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NAVY WORK IN PRIVATE U.S. YARDS With the virtual disappearance of the market for oceangoing mer- chant ships, most of the major pri- vate yards in the U.S. are heavily dependent upon Navy shipbuild- ing, conversion, and repair for the majority of their work, some as much as 100 percent. The contracts placed by the Navy during the past few years, including the several programs for the Military Sealift Command, have meant survival for some yards that otherwise may have been forced to cease operation. The MR/EN editors asked the private U.S. shipyards that are en- gaged in Navy work to tell us about their current activities and their outlook for the next few years. The review that follows is based on the replies that we had received up to press time. FOR MORE INFORMATION If you wish to receive additional data on any of the shipyards in- cluded in this review, please circle the appropriate number(s) that follows each yard description, on the Reader Service Card in the back of this issue. If you wish to receive information on all of the companies included in this review, Circle 10 on Reader Service Card AVONDALE Avondale Shipyards, Inc., a short distance up the Mississippi River from New Orleans, has histori- cally targeted half of its new con- struction capacity to the building of naval ships and half to mer- chant vessels. The last merchant ship left the yard in July this year, and the balance has tilted to 90 percent navy work and a de- creasing 10 percent of commercial work. The total reliance upon na- val shipbuilding is expected to continue, and Avondale has adapted its design, management, and shipbuilding trade disciplines and skills accordingly. The yard is currently converting USS Doyle, (left) built by Bath Iron Works.
