New Canadian Shipbuilding Strategy

[lenaitch]

But too often, over my career, and in my life, the cry has gone out: "Reduce Costs!"
Never "Raise revenues!"
And never, ever "Do things differently". Because change implies risk.

That's only when accountants ('beancounters') are in positions of power or decision-making. Otherwise, the profession reports on the outcomes of decisions made by others.

 

[Nvlgzr]

Where computers conflict with ships....

Shipyards compete with AI for engines - Splash247

A familiar constraint from shipping’s last great shipbuilding boom is beginning to reappear: yards are short of engines. Splash understands a lack of available main engines is now curbing shipyard output at the margin, echoing conditions last seen during the 2007 ordering frenzy. The pressure is...

splash247.com

Almost every jurisdiction in the world now finds itself scrounging for electricity to feed Data Centers that are deemed essential to modern life.
This is driving up the price of electricity and driving down its availability if not its supply.
This is, in turn, is driving Data Centers to places where they can find cheap energy, cheap fuel, like Alberta, where they can generate their own electricity without disrupting the local grid.

But even in Alberta there is concern that the demand for fuel in the form of natural gas will be so great that it will drive that price up to world standards.

And the conversion of that energy to electricity happens with internal combustion engines.

The same ones needed to power ships.

At least until the ships and data centers start competing for nuclear reactors.

3rd option: megawatt scale fuel cells operating on natural gas. As with internal combustion engines, carbon capture will need to be a consideration of NG fuelled projects.
4th option: NG fueled gas turbines driving generators ie. GE-7FA, MT30. See Elon Musk’s Colossus data centres: Elon Musk’s xAI datacenter generating extra electricity illegally, regulator rules

 

[Kirkhill]

That's only when accountants ('beancounters') are in positions of power or decision-making. Otherwise, the profession reports on the outcomes of decisions made by others.

You are right.

My sense of the problem is that when a company reaches the mature stage where it is no longer growing but hasn't started dying boards often turn to accountants to manage the company as if the revenue stream will continue unchanged and manage itself, failing to recognize that successful companies attract competitors and markets become saturated.

Truly successful companies, like truly succesful armies, have to keep taking risks and looking for new avenues to exploit.

 

[Kirkhill]

3rd option: megawatt scale fuel cells operating on natural gas. As with internal combustion engines, carbon capture will need to be a consideration of NG fuelled projects.
4th option: NG fueled gas turbines driving generators ie. GE-7FA, MT30. See Elon Musk’s Colossus data centres: Elon Musk’s xAI datacenter generating extra electricity illegally, regulator rules

I look forwards to seeing all these alternative powerplants.

Another factor is managing the cooling load.

That opens up the option of Tri-Generation Power plants with the heat from the power generation (fuel cell, turbine or ICE), being used to drive absorption chillers and the waste used to serve the local community.

 

[YZT580]

You are right.

My sense of the problem is that when a company reaches the mature stage where it is no longer growing but hasn't started dying boards often turn to accountants to manage the company as if the revenue stream will continue unchanged and manage itself, failing to recognize that successful companies attract competitors and markets become saturated.

Truly successful companies, like truly succesful armies, have to keep taking risks and looking for new avenues to exploit.

example: Boeing

 

[Colin Parkinson]

I have seen some poor bridge setups in my time, often a afterthought it seems for such a vital area.

- Cyprus Shipping News

Large screens, advanced control systems and increasing automation are shaping modern ship bridges. But new technology does not necessarily make […]

cyprusshippingnews.com

 

[Kirkhill]

USN hires a civilian Vessel Construction Manager as prime contractor for the new LSMs the Marines wanted.
The Marines have been arguing for years they wanted a cheap, simple, civilian platform for island-hopping in the Pacific.
The Navy insisted on the same standards applied to the LCS, the Zumwalts and the Constellations.

'Innovative shift': Navy bets $2.2 billion on new vessel construction manager strategy for LSM - Breaking Defense

The Navy said that the contract award seeks to "maximize commercial practices to accelerate delivery" of the vessels.

breakingdefense.com

The Navy has tapped maritime company TOTE Services to serve as the vessel construction manager (VCM) for the Landing Ship Medium (LSM) program.

The Navy announced the $2.2 billion contract award on Monday, and said it aims to “maximize commercial practices to accelerate delivery, improve cost discipline, and expand the U.S. shipbuilding industrial base,” according to a service news release.

While the VCM model is common in commercial shipbuilding, it is a departure from the Navy’s status quo, with TOTE serving as the service’s first VCM. The VCM has the prime contract, and as a result, has direct contractual oversight of construction and delivery for the LSM, the Navy said Monday.

“The VCM strategy is an innovative shift in Navy shipbuilding. We are changing the way we do business, and leveraging commercial best practices to improve cost, schedule, and performance,” Will Mahan, who is performing the duties of assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition, said in a statement on Monday.

....

Something of a developing theme across NATO:

Civilian where possible.
Military where necessary.

 

[Halifax Tar]

USN hires a civilian Vessel Construction Manager as prime contractor for the new LSMs the Marines wanted.
The Marines have been arguing for years they wanted a cheap, simple, civilian platform for island-hopping in the Pacific.
The Navy insisted on the same standards applied to the LCS, the Zumwalts and the Constellations.

'Innovative shift': Navy bets $2.2 billion on new vessel construction manager strategy for LSM - Breaking Defense

The Navy said that the contract award seeks to "maximize commercial practices to accelerate delivery" of the vessels.

breakingdefense.com

The Navy has tapped maritime company TOTE Services to serve as the vessel construction manager (VCM) for the Landing Ship Medium (LSM) program.

The Navy announced the $2.2 billion contract award on Monday, and said it aims to “maximize commercial practices to accelerate delivery, improve cost discipline, and expand the U.S. shipbuilding industrial base,” according to a service news release.

While the VCM model is common in commercial shipbuilding, it is a departure from the Navy’s status quo, with TOTE serving as the service’s first VCM. The VCM has the prime contract, and as a result, has direct contractual oversight of construction and delivery for the LSM, the Navy said Monday.

“The VCM strategy is an innovative shift in Navy shipbuilding. We are changing the way we do business, and leveraging commercial best practices to improve cost, schedule, and performance,” Will Mahan, who is performing the duties of assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition, said in a statement on Monday.

....

Something of a developing theme across NATO:

Civilian where possible.
Military where necessary.

There is a lesson from the Flower class that came from a civilian whaler, the Southern Pride.