Department Of Defense Officials Visit Gulf Coast Shipyards
Late last month, a group of senior leaders from the U.S. Department of Defense visited a pair of Gulf Coast shipyards, with stops at Bollinger Mississippi Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Miss., and Eastern Shipbuilding Group in Panama City, Fla.
The group from Washington D.C. included Brett Seidle, acting Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition, and Rear. Adm. Tom Anderson, program executive officer ships (PEO Ships). Several other Department of Defense officials also toured the facilities. Representatives from both shipyards said the visits underscored the renewed focus on advancing domestic shipbuilding capabilities in the United States, with shipyards building a robust and resilient fleet for the future.
“We are proud to play a vital role in sustaining and expanding America’s shipbuilding capacity,” said Joey D’Isernia, CEO of Eastern Shipbuilding Group. “This visit reaffirms the importance of investment in U.S. shipbuilding, and we stand ready to meet the nation’s needs.”
Besides showcasing its shipbuilding resume, Eastern also highlighted an infrastructure improvement project at its Nelson Street government shipbuilding facility, which includes the construction of 1,000 linear feet of additional bulkhead and berthing space, installation of associated heavy weather mooring infrastructure, the extension of the launch facility by 120 feet to increase the total launch way length to over 500 feet, and the final dredging of vessel berthing spaces and the shipyard turning basin. Those enhancements will significantly increase Eastern’s capability to construct and deliver multiple ships per year, supporting future Department of Defense shipbuilding goals.
During the group’s visit to Bollinger’s Pascagoula shipyard, Seidle and Anderson toured the facility, engaged with Bollinger’s shipyard personnel, and were briefed by Bollinger leadership on current and future projects. Bollinger Mississippi currently builds the T-AGS and APL programs for the U.S. Navy, as well as the Polar Security Cutter program of the U.S. Coast Guard.
“Bollinger Shipyards was honored to welcome Dr. Seidle and Rear Adm. Anderson to Pascagoula,” said Ben Bordelon, president and CEO of Bollinger Shipyards. “We take great pride in our contribution to America’s maritime industrial base and remain dedicated to maintaining our legacy of quality, durability and innovation in shipbuilding. This visit provided a unique opportunity to demonstrate our skilled American workforce, capabilities and ongoing commitment to fulfilling the critical needs of our national defense.”
Featured image caption: A group of U.S. Department of Defense visited Eastern Shipbuilding Group last month. The group, along with shipyard personnel, included (from left) Capt. Cedric McNeal, executive assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition; Jon Letourneau, vice president of government programs for Eastern; Rear Adm. Tom Anderson, program executive office ships (PEO Ships); Brett Seidle, acting Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition; Joey D’Isernia, chairman and CEO of Eastern Shipbuilding Group; Brendan D’Isernia with Eastern Shipbuilding Group; Capt. Chris Causee, chief of staff for the deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Ship Programs; and Chris Marchefsky, principal civilian deputy and chief of staff for the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition.
