Page 21: of Marine News Magazine (August 2024)

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Shipbuilding down the road of outsourcing our creating a more robust and cohesive are robust, resilient, and responsive is shipbuilding maintenance jobs to our sea lift strategy. paramount. Tier 2 shipyards offer the allies, we should invest in our yards 5. Stabilize funding streams. Long- ? exibility, innovation, and capacity who have the talent and the capacity. term, consistent funding is crucial to necessary to strengthen the maritime 2. Implement a national shipbuild- the success of the national maritime industrial base and secure the nation’s ing workforce initiative. I have long strategy. This ? nancial commitment strategic interests.

called for a national workforce initia- will provide Tier 2 shipyards with By investing in and integrating these tive aimed at shipbuilders. Although the stability needed to invest in in- vital shipyards, the United States can shipyards across the nation are ag- frastructure, workforce development, enhance its sea lift ? eet, support local gressively seeking to recruit and train and technological advancements. economies, and maintain its competi- shipbuilders, we have steep compe- The need for a national maritime tive edge in global maritime logistics. tition across manufacturing sectors strategy that incorporates Tier 2 ship- The time to act is now. As a nation, for both corporate and skilled trades yards is both urgent and evident. As we must forge a path toward a more professionals. This fact makes it hard the United States navigates an in- secure and prosperous future through to maintain and grow our manning creasingly complex global landscape, a comprehensive and inclusive nation- level, especially when there is a loom- ensuring that its sea lift capabilities al sea lift strategy.

ing gap in government production.

We must train our next generation of mariners and shipbuilders before the current generation ages out of the trade. However, before we are able to train them, they must ? rst be incen- tivized to choose shipbuilding as their career of choice.

3. Reform government contract- ing processes. Simplifying and expe- diting contracting processes for Tier 2 shipyards will facilitate their par- ticipation in our defense initiatives.

Reducing regulatory hurdles and fos- tering clear communication channels between the government and ship- yards will accelerate project timelines and improve ef? ciency.

4. Encourage Tier 1 and Tier 2 shipyard collaboration. Encouraging collaboration between Tier 1 and Tier 2 shipyards can lead to synergies that bene? t the entire maritime industrial base. Sharing best practices, resources, and technologies will enhance the capabilities of all shipyards involved, www.marinelink.com MN 21|