Category: shipbuilding

Profiles in History: William H. Webb, America’s First Naval Architect

William H. Webb (1816-1899) was the son of a shipbuilder who arguably became the most successful and innovative American shipbuilder of the 19th century. Isaac Webb taught his son the art of building ships of sail, as the innovation of the steamboat had yet to arrive. When his father died in 1840, Webb took control…


Man Spends Over a Decade Building 74-foot Steel Boat in Yard, Sails Down Mississippi to Gulf of Mexico

He was dying to live out an adventure. Stuck in a cubicle for 17 years—a database administrator in oil and gas—Doug Jackson, 62, risked everything to try something that “terrified” him by building his own submarine in 2000. But it so happened, this was just the beginning of his ocean adventures. Today, Jackson has stepped up…


I Give Up, What Is the Navy Shipbuilding Plan?

Commentary How many Navy admirals, captains, and miscellaneous action officers on the Navy staff does it take to run a 30-year spreadsheet on the projected size of the U.S. Navy? Well apparently, either not enough or too many are involved at this point. Either way, the end number of the expanded U.S. Navy changes every…


Crown Drops Case Against Federal Public Servant in Shipbuilding Leak Trial

The failed prosecution of vice-admiral Mark Norman loomed large on Thursday as a second federal official accused of leaking cabinet secrets about a $700-million shipbuilding contract walked out of an Ottawa courthouse a free man. More than three years after RCMP charged him with breach of trust, the Crown announced it was dropping its case…


Procurement Minister Defends Shipbuilding Plan Amid Challenges

Canada’s procurement minister is defending the federal government’s multibillion-dollar shipbuilding plan amid mounting concerns about new delays and cost overruns. Procurement Minister Filomena Tassi used a speech to a major arms industry conference today to note that shipyards in Halifax and Vancouver have delivered five large ships to the Royal Canadian Navy and Canadian Coast…


International Shipbuilding Contracts Fuel Modernization of Chinese Navy: Report

International demand for commercial ships is fueling the growth of the Chinese navy, according to a new report, which found that billions of dollars in foreign shipbuilding contracts could be being used by Beijing to fund new combat vessels. The new report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a security-focused think tank, found…


Man Accused of Trying to Spy for China ‘Willing to Be of Paramount Service’ to Chinese Authorities: Documents From Halted Prosecution

Documents from a halted prosecution detail how a Canadian man accused of trying to spy for China was “willing to be of paramount service” to the Chinese authorities. The criminal proceedings against naval engineer Qing Quentin Huang for allegedly attempting to spy for China were halted by Ontario Superior Court Justice Michael Dambrot on Dec….


More Than 1,000 Australians Ready for Naval Shipbuilding Careers

More than 1,000 Australians are ready to join the naval workforce as shipbuilders after the Naval Shipbuilding College (NSC) reached a major milestone in preparing them for their careers. Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said the achievement demonstrated how the Morrison government has been working to deliver a generation of jobs in the sector….