American Shipbuilding Association

More Naval Ships Needed in FY 2005

Prior to the Administration’s FY 2005 budget presentation to Congress, American Shipbuilding Association President Cynthia Brown sent a letter to the President encouraging increased funds for naval ship procurement. 

Dear Mr. President:

As you prepare to submit your Fiscal Year 2005 Budget to the Congress, the American Shipbuilding Association would like to reiterate the need for additional funding for the procurement of ships for the US Navy.

In these unprecedented times, when our troops are fighting terrorism both abroad and helping protect our shores here at home, the need for an increase in annual production to twelve ships a year is more important than ever.  At the current rate of only 6 new ships a year (the average for the past 12 years), we now have the lowest rate of naval ship production since 1932, with the fleet at just 294 ships.  This leaves us with the smallest Navy since 1917.

The strain this places on the fleet was evident during the initial military offensive of Operation Iraqi Freedom, where with evey available submarine and surface ship delployed to fight the war, we still needed naval ships from Great Britain and Australia to make up for the shortfall in American ships executing the war in Iraq.  This despite the fact the deployment rate of U.S. naval ships was the highest since World War II. 

In addition to the strain on the Navy, the low-production rate has had a negative impact on America's naval shipbuilding industrial capability, and the hightly skilled workforce that is needed to build our warships.  It has also negatively impacted investments in new manufacturing facilities, technology and worker training.  Finally, the low rate of naval ship production not only hampers the Navy's ability to meet our security needs, it also drives up the unit cost of ships. 

Without a renewed commitment to rebuilding our Navy, we will lose the industrial and skill capability required to keep our Navy strong in order to protect us from the threats of the 21st Century.

Your commitment to procure twelve naval ships in the coming fiscal year will be a first step toward stopping the hemorrhaging of our naval forces and our industrial base. 

Sincerely,
Cynthia L. Brown
President
American Shipbuilding Association
The Department of Defense's budget submission to the President requested only nine ships for FY 05.

Secretary of the Navy Downplays Need For More Ships

Contradicting repeated statements made by Chief of Naval Operations ADM Vern Clark that the Navy needs a minimum 375-ship fleet, Secretary of the Navy Gordon England claims that capability is more important than the number of ships in the fleet.  Speaking at the Surface Navy Association Symposium in mid January, the Secretary told the attendees that he “wished we had some way to describe capability” that was not based on the number of ships.

Despite the fact that every branch of the military measures its capability in terms of numbers of people, tanks, armored assault vehicles, planes, etc., the Secretary maintains that it is not practical to speak of a Navy in terms of numbers of ships in the fleet.  However, long before the 2001 terrorist attacks, when the Navy possessed around 337 active force ships, Naval Fleet Commanders testified before Congress that the U.S. naval fleet was stretched perilously thin.  They reported that the Navy was being forced to share ships between strategic theaters in response to wars and contingencies; that ships were being run so hard that maintenance costs were skyrocketing out of control; and that training and shore-side leave for Sailors and Marines were being cut short.  They maintained that the Nation needed more naval ships, and that numbers and capability do matter.   

While the United States does possess the most technologically advanced Navy in the world, no ship can be in two places at the same time.  As the United States continues to be called upon more and more to protect America’s shores and interests overseas, the question remains – Does the United States have enough ships to protect itself?

“Congress needs to hear from Naval Officers.”

Speaking at the annual Surface Navy Association Symposium in January, Rep. Jo Ann Davis (R-VA) urged members of the Navy to move from behind policy, and tell Congress, either publicly or privately, the real force structure needs of the Navy.  While she recognized the need to stand behind the President’s budget submission, Rep. Davis noted that the budget process is not perfect and that Members of Congress need to hear the truth from our Sailors and Marines, not politics. 

The U.S. naval fleet currently numbers 294 ships.  Prior to the Iraq war, the Navy had deployed 70% of all surface ships and 50% of all submarines.  This is the largest percentage of ships deployed that the U.S. has experienced since WWII.  As Rep. Davis pointed out in her remarks, “those numbers tell only part of the story; the remaining 30% of surface forces and 50% of our remaining submarines were either deployed in other theaters, involved in training, or were off-line for repair.  This underscores a looming crisis in the size of our fleet.” 

The crisis facing this country extends beyond our naval fleet to our industrial base. For the past 12 years, only 6 ships a year, on average, have been procured.  This is the lowest rate of naval ship production since 1932.  Rep. Davis noted that the low rates of production and unstable procurement profiles are forcing huge layoffs, closures of companies that manufacture critical defense components, and are resulting in the six largest shipyards operating at ½ of their capacity. 

To reverse this death spiral, Rep. Davis discussed HR 375, legislation she and Rep. Gene Taylor (D-MS) have sponsored, which establishes a policy that the United States maintain a minimum 375 ship Navy.  The force number is taken directly from the Chief of Naval Operations and his figures in Sea Power 21.  Nearly eighty members of Congress have already expressed their support for re-building our Navy by co-sponsoring the bill.  In addition to increasing the number of co-sponsors in the House, Congresswoman Davis stated that she would like to have a hearing on HR 375, so that the Navy may go on record as to how many ships it needs to keep America safe. 

The American Shipbuilding Association appreciates Rep. Davis’s remarks, and supports her efforts to rebuild the Navy. 

Rolls-Royce Naval Marine Expands Foundry

Breaking ground for a new facility in early January, Rolls Royce Naval Marine embarked on an expansion of its foundry in Pascagoula, Mississippi.  The new facility will enable Rolls-Royce to enhance manufacturing capabilities and improve production efficiencies for aircraft carrier and submarine propellers.  The current foundry manufactures propellers for nuclear aircraft carriers and commercial vessels, and casts propeller blades for the Navy’s DDG and LPD ships. 

Industry News

Builders of Virginia Class Submarine to Share $8.4 Billion Contract

Electric Boat in Groton, Connecticut, and Newport News Shipbuilding Newport News, Virginia, will share an $8.4 billion multi-year contract to produce five Virginia-class submarines.  The two shipyards have had a teaming agreement since 1997 to cooperatively build the Navy’s new class of submarines. 

The multi-year contract award replaces the six-ship block-buy contract.  Conversion to a multi-year contract will allow the shipyards to purchase materials, parts and components for multiple ships at one time, providing stability to the industrial base and resulting in greater production efficiencies at the two yards. 

Newport News Shipbuilding Awarded ISO 14001 Certification 

Newport News Shipbuilding - Northrop Grumman, located in Newport News, Virginia, has been recognized by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for its achievements in environmental excellence with the award of an ISO 14001 Certification.  Newport News Shipbuilding is one of only three shipyards in the United States to have received ISO 14001 Certification, which is based on the implementation of an exacting Environmental Management System (EMS).  The two other shipyards that have received ISO 14001 Certification include Electric Boat in Groton, Connecticut and National Steel and Shipbuilding Company in San Diego, California. 

Newport News Shipbuilding is the largest industrial employer in the United States to have received ISO 14001 Certification, which complements its ISO 9001 Quality Management Certification and its OSHA Voluntary Protection Program Certification.

Become a Sea Power Ambassador.

Join the growing ranks of Americans who have taken a stand to rebuild our Navy.  Become a Sea Power Ambassador.  Register at www.seapowerambassador.org

Well Said!

“Thousands of shipbuilders dedicated their efforts to produce the absolute best of American industrial capability.”
Commander Robert M. Byron
U.S. Navy
Delivery Ceremony of USS Pinckney
January 12, 2004