Pentagon's 'Bottom Up1
Review: One Contract Each
For Newport News And
Electric Boat
As part of a "bottom up" review of
post-Cold War defense needs re-
leased by Defense Secretary Les
Aspin, the Pentagon recommends
that the Department of Defense
(DOD) continue bolstering its surge
sealift fleet, that Newport News
Shipbuilding, a Tenneco subsidiary,
get a $3 billion contract to build a
new aircraft carrier, and General
Dynamics' Electric Boat division, a
competitor of Tenneco's, build the
third Seawolf submarine.
The recommendations were in-
tended to reflect the new defense
requirements of the U.S., which,
instead of contending with a super-
power, must now contend with what
Mr. Aspin reportedly called "re-
gional bullies" like Saddam
Hussein.
Electric Boat, of Groton, Conn.,
was given the contracts for the first
two Seawolf subs.
The Pentagon decided to main-
tain this course to support the con-
tinued existence of both the nation's
nuclear shipyards. Electric Boat
has also been recommended as the
designer/builder of the next genera-
tion of attack subs.
Newport News is the only U.S.
yard that can build, overhaul and
refuel nuclear surface ships, and it
is currently building two carriers
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and six earlier-generation subs.
The Pentagon said it will strive t
improve the mobility of U.S. force
by purchasing additional Ro/Ro ves
sels for their surge sealift fleet
Purchasing the ships, which ma;
number as many as 20, has been ai
issue since the Pentagon's Mobilit;
Requirement Study was sent to Con
gress in 1992.
The Navy, which has been ac
cepting bids on the ships, has alsc
said it would spend $ 1 billion for the
conversion of five containerships tc
Ro/Ro's.
The Pentagon's other recommen-
dations include improving the re-
sponsiveness of the Maritime
Administration's Ready Reserve
Force (RRF).
The Pentagon's recommendations
have yet to receive Congressional
approval, and Newport News is ex-
pected to continue striving for the
third Seawolf contract.
Electric Boat's number of employ-
ees has shrunk from 25,000 to about
18,000 since the defense spending of
the Reagan era. Even should the
new contracts for construction and
design be approved, that number is
reportedly projected to shrink as
low as 7,800 by 1997.
Singmarine Unit Wins
$6 Million 'Cat1 Contract
Singmarine Industries Limited,
through its subsidiary Aluminum
Craft Pte. Ltd., won a shipbuilding
contract from a repeat customer in
South China.
The contract, worth about $6 mil-
lion, is to build a 115-foot catama-
ran for a state-owned company in
Wan Shan District of Zhuhai City,
South China.
The first vessel for the customer,
a 92-foot monohull ferry, "Tong Chi
Yi Hao," was recently delivered.
"We (were) impressed by Alumi-
num Craft's excellent workmanship
and technical competence in the con-
struction of the monohull ferry, and
are confident that they will continue
to maintain these standards in the
building of the catamaran," said Pan
Qing Hong, regional director and
general party secretary of Wan Shan
District in Zhuhai City.
Two high speed diesels driving
fixed-pitch propellers will power the
vessel to 29 knots in calm waters.
This aluminum ferry will have a
capacity for 250 passengers and
eight crew. It is scheduled for deliv-
ery in the first quarter of 1994 and
will be deployed along the coast of
Zhuhai. For more information,
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NNS Wins $10.3 Million
Navy Repair Contract
Newport News Shipbuilding,
Newport News, Va. has been
awarded a $10.3 million Navy Re-
pair Contract for the post-shake-
down availablilty of the "Montpe-
lier" (SSN 765) nuclear-powered
submarine.
Maritime Reporter/Engineering New*
Digital Wave Publishing