Stepping Aboard the Government Shipbuilders Council
Last week, the Government Shipbuilders Council embarked on its maiden voyage, holding its first conference at the Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore, aiming to enhance the efficiency of ship production and maintenance within the U.S. government. Leading this delegation, Secretary of the Navy, Carlos Del Toro, emphasized the council’s dual mandate to alleviate the obstacles endemic to contract shipbuilding and optimize resources to procure significant cost, time, and resource savings for the government.
“The Council embodies a monumental manifestation of the integrated effort necessary to bolster our nation’s comprehensive maritime strength – a strategic necessity demanding a fresh maritime approach,” Del Toro stated. He emphasized representing multiple departments, namely Defense, Transportation, Homeland Security, and Commerce, and five disparate government shipbuilders.
Revitalizing the Shipbuilding Landscape
Del Toro underlined that the collective power of these organizations is fundamental to revitalizing the competitive landscape of shipbuilding and repair in the United States. He highlighted the crucial need for both private and public investments in top-tier manufacturing and shipbuilding facilities and fostering a highly skilled workforce capable of managing them effectively.
In a bold move, Del Toro urged for the establishment of programs that enhance capabilities in critical fields such as naval architecture, engineering, and lifecycle management, along with honing technical dexterity in nuclear welding, robotics, software management, and additive manufacturing.
Innovating the Maritime Domain
As part of his address to the Government Shipbuilders Council, Del Toro reiterated the importance of incorporating innovation and technology to maximize the nation’s maritime advantage. “To enhance agility and efficiency in ship production and design, it is pivotal that we facilitate the development of digital tools for our shipbuilding workforce,” he accentuated.
Moreover, he motivated Council members to engage closely with institutions and shipyards where future maritime industry leaders are nurtured. This approach aligns with his initiative to form robust partnerships with maritime entities such as the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, thereby demonstrating his commitment to bolstering the maritime industry and addressing its inherent challenges collaboratively.
Stand By the Maritime Industry
Finally, Del Toro reassured the Council of his relentless efforts advocating for the shipbuilding and ship repair industry. “I vow to ceaselessly amplify the challenges that we jointly confront in the shipbuilding sector and will continue to represent your interests so that, united, we can reclaim our nation’s maritime power,” he asserted. Del Toro’s relentless dedication signifies a promising start for the Government Shipbuilders Council, ushering in a new era of innovation and efficiency in U.S. shipbuilding.
