Page 34: of Marine News Magazine (October 2020)

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SHIPYARD JOBS

US Shipyards:

By Eric Haun

Gulf Copper merican shipyards form an important economic Deste, said the group’s Wisconsin shipyards will hire near- engine, supporting nearly 400,000 jobs, $25.1 ly 1,000 additional people over the next few years. “With billion of labor income and $37.3 billion in gross our main naval shipyard, Fincantieri Marinette Marine, domestic product (GDP), according to ? gures receiving the contract to design and build the U.S. Navy’s

A from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime FFG(X), as well as our other design and build work in our

Administration (MARAD). system-of-yards, we believe we will have steady work for

It’s a good thing, then, that U.S. shipyards were deemed years to come,” he said.

essential businesses amid COVID-19 and have remained “We are always looking for great teammates and hiring up and running throughout the pandemic. And it’s even in nearly every skilled trade, as well as management, and in better that most yards have been able to keep their workers our engineering department,” Deste continued. “With the employed despite less than stable market conditions, and detailed design work underway for the Navy’s FFG(X), the that many are actively hiring to grow their staff counts. priority is bringing on additional engineers right now. As “Great Lakes is always seeking skilled and talented per- frigate production starts in 2021, we will ramp up hiring sonnel looking for a long-term career opportunity. We’re each year. It is an exciting time to be part of our team, to be looking for electricians, welders, ? tters, mechanics, quality honest. Whether it’s design, construction or maintenance technicians, project engineers and managers, and a con- and sustainment, we are solidifying our place as a tier one troller,” said Joe Starck, president of the Great Lakes Tow- American shipbuilder,” Deste said.

ing Company and Great lakes Shipyard. On the West Coast, the pandemic has not diminished

While the pandemic’s business effects have made com- the strong sales and backlog of aluminum boatbuilder mercial repair jobs hard to come by for the company’s SAFE Boats International, who is currently hiring for vari-

Cleveland shipyard, Starck said the stream of government ous positions in production, engineering and other sup- repair work has been steady and is expected to remain solid port roles at its Bremerton, Wash. shipyard.

through the winter. The yard is also busy building the sixth “The pandemic has had no impact on our staf? ng vessel in a series of Damen 1907 tugs for the towing divi- needs,” said SAFE Boats’ human resources director, Cindy sion, and it has its eyes on several potential projects in the McFarland. “We have not seen any attrition related to CO- pipeline, both for new construction and repair. VID-19, staf? ng has remained consistent and we are hir-

Fincantieri Marine Group president and CEO, Dario ing based on our plan for 2020.”

October 2020 34 MN