The changing of presidential administrations has brought a lot of uncertainty to the federal budget process, with President Trump’s public support of programs often tempered by contradictory realities when the rubber hits the road.
The support complements the Navy’s 2016 Force Structure Assessment, which recommends putting American shipbuilding “on an upward glide path” to more newbuilds. In mid-September, the U.S. Senate raised the ante by passing the Securing the Homeland by Increasing our Power on the Seas (SHIPS) Act. The bill would make it U.S. policy to boost the strength of the fleet from the current total of 276 ships.
The plan faces two longstanding challenges for the Navy and American shipbuilders: budget constraints imposed by sequestration, and Congress’ penchant for funding government programs by continuing resolution.
“If we’re going to be honest about a 355-ship Navy, sequestration has to go away,” Matthew Paxton, president of the Shipbuilders Council of America, told American Ship Review. “It has implications that are quite severe.”
Paxton said continuing resolutions are just as harmful to the industry because they don’t allow for strategic planning and effective management when it comes to procurement and scheduling. “CRs” are particularly damaging to shipyards that are heavily focused on Navy vessel repair, he said.
Coast Guard flip-flop
While President Trump has publicly campaigned for more defense spending and a larger Navy fleet, he sent a different message in February when he called for a $1.3 billion cut in the Coast Guard’s budget for 2018. Nearly half of the reduction would have come from canceling production of a ninth national security cutter (NSC) by Ingalls Shipbuilding.
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Mariner's role still unknown as autonomous shipping gains speed
Mariners’ role still unknown as autonomous shipping gains speed
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Casualties
NTSB: Dredge hit Texas gas pipeline, causing fire that killed four
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A recent report from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) reveals that global shipping emissions increased nearly 10 percent from 2012 to 2018, with the industry facing a growing challenge concerning methane slip.
Bay State brothers find industry niche by making old into new
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Signals
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Seastreak newcomer pushing through dip in demand
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New year in a new world: Navigating COVID's maritime realities
In a matter of days, the decorative time balls will drop, “Auld Lang Syne” will fill the air, and ships at anchor will sound their horns as the world welcomes in the new year.
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