Page 34: of Marine News Magazine (April 2023)

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Feature

Shipbuilding opportunity for U.S. shipyards. Kirby Marine Offshore, for example, has committed to build two feeder barge and diesel- electric hybrid tugboat units for its partnership with Maersk.

While the industry continues to battle signi? cant eco- nomic headwinds, tax credits in the Biden administration’s

In? ation Reduction Act (IRA) combined with new fund- ing initiatives for offshore wind vessels could help inves- tors to commit to new construction. MARAD last year announced the designation of offshore wind vessels as Ves- sels of National Interest for support through the Federal

Ship Financing Program, giving these applications priority for review and funding. “The program assists the domestic shipbuilding industry, providing support for U.S. shipyards to modernize their facilities, to build and retro? t vessels, and to assist U.S shipowners to cost-effectively obtain do- mestically produced new vessels,” the White House said.

GOVERNMENT SHIPBUILDING

In addition to commercial work, America’s shipyards are also building vessels for the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard,

U.S. Army, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra- tion (NOAA), MARAD, local and state government cus- tomers. Notable shipbuilding programs include the afore- mentioned NSMVs under construction at Philly Shipyard; a pair of NOAA oceanographic research ships, Oceanog- rapher and Discoverer, being built by Thoma-Sea Marine

Constructors, in Houma, La. for respective deliveries in

Philly Shipyard is currently building MARAD’s

National Security Multi-Mission Vessels, which will serve as training ships for the nation’s state maritime academies.

Philly Shipyard 34 | MN April 2023