Page 25: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (December 1987)

U.S. NAVY BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES —AN UPDATE—

By Dr. James R. McCaul, President,

International Maritime Associates, Inc.

NAVY PROGRAM

OFFERS BILLIONS

IN SALES OPPORTUNITIES

TO SUPPLIERS

The U.S. Navy has clearly become the dominant customer for marine suppliers and shipyards in this country. While the pace of new proj- ects has slowed, Navy continues to provide a flow of new business op-

Photo—USS Whidbey Island (LSD-41) lead ship for a class of dock landing ships. portunities for shipbuilders and ship system manufacturers.

This article gives an update of the

Navy business developments and future opportunities. It is based on information provided on a continu- ing basis to subscribers to IMA's quarterly business reports on Navy procurement and maintenance busi- ness. Details are available from

IMA. 1. STATUS OF NAVY

SHIPBUILDING

Programs of most interest to ship- builders are new starts planned in the near future. They include the

SSN 21, LSD 41 cargo variant, a new class of oceanographic ship, jumboization of the AO 177 fleet oil- er and procurement of a new class of high speed patrol boat.

Equipment suppliers should also be interested in programs which have moved to early production.

They include the DDG 51 Aegis destroyer being built by Bath and

Ingalls, the TAO 187 fleet oiler now being built by Avondale and

PennShip, and the AOE 6 fast combat ship under construction at

NASSCO.

Even selected mature programs offer business opportunities to equipment manufacturers. They in- clude the CVN aircraft carriers on order and planned, the CG 47 Aegis cruiser program finishing up at In- galls and Bath, and the Trident sub- marine program at General Dynam- ics-Electric Boat.

The status of key shipbuilding (continued)

December, 1987 33