$24MM in 2026 dollars for a shipyard doesn’t sound like very much to me.
You are right it is not. But it might be a start.
I agree. $24 million is about 10% of the Supergirl budget or what a star quarterback makes in 8 games.
Just be glad the S. Koreans are helping us with ship building.
That’s what I was thinking. You can’t get much of a shipyard for that. According to AI, Huntington Ingalls has spent about $1 billion upgrading the shipyard in Mississippi.
$24 million for the committee to pick the consultants to study the problem.
“$24MM in 2026 dollars for a shipyard doesn’t sound like very much to me.”
Enough to sandblast a few docks, but it will take another 24M just to get primer down.
If we are to regain competitiveness and become secure in maritime trade, the shipbuilding industry must, of course, be rebuilt but it must be thoroughly automated. We have no chance of doing what China does, but on smaller scale. AI has to ride to the rescue, or we fail.
“$24MM in 2026 dollars for a shipyard doesn’t sound like very much to me.”
It might purchase two of the required four propellers for an aircraft carrier.
“$24MM in 2026 dollars for a shipyard doesn’t sound like very much to me.”
I worked in a shipyard for 20 years (safety manager). We spent a half of that just refurbishing our drydock one time. Here’s something to help put in perspective:
“Austal USA is expanding its Mobile, Alabama shipyard to include steel shipbuilding and repair capabilities, a move facilitated by a $50 million U.S. government contract matched by Austal’s own investment. This expansion involves the purchase of former World Marine of Alabama (formerly Bender Shipbuilding) assets, including a 20,000-ton floating dry dock and waterfront property, to support future U.S. Navy contracts and repair work.”