Page 12: of Marine News Magazine (September 2013)

Despite an increase in foreign competition, exports by U.S. shipbuilders have strengthened in recent years, rising to $539.1 million in 2012 (representing 2.7 percent of industry revenues). As a result, the U.S. shipbuilding in- dustry has run a trade surplus in six out of the last 10 years. In fact, combined over the last 10 years the industry has run a trade surplus of $410 million. Employment in shipbuilding and repairing is concentrated in a relatively small number of states. In fact, 62 percent of all private direct employment in the industry is located in just ? ve states: Virginia, Louisiana, Missis- sippi, Connecticut, and California. These numbers do not include federal government employment. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, total employment at federal government-operated shipyards was 29,452 in 2011, up from 28,234 in 2010. As a result of the global recession the industry contracted, losing more than 9,000 payroll jobs between 2008 and 2011, before rebounding in 2012. Payroll employment averaged 98,070 over the ? rst half of 2012. Currently there are 117 active domestic shipyards, spread across 26 states. In addition there are more than 200 shipyards engaged in ship repairs or capable of building ships but not actively engaged in shipbuilding. Of the 117 active shipyards, ? ve are public yards operated by the U.S. Navy or U.S. Coast Guard, six are major shipyards capable of building large naval vessels and/or deep-draft ocean going commercial ships, 20 are large shipyards capable of building mid-sized to large merchant ships, mid-sized to large naval vessels, offshore drilling rigs and high-value, high-complexity smaller vessels. The remaining 86 are relatively small shipyards, capable of building smaller commercial vessels, such as tugs, towboats, offshore service vessels, ? shing vessels, ferries and barges. In addition to these shipyards, there are nine shipyards currently producing large yachts and 13 occasionally produc- ing larger vessels. Marad says that another 293 shipyards and boatyards are classi? ed as inactive. Get the ReportThe Marad report, in our estimation, is one of the ? ner efforts to come out of DOT in a long time. This is what Marad should be doing. Nicely sum- ming up the importance of U.S. boatbuilding, there is much more to the report than what you ? nd on these pages. Access the report at: www.marad.dot.gov/documents/MARAD_Econ_Study_Final_Report_2013.pdf BY THE NUMBERSSeptember 201312 MNMN Sept2013 Layout 1-17.indd 128/29/2013 11:10:23 AM