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Editor's Note The future of the U.S. Navy is pictured on this month's cover, the three designs that will battle to become the reality known as the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) — a fami- ly of up to 60 (relatively) small, fast, flexible vessels designed to serve a major role in the "plug and play" mil- itary operations of the future. At press time, the American Shipbuilding Association (ASA) was lamenting the fact that the Senate had effectively cut two ships from the President's 2004 Budget Request — the zeroing of two T-AKE Combat Force Logistics Ships — and was lobbying hard for their reinstatement. The action does appear particularly capricious at this time, considering the tremen- dous stress already placed upon a short-handed naval force and the exhibition of its dominance in recent overseas matters. While it is more than a mere numbers game, it is undeniable that the need for a renewed U.S. Navy fleet is very real, and despite a slew of christenings and commissionings carried in these pages of late, more firm contracts for the long-term are needed. The LCS program is a step in the right direction, if nothing more it will infuse the U.S. industry with business for years to come. The LCS contract is particularly noteworthy in its dependence on technologies eminating from out- side the U.S., and the international community has been roused to activity by the lure of Navy dollars. We will track the progress of the LCS competition closely in our pages as it plays out over the next seven months. While, as the editor of MR/FN I live for the moments to present the next- generation technology such as LCS in these pages, as a person I'm partial to the picture in our "Leading Off" section on page 8, showing the late comedian Bob Hope in a familiar position, providing comical relief to troops at war. Mr. Hope, who died last month at the age of 100, has left an indelible mark for humor, humanity and compassion. On the Cover Pictured on this month's cover ore the three finalists for the Novy's Littorol Combat Ship (LCS) project. Storting clockwise (under the MR logo) ore the entrant's from Raytheon, Lockheed Martin and the Both Iron Works team, respectively. Read about the three teams in the "U.S. Report," starting on page 26. 9 Letters 44 People & Company News 51 Propulsion Updates 52 Propulsion Products Subscriptions: One full year (12 issues) $24.00 in U.S.; outside of U.S. $96.00 including postage ond handling. For subscription information, con- tact: Dale Barnett, fax: (212) 254-6271; e-mail: barnett@marinelink.com MARITIME REPORTER AND ENGINEERING NEWS www.marinelink.com ISSN-0025-3448 USPS-016-750 No. 8 Vol. 65 118 East 25th Street, New York, IMY 10010 tel: (212) 477-6700; fax: (212) 254-6271 Founder: John J. O'Malley 1905 - 1980 Charles P. O'Malley 1928 - 2000 Maritime Reporter/Engineering News is published monthly by Maritime Activity Reports, Inc. Mailed at Periodicals Postage Rates at Waterbury, CT 06701 and additional mailing offices. Postmaster send notification (Form 3579) regarding undeliverable magazines to Maritime Reporter/Engineering News, 118 East 25th Street, New York, NY 10010. Canada Post International Publications Mail Product (Canadian Distribution) Sales Agreement No. 0970700. Printed in U.S.A. Publishers are not responsible for the safekeeping or return of editorial material. ©2003 Maritime Activity Reports, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be repro- duced or transmitted in any form or by any means mechani- cal, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publishers. Member INTERNATIONAL ® Business Publications Audit of Circulation, Inc. www.marinelink.com trauthwein@ marinelink.com Looking for service reliability, we deliver it. ABB Turbochargers ABB New York/NJ, Miami, Houston, Seattle/Tacoma, I.os Angeles — email: turbochargers^us.abb.com Other Printed & Electronic Products MarineNews Published 18 times per year, MarineNews is covers the North American inland/offshore shallow draft market. Marine Security Sourcebook Published four times per year, the definitive guide to marine security systems, products and services. The Shipbuilding Report Weekly electronic newsletter dedicated to delivering the world of Ship Repair News, Contracts and Data. Sample for FREE at www.shiprepairer.com 2003 Global Marine Directory CD More than 110,000 records... log onto www.marinelink.com and download a FREE SAMPLE. www.maritimetoday.com • Customized e-mail news service twice a day. www.maritimejobs.com • The marine industry's recruiting & employment resource. www.marinelink.com • The Internet's largest marine website, with over 270,000 "hits" 6 Circle 201 on Reader Service Card Maritime Reporter & Engineering News
