIGH IN RHODE ISLAND: The Providence Journal is urging Rhode Island state legislators to use the underutilized ports of Providence, Quonset/Davisville, and Aquidneck Island to attract maritime trade. “The state’s ports are an economic sector that Gov. Chafee very sensibly has termed a big opportunity for growth,” stated a June 17 editorial. “Rising fuel prices point to short-sea shipping – containerized cargo by barge from such larger ports as Halifax, New York and Charleston to smaller ports such as Providence and New Bedford, and then by rail or road to its final destinations – as an increasingly important alternative to trucking containers everywhere on congested highways.” The paper noted Charleston and Savannah are forging ahead with improvements to lure the biggest ships. “We should, too,” concludes the editorial. Click here to read more.
MEET A MEMBER: One element of the U.S. Merchant Marine not often recognized is the sector engaged in waterfront construction, pile driving, and dredging. A leader in this field is Seattle’s Manson Construction. Started over a century ago in 1905 with a single floating pile driver, Manson remains family-owned and many of its employees are second, third or fourth generation workers who share the pride of a company with distinguished projects stretching from Alaska to New England, throughout the inland waterways, and internationally. Its family-oriented leadership and generational knowledge shared among its leadership and operating staff is a hallmark of its success. One recent project demonstrating the merit of its achievement and commitment to the nation is its work on the I-35W Bridge in Minneapolis. Readers may recall the old bridge suddenly collapsed on August 1, 2007, tragically killing 13 people and injuring 145. Manson, along with a key construction partner, were able to get this major artery, responsible for carrying 140,000 trips a day, completed on budget and three months ahead of schedule.