Page 4: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (January 1988)

1988

AWS

Welding

Show

New Orleans

April 19-21

New Orleans Convention Center

It's All Here

Thousands of cost-saving metalworking products and services - including the latest hi-tech developments, live demonstrations, computerized equipment, robotics, CAD/CAM and more.

Plus

The 69th Annual Convention of the American

Wekling Society with mam- practical and in-depth technical presentations.

Everything You Need To Know...

At One Show!

It's the nation's largest Welding Show each year!

Plan now to be there; write or call today.

Send me an '88 AWS Convention and Welding Show program with registration and hotel forms.

Company

City Zip

American Welding Society

Convention Department JJ 550 N.W. Le Jeune Road

PC). Box 351040

Miami, Florida 33135

Telephone 1 (800)443-9353

In Florida 1 (800)423-9353

Telex 51-9245 AMWELD SOC

Area Code, Business Telephone

Special! Advance registration saves you time and money.

Call or write before February 15, 1988 for discounts.

Marine Machinery Association Reports

On Defense Mobilization Base Forum

About 100 attendees at the recent

Government Industry Forum on the

U.S. Shipbuilding and Repair De- fense Mobilization Base received the most comprehensive brief on the current status and future prospects for the marine industry. The signifi- cance of the issues discussed, the in- depth presentations by the qualified and knowledgeable speakers, to- gether with the far-reaching ramifi- cations of the issues and potential legislation involved cannot be ade- quately and accurately described in the space available for this article.

One must hear the complete pres- entations to understand the com- plexity of the issues involved and the differing views of the various parties, DoD, Navy, shipbuilders, suppliers and indeed foreign coun- tries, for they, too, have a tremen- dous influence on which way the industry will go in the future.

This article outlines and highlight the general areas covered by each speaker. Transcripts of the entire forum are available from MMA for a nominal charge of $15 to cover re- production and postage. Requests should be addressed to MMA, 1700

K Street NW, Suite 903, Washing- ton, D.C. 20006.

The following was reported by

Dan Marangiello of the MMA.

During the forum, all speakers rec- ognized the serious deterioration of the shipbuilding and repair capabil- ity of the U.S. The tone of the meet- ing was set by J. P. Janetatos of

Baker & McKenzie, who noted that after the spare parts problems of three-four years ago, Congress reacted with legislation, including the Competition in Contracting Act, and DoD and the Navy complied with a vengeance. Low bid became the order of the day, with a seeming- ly "quality be damned" attitude.

Although the pendulum seems to be swinging back with recent Senate subcommittee investigations on de- fective material, the emphasis in reality is on prominent criminal cases, and not on the systemic prob- lem of going to the low bidder regardless of past performance and capability. A short-term and easy remedy would be to divert what lit- tle business there is back into the k wftCnWERY

ASSOC

Vice Adm. W.D. Smith, USN, Director of

Navy Programming Plans, discussed the

Navy's programs, budget and five-year de- fense plans. maritime industrial base, that is to equipment manufacturers and stockyards and away from replica- tors and pirates. This action will also provide the fleet with safe, reli- able and cost-effective machinery.

Congresswoman Helen Bentley related the events that are under- mining the industrial base of this nation. Our policy of "free" trade has allowed American industry to be overwhelmed by foreign firms. Mar- kets were specifically targeted, un- dercut and gobbled up. So began the de-industrialization of America.

Taxpayers' money is being spent by our government overseas to help

Europeans develop weapons and products that compete with our own. Japan is spending 135 million dollars this year to influence our elected officials. We want "fair" trade, not "free" trade. There is no free trade in the world. All em- ployees must become involved and let their elected representatives know they are concerned about their jobs and the industrial base and security of the United States.

William Haggett, president and CEO of Bath Iron Works, repre- senting the shipbuilding segment of the marine industry noted that the industry iS in real peril and sinking rapidly. The whole industry is in

MARIK2 MACHINE ttwcs

Circle 240 on Reader Service Card

Principals at the forum (L to R): Jack Flanigan, chairman of the board, MMA; J.P. Janetatos, director, MMA; James Fromfield, vice president, MMA; Larry Holley, president, MMA; and

Dan Marangiello, executive director, MMA.

Maritime Reporter/Engineering News