assist in identifying mines and act as a neutralization device. About the Author Bottom mines pose even greater chal- David R. Strachan is a defense analyst and founder of lenges. Unlike contact mines, bottom Strikepod Systems, a research and strategic advisory mines utilize a range of sensors to
from marinas along the western coast. The exact number of lizing laser detection systems can detect mines just below the mines, as well as their locations, remains largely a mystery, surface, even those hiding in murky water. The Airborne Laser although reports suggest that over three hundred have been
MTR Editorial Advisors Gallaudet Hardy The Honorable Tim Gallaudet, Kevin Hardy is President PhD, Rear Admiral, U.S. of Global Ocean Design, Navy (ret) is the CEO of creating components and Ocean STL Consulting and subsystems for unmanned host of The American Blue vehicles, following a career
RADM PHILIP SOBECK, MILITARY SEALIFT COMMAND U.S. Navy photo by Bill Mesta/released U.S. Navy photo by Ryan Carter Rear Adm. Philip Sobeck, Commander, United States Navy’s Military Sealift Command, visits USNS Patuxent (T-AO 201) for a tour of the ship at Naval Station Norfolk, Va., November 20, 2023.
FEATURE INTERVIEW track missiles and warheads for the Mis- sile Defense Agency, and it travels with its support ship, the MV Hercules. For our Service Support ships, we have the two hospital ships, USNS Mer- cy and Comfort; two rescue and salvage ships; two submarine tenders; and the Sixth Fleet ?
RADM PHILIP SOBECK, MILITARY SEALIFT COMMAND With COVID, we had to make some hard choices for our Do your CIVMARs have upward mobility? mariners because we couldn’t rotate. Many of our mariners The Navy has Sailors who become “Mustangs,” and work found other employment, and were able to use their skills
FEATURE INTERVIEW “Over the next decade, 12 new classes of ships will come online and MSC will see up to 20 new ships deliver to the ? eet in the next ? ve years. This includes new oilers, towing, salvage and rescue tugs, and expeditionary fast transports and emergency medical ships. A large
RADM PHILIP SOBECK, MILITARY SEALIFT COMMAND Photo by Brian Suriani USN Military Sealift Command From a global supply chain perspective, What makes MSC so vital to the we’ve learned a lot about dealing with Navy’s ? eet and our military disruptions. COVID delivered a big forces around the world? wake-up
as the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) and renamed Military Sealift Command in 1970, MSC today not only support the Navy, but we are the Department of Defense’s provider of all sealift. Maritime Reporter & Engineering News recently interviewed Rear Adm. Philip Sobeck, U.S. Navy, for insights
2030. Adding dredges, rock installation vessels, cable layers Langford. “With new lease rounds coming and new opportu- and feeder vessels, the U.S. Department of Energy estimates nities, we do not see a big slowdown for OSW developments a total of 110 vessels.” apart from the obvious project delays and
of this tragic event will echo Sobeck is charged to ensure that the U.S. Editor - MarineNews Eric Haun through the maritime, ports and logistics Department of Defense has the appropriate [email protected] community for a generation, and trust it will amount of ready sealift capability, a capabil- Offshore
the Cover: U.S. Navy photograph by Brian Suriani/Released Photo this page: Copyright Björn Wylezich/AdobeStock 16 SOVs: Analyzing the Market Drivers Departments As offshore wind grows globally, so too do the dynamics around SOVs. By Philip Lewis 4 Authors & Contributors 6 Editorial 8 Training Tips for Ships 20
Robinson the Towing Vessel Inspection Bu- Savage Pagan Jayson Robinson has been reau, moving from the operations named Vigor’s vice president of department to member services. fabrication. Webb Institute Promotes Austal USA Names Martin Parsons VP Webb Institute has promoted Mi- Austal USA has named
General Arnold, built by C&C Marine and Repair in Belle 12-inch General Eisenhower, and the 8-inch General Swing. Esperanza “Hope” Andrade The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) christened its new ferry in Galveston Bay. Named for the ? rst female chair of the TxDOT and ? rst Latina Secre- tary
Feature Shipbuilding Loumania Stewart / U.S. Coast Guard focus), which require very different business systems to be in place. “We’ve been able to do both,” he said, noting that having systems in place for government jobs makes East- ern Shipbuilding “move-in ready for the Navy and other DOD agencies
and opera- The notice includes an upfront issue: the need to mitigate tions pose consequences for maybe the next 100 years. con? icts with U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) ac- Safe transit: Coast Guard has “several equities” tivities. BOEM explains that in certain areas the Air Force BOEM’s December
urgency of ad- The recent Executive Order aims to bridge these gaps dressing vulnerabilities in a sector that drives over $5.4 tril- by enhancing the Department of Homeland Security’s au- lion in economic activity annually. This initiative is not thority to mitigate maritime cyber threats and sign
OpEd Shipbuilding U.S. Commercial Shipbuilding and Repair Industry Ensures American Strength at Sea By Matthew Paxton, President, Shipbuilders Council of America As Senator Roger Wicker force, the U.S. is falling behind. China, Korea and Japan of Mississippi once said, “Growth in commercial ship-
current testing modalities that have been approved. We are the challenges involved as well as forthright in describing all strongly supporting the Department of Transportation’s de- the bene? ts so that folks know that the industry is out there cision to allow oral ? uid testing as a drug testing alterna-
$158 billion moved on the U.S. inland waterways system, which includes a vast network of 12,000 miles of connecting waterways and 219 locks. The U.S. Department of Transportation Freight Analysis Framework freight forecasts suggest total water tonnage will increase at an annual growth of 0.7% per year through
COVER FEATURE times of con? ict or in other national said Ebeling. “If you look at Iraq and tors bring to the table, all provided by emergencies, and the program also Afghanistan, 98% of those cargoes the MSP ? eet, and it would cost the provides DoD access to MSP partici- were transported to the
ship security, and that’s increasingly (and The MSP ? eet is available to support in MSP, Endurance is still the most equally) important.” U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) militarily useful vessel in the U.S.-? ag The Maritime Security Program sustainment sealift requirements during ? eet.” The
process, or service does not munication and subediting. of Inland Marine for global com- imply its endorsement by the mercial insurer Allianz Commer- Department of Defense or De- Lewis cial based in New York. partment of the Navy. Philip Lewis is Director Research at Intelatus Global Partners. He van Hemmen
NO.2 / VOL. 86 / FEBRUARY 2024 26 Photo on this page and on the Cover: Courtesy ARC 22 Marine Power: The Future is Now Departments Matt Hart, Wabtec Corporation, offers insights on how the megatrends of decar- bonization, energy transition and autonomy drive engine innovations. 4 Authors & Contributors By