Table of Contents:
Pacific
Northwest
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Northern California
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Gulf
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Chesapeake |
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Table of Contents:
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Gulf
Section Facilities Modernization at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems' Avondale, Pascagoula, and Gulfport Shipyards “PREPARING
FOR THE FUTURE” Andrea’s Restaurant, famous for its New Orleans rendition of Northern Italian & Seafood Cuisine, was the site for the Gulf Section’s May meeting. Special guest Mr. Bruce Rosenblatt, President of SNAME (2003-2004), introduced Kevin Jarvis as the evening’s presenter. Mr. Jarvis, Facilities Modernization Program Manager and Director of Facilities at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems (NGSS) in Gulfport, Mississippi, addressed the Gulf Section on May 19th. Over 60 SNAME and ASNE Gulf Section members were in attendance as Mr. Jarvis made a presentation on the acilitiesodernization at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems' Avondale, Pascagoula, and Gulfport Shipyards entitled, “PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE.”
Mr. Jarvis overviewed the Modernization Program underway at the Pascagoula, Gulfport and New Orleans Ship Yards. This program is targeted to increase capacity, efficiency and quality in the shipyards, sector wide. The program, which involves nearly $40million over five years, will address improvements in safety and environmental issues, and is targeted to lower costs and increase the competitiveness of the Yards. Kevin explained the partnership between the States of Louisiana and Mississippi with Northrop Grumman Ship Systems for the modernization of the respective yards and the first annual progress report of the five- year project outlay.
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Kevin explained that at the Avondale yard, the state of Louisiana signed an agreement for an approximately $112 million modernization program at the sector's Avondale Operations. The state funding dedicates $39 million toward the purchase of new, automated panel line equipment, and four new heavy-duty cranes as well as $16.85 million for various workforce-training initiatives at the yard. At the Pascagoula yard, the project is in the first phase of a $224 million expansion and modernization planned for the Pascagoula facility as part of its public/private partnership with the state of Mississippi. Kevin explained that the West Bay expansion would create more than 400,000 square feet of new ship construction area to support Northrop Grumman's DD(X) Destroyer Program. At the Gulfport facility, a $64 million modernization project at its Ship Systems sector's Gulfport Operations is underway. The modernization will dedicate $30 million to increasing capacity for composite construction, $19 million for ship construction and outfitting improvements, $8 million for additional support facilities, and $7 million to upgrade distributive systems. Mr.
Rosenblatt, President of SNAME (2003-2004), was able to address the Section
before the guest speaker presented. Mr. Rosenblatt described the ongoing
development at SNAME headquarters, and the upcoming events at SNAME Council
Meeting in Saddlebrook, Tampa. One of the focuses of his speech was the
"OUTREACH" program that Phil Kimball, Executive Director, and
others have been working on. The Society's "OUTREACH" program
has developed due to interest in promoting Naval Architecture and Marine
Engineering to the upcoming generation. He also emphasized that SNAME
needs to work on attracting and retaining young engineers, the Section’s
makeup from graduation to 30 years old. Mr. Rosenblatt finished by recapping
his visits to other local Sections, and how Sections were adjusting to
the Society’s changing growth, and implementation of electronic
media into local Sections development.
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