Recap: US Shipbuilding Renaissance Panel
On July 15, the shipbuilding group Fincantieri hosted a panel in Washington, D.C., to analyze the challenges and opportunities for shipbuilding in the U.S.
The experts at the event, “Full Speed Ahead: The U.S. Shipbuilding Renaissance,” emphasized the potential for defense innovation and investment in domestic production to strengthen national security and bolster local economies.
Kicking off the discussion, George Moutafis, CEO of Fincantieri Marine Group, spoke about the company’s dedication to its partnership with the U.S. He referenced the shipyards in the Great Lakes that support the full life cycle of Navy, Coast Guard, and commercial fleets, and the recent completion of the world’s largest cruise terminal in Florida.
Jan Allman, CEO of Fincantieri Marinette Marine (FMM), explained how the Wisconsin shipyard transformed the struggling Marinette community into a thriving middle-class economy.
During the panel discussion, Dr. Cynthia Cook (Center for Strategic and International Studies), Russell Rumbaugh (Atlantic Council, former assistant secretary of the Navy), and Dr. Stacie Pettyjohn (Center for a New American Security) shared their expertise with the moderator, Vice Adm. Richard Hunt, president of FMM. The conversation highlighted the U.S.’s lag in shipbuilding relative to China. The takeaway was that, ultimately, opportunity lies in innovation and investment as the path to success for the shipbuilding renaissance.
Pettyjohn pointed out the complexity of the issue: “I don’t think we have an innovation problem. I think we have an innovation adoption problem.”
Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO of Fincantieri, concluded the event by emphasizing the company’s commitment to strengthening its U.S. presence, which it has maintained for the past 18 years. Folgiero said the way forward includes the production of icebreaker and cable-laying ships in support of the U.S. national security strategy and the modernization of the Jacksonville yard for maintenance, repair, and overhaul work. Fincantieri will also create an engineering lab in Wisconsin and extend university partnerships to invest in innovation.