Five US shipbuilders and repairers to form marine service group

US companies Vigor, Continental Maritime of San Diego, MHI Ship Repair and Services, Seaward Marine Services, and Accurate Marine Environmental will be unified under a single services group known as the Vigor Marine Group (VMG).

Vigor said that, as a full-service prime contractor, the group will deliver comprehensive solutions for the maintenance, modernisation, and lifecycle management of military and commercial vessels across the United States.

"Together, we can provide customers the strength of a national platform combined with the responsiveness of local shipyards," said Francesco Valente, CEO of VMG.

The group will offer a broad range of services including drydocking as well as pierside and topside marine services, with integrated project management teams on both coasts to ensure the return of vessels to service on schedule.

VMG will be composed of three main divisions: maintenance and modernisation; marine services; and marine fabrication, which will focus on the manufacture of small craft for defence, fisheries and commercial customers.

VMG will operate from five shipyards and eight drydocks across five states on both the East and West Coasts with a 2,600-strong workforce.