Page 39: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (January 2018)

Ship Repair’s “Destination of Choice”

Images: BAE Systems

Above: BAE Systems ship repair yard in Jacksonville, FL.

Lef : David M. T omas Jr.

From government to commercial to megayacht owners and everything in between – the

BAE Systems ship repair yard in Jacksonville, Florida is well-positioned to prosper. David

BAE Systems Jacksonville

M. Thomas, Jr.’s , who at the time of our interview was Vice President & General Manager,

Ship Repair Capabilities

Southeast Shipyards, Ship Repair, BAE Systems*, explains.

No matter where the conversation starts with David M. and how we can ful? ll those needs,” said Thomas. “It is a will-

SUSTAIN AFDM-7 Floating Dry Dock

Thomas, Jr., it always seems to end in the same place: people. ingness to not simply listen, but to leverage past experience to • Designed by Everett Paci? c Ship-

Particularly the importance of people to the operation and suc- help with current needs.” building Co. Jan 1945 cess of BAE System’s Southeast Shipyards, Ship Repair yard. Thomas realizes that the business of ship repair transcends • Purchased from the Department of “Safety is one of our core values,” said Thomas. “By that, we tools and technical capability, as he looks to foster a true dia-

Defense January 2008 empower everyone in the yard to stop the work if something’s logue and relationship with customers, aiming to make his fa- • Certi? ed by Naval Sea Systems Com- not right. But we take it to the next level. It is not that you have cility the preferred choice.

mand the ability to stop work, you have the responsibility to do so if “I want to do great for all of our clients, and the phrase I • Docked 200 vessels since June you recognize something as potentially bad or unsafe. People like to use is ‘destination of choice.’ We want our customers 2000 are accountable for being a part of the solution.” to come here and see what we do – I’m happy to give them a

Closely in step with core value number one is the second, in tour – and then to come here with their work, and then to come 4,000T Marine Railway & Side Transfer that everyone’s voice matters. “From a temp to a new hire to a back again.” • Designed by Crandall Dry Dock Engi- visitor, your voice matters; which leads our third core value in And his means to achieve this end? You guessed it, an invest- neers that we must constantly look for ways to improve. Speak up, ment in people.

• Certi? ed by Naval Sea Systems Com- make your voice heard, and look for constant improvement are “We have invested in proactive outreach to our customers, mand my three core tenants for safety.” which is an investment in having the right staff and ensuring • Side Transfer Capacity of 2,800

And not by coincidence, all of the core values revolve around they are trained properly,” said Thomas. “This is a deliberate

Long Tons people. “If this is not a safe place to work, I am not able to investment of our human capital.” • Docked more than 800 vessels attract the employees that I need, I am not able to attract the Making his job and that of his staff all the more challenging customers to trust us with their ships,” Thomas said. is the diversity of BAE System’s client base, which includes

In fact, since Thomas took command of the yard in 2014 navy, other government customers, commercial repair and 1,000T Marine Railway & Side Transfer (*Note: David M. Thomas, Jr., was recently named to lead yacht owners. • Designed by Crandall Dry Dock Engi-

BAE ship repair yard in San Diego after three years as Vice “All (customers) are very similar in some regards, but each neers

President & General Manager, Southeast Shipyards, Ship Re- group has speci? c desires and standards,” said Thomas. “Bal- • Third Party commercially certi? ed pair, BAE Systems in Jacksonville, FL), he credits a change in ancing that is critical. We have a staff with varied backgrounds • Side Transfer Capacity of 900 Long people skills as one of the leading changes at the yard during and talent bases, and if this were football it’s like having peo-

Tons his tenure. ple that can go both ways: offense, defense and maybe even • Docked over 660 vessel “One major improvement has been customer dialogue, that punt! So our team members have speci? c skills as well as the interaction with all of our customers to discover their needs ability to adjust.” www.marinelink.com 39

MR #1 (34-41).indd 39 MR #1 (34-41).indd 39 1/9/2018 2:38:03 PM1/9/2018 2:38:03 PM