Women Navy Divers Meet Same Standards as Men
On March 14, 1975, 22-year-old Californian woman Donna Tobias graduated from the US Navy Second Class Dive School to become the first woman deepsea diver in the Navy.Marking the 50th anniversary of women’s integration into the US Navy Diving community, the Association of Women Navy Divers highlights that over 300 women have now graduated from the Navy’s schools.The society recounts that this happened during a period of immense change brought about by the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment through Congress in 1972. Admiral Elmo R.
US Strikes Suspected Drug Vessel in the Pacific
The U.S. military killed two alleged drug smugglers in a strike against a vessel in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Wednesday, an attack that expands the Trump administration's use of the military in its counter-narcotics campaign.The strike is the first known U.S. military operation in the Pacific since President Donald Trump started a new military offensive against the drug trade that has led to at least seven strikes in the Caribbean and dramatically raised U.S.
Survivors from Struck Caribbean Vessel Held Aboard US Navy Ship
The U.S. military is holding two survivors aboard a Navy ship after rescuing them from a suspected drug vessel in the Caribbean hit by a U.S. strike that killed two others, three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Friday.The disclosure, which has not been previously reported, raises the possibility that the survivors from Thursday's strike are the first prisoners of war in a conflict declared by President Donald Trump against a "narcoterrorist" threat he says is…
Blue Water Autonomy Appoints Advisory Board
Boston-based Blue Water Autonomy, a company designing and producing unmanned ships for the U.S. Navy, has formed an Advisory Board whose members include:• RADM (ret.) Tom Anderson, former Program Executive Officer, Ships (PEO Ships)• Stephen Rodriguez, Chairman of Blue Forge Alliance & dual-use investor• Michael Stewart, former Director, Navy Disruptive Capabilities Office and Unmanned Task Force• VADM (ret.) Roy Kitchener, former Commander, Naval Surface Forces Pacific"As we enter the next phase of growth…
Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. to Support Unit Production of U.S. Navy Destroyers
Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. (ESG) has announced an agreement with HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding Division to support the limited production of outfitted structural units for the U.S. Navy’s Flight III Arleigh Burke-class (DDG 51) guided missile destroyers.Building on the success of a recent pilot program in which ESG constructed a limited number of DDG units at its Nelson Street Facility in Panama City, Florida, the two companies have entered into an agreement that supports the expansion of the domestic industrial base and advances the U.S.
US Strike on Venezuelan Vessel Kills Eleven
Senior U.S. national security officials said on Wednesday that military operations against cartels would continue, setting the stage for a sustained military campaign in Latin America even as basic questions about a deadly strike against a vessel from Venezuela remained unanswered.The U.S. military killed 11 people on Tuesday in a strike on a vessel from Venezuela allegedly carrying illegal narcotics, in the first known operation since President Donald Trump's recent deployment of warships to the southern Caribbean.Little is known about the strike…
No Injuries Reported as Fire breaks Out on USS New Orleans Offshore Japan
A fire broke out on U.S. naval ship New Orleans off southern Japan's Okinawa prefecture on Wednesday but there are no reports of any injuries, the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) said on Wednesday.An official from Japan's Defense Ministry said the country's Self-Defence Forces were engaging in firefighting efforts, but that no further details were available.The JCG said one of its ships near the U.S. vessel was also preparing to join the effort to bring the blaze under control, adding that no oil leaks had been observed in nearby waters.(Reuters)
The US Navy Drone Fleet Faces Dysfunction
During a U.S. naval test off the California coast last month, which was designed to showcase the Pentagon’s top autonomous drone boats, one vessel stalled unexpectedly.As officials scrambled to fix a software glitch, another drone vessel smashed into the idling boat’s starboard side, vaulted over the deck, and crashed back into the water – an incident captured in videos obtained by Reuters.The previously unreported episode, which involved two vessels built by U.S. defense tech rivals Saronic and BlackSea Technologies…
Drug Cartels: Three US Destroyers Head for Venezuela
Three U.S. Aegis guided-missile destroyers will arrive off the coast of Venezuela in the next 36 hours as part of an effort to address threats from Latin American drug cartels, two sources briefed on the matter said on Monday.President Donald Trump has wanted to use the military to go after Latin American drug gangs that have been designated as global terrorist organizations.The sources said the ships are the USS Gravely, USS Jason Dunham and the USS Sampson.A separate U.S. official told Reuters that in total…
Colonna’s Shipyard: Forged in Steel, Anchored in Legacy
Colonna’s Shipyard is a fifth-generation, family-owned medium-sized shipbuilder, led by Randall Crutchfield, Chairman & CEO, today. Founded in 1875 by 26-year-old ship carpenter Charles J. Colonna with a $2,000 loan from his brother, he founded a company that has not only withstood the test of time, but today stands ready as a multi-faceted ‘blue collar industrial complex’ to help in the effort to effectively rebuild the U.S. shipbuilding base, and more specifically to help rebuild the U.S. Navy and U.S. government-owned fleet of ships.
China, US Trade Barbs over U.S. Destroyer Passage near Scarborough Shoal
China's military said on Wednesday it monitored and "drove away" a U.S. destroyer that sailed near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, while the U.S. Navy said its action was in line with international law.The first known U.S. military operation in at least six years within the shoal's waters came a day after the Philippines accused Chinese vessels of "dangerous manoeuvres and unlawful interference" during a supply mission around the atoll.In a statement, the…
Shipbuilding Powers General Dynamic Profit, Revenue
General Dynamics' second-quarter profit and revenue topped analyst estimates, driven by robust orders in its marine segment from Columbia- and Virginia-class submarine programs, boosting shares 5% in early trading.The defense company's nuclear-powered submarine-making marine systems segment produced 22.2% more revenue. The unit is now expected to generate 2025 revenue of $15.6 billion with a 7% margin.During the quarter, the Pentagon modified a submarine production contract awarded to the company's marine segment…
Shipbuilding is a Leverage Point in South Korea's Trump Tariff Negotiations
South Korea and the United States havehttps://www.marinelink.com/news/hanwha-build-usflagged-lng-carrier-528214 been discussing a shipbuilding tie-up that could include investments to modernize U.S. shipyards and more help to repair the U.S. naval fleet as Seoul seeks better tariff terms, government and industry sources said.U.S. President Donald Trump, who has made revitalizing the aging U.S. shipbuilding industry a priority to keep up with China, has repeatedly raised the idea…
U.S. Shipbuilding, Maritime Dominance Requires a New Ecosystem
With all the Legislative fanfare, Executive Orders, Committee meetings, lobbying efforts and media announcements concerning American Shipbuilding, Naval Warfare and Maritime Dominance, it is no surprise that the result of the uproar is shear confusion within the maritime industrial base (MIB). The April 9, 2025 Executive Order Restoring America’s Maritime Dominance lists more than several reports to the President due within 90 days. Following those initial updates other reports are due at 180 and 210 days. The industry as a whole has not seen references to any of the reports being completed.
BPMI, Gecko Robotics Partner to Accelerate Aircraft Carrier Component Production
BPMI, a defense prime contractor for the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, has partnered with Gecko Robotics to introduce advanced manufacturing technology that supports the production of high-quality components installed aboard U.S. Navy nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and submarines. BPMI and its suppliers are working to leverage Gecko’s robotic and AI platforms to reduce inspection time spans on items ranging from simple forgings to complex final component manufacture. Through initial trials…
FMD Wins US Navy DDG(X) Engine Contract
Fairbanks Morse Defense Awarded Contract for FM 175D Engine to Support U.S. Navy’s DDG(X) ProgramFairbanks Morse Defense (FMD), a portfolio company of Arcline Investment Management (Arcline), won a contract to provide the U.S. Navy with an FM 175D high-speed diesel generator engine for integration into the DDG(X) land-based propulsion system test site, supporting the U.S. Navy’s goal of reducing design risks as it continues developing the next-generation platform.Designed to succeed the Flight II Ticonderoga-class cruisers and the Flight I/II Arleigh Burke-class destroyers…
US Aircraft Carrier Steams Toward Middle East Tensions
U.S. aircraft carrier USS Nimitz left the South China Sea on Monday morning heading west, according to data from ship tracking website Marine Traffic, after a reception for its planned port call in central Vietnam was cancelled.The carrier had planned to visit Danang City later this week, but two sources, including one diplomat, said a formal reception slated for June 20 had been called off.One of the sources said the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi had informed him about the cancellation…
Hegseth to Rename Tanker That Honors Veteran Diver, Gay Rights Activist
The U.S. Navy will rename an oil tanker that had been named after slain gay rights activist Harvey Milk, U.S. officials told Reuters on Tuesday, the military's latest move under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to root out diversity, equity and inclusion.In 2016, the U.S. Navy said it would name one of its new class of oil tankers after Milk, a Navy veteran who later became one of the first openly gay people elected to public office in the U.S.The USNS Harvey Milk was christened in 2021, as part of the John Lewis class of tankers.A U.S.
NUWC Division Newport: $2 Billion Impact on Economy in 2024
The total funded program of the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Newport reached $2 billion in 2024, according to the recently released economic impact report.Of its total operating budget, $776 million was spent by Division Newport in civilian payroll and labor, materials, operational expenditures, property maintenance and repair, and military payroll, while $1.2 billion funded contracts.One of two divisions of the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Division Newport has a workforce comprised of 51% government civilian employees…
Future USNS Sojourner Truth Launched
General Dynamics NASSCO has christened and launched Hull 576, the future USNS Sojourner Truth (T-AO 210), the sixth ship for the U.S. Navy’s John Lewis-class fleet oiler program.T-AO 210 is named in honor of Sojourner Truth, a nineteenth century civil rights activist from New York. In a time-honored Navy tradition, ship sponsor Barbara Allen, a sixth-generation descendant of the ship's namesake, christenrf the ship by breaking a bottle of sparkling wine across the bow.John Lewis…
Hepburn and Sons LLC, Stäubli Electrical Connectors to Develop Improved Insulated Bus Pipe for the U.S. Navy
Stäubli Electrical Connectors, a leader in advanced connector solutions, and Hepburn and Sons LLC, a leader in Department of Defense (DoD) technology integration, have announced a strategic partnership to develop an improved version of Insulated Bus Pipe (IBP), tailored to meet the U.S. Navy’s power distribution needs for next-generation high-energy pulsed power systems.This collaboration combines Hepburn’s expertise in DoD technology solutions with Stäubli’s manufacturing and connector design capabilities.
St. Johns Ship Building Wins First USN Shipbuilding Contract
St. Johns Ship Building, owned by Americraft Marine, won its first U.S. Navy shipbuilding contract to construct a Dive Support Vessel (DSV). The new DSV will serve perational roles for the U.S. Navy, including support for specialized diving and underwater support, operations and training. "Securing our first contract with the U.S. Navy is a tremendous achievement and reflects the dedication, talent, and hard work of our entire team," said Joe Rella, President of St. Johns Ship Building.
US to Slash Senior-Most Ranks of Military
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday ordered a 20% reduction in the number of four-star officers, deepening cuts at the Pentagon that have shaken the Department of Defense at the start of President Donald Trump's second term in office.Hegseth has long been vocal about how he views the senior-most ranks of the military as too big.The former Fox News host has moved with stunning speed to reshape the department, firing top generals and admirals as he seeks to implement Trump's national security agenda and root out diversity initiatives he calls discriminatory.In a memo…