The Fincantieri Marine Group (FMG) has said it will direct about US$9.6 million from the US Navy and the US Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) towards workforce development and advanced manufacturing equipment at its Wisconsin shipyards.
The package comprises approximately US$8.3 million through the navy's Shipbuilding Capability Industrial Base (SCIB) programme and a US$1,273,202 MARAD Small Shipyard Grant.
Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay will receive the MARAD award for a CNC profile cutter, along with a rough terrain crane with a 100-ton rating.
The US$9.6 million funding forms part of a US$35.18 million distribution to 45 shipyards across 24 states and one US territory.
FMG said the funding will expand its yards' capabilities in automation, welding, forming and cutting. The aim is to improve production efficiency and support the navy’s medium landing ship programme and other shipbuilding requirements.
Earlier SCIB funding is supporting a weld lab now under development at Fincantieri Marinette Marine. The facility is intended to provide more in-house welding instruction, qualification and recertification.
Fincantieri said it has invested more than US$800 million in its three Wisconsin shipyards and its Jacksonville, Florida repair facility over roughly two decades.
