While changes will be made within its current shipyard perimeter, FBS is collaborating with the City of Sturgeon Bay and the State of Wisconsin to ensure that all development is recognized and completely coordinated ahead of construction later this year.
FBS is working with its sister shipyard Fincantieri Marinette Marine, which was awarded a $795 million contract for the Navy's first-in-class frigate on April 30, 2020. Building a quality ship in Wisconsin will allow the Navy the ability to exercise options under the original contract for nine additional ships and facilities estimated at $5.5 billion.
FBS will construct large sections of the frigate hull and move them to Marinette by barge across Lake Michigan, just as they do for the construction of the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS). Fincantieri ACE Marine in Green Bay, as part of a collaborative system-of-yard strategy that leverages expertise and skills across the three Wisconsin facilities.
“This opportunity to continue and expand the work we are doing for the Navy with the frigate is exciting for many reasons,” says Todd Thayse, FBS’s vice president and general manager.
FBS will continue its robust commercial building, conversion and repair business. The yard has recently completed work on the new Washington Island Ferry and continues the construction of a self-unloading barge, the Great Lakes freighter, as well as an LNG bunker barge.
“We are always looking for talented women and men in our skilled trades, from steel-fitters to structural welders to fabricators, as well as engineering and business support services to be part of our Wisconsin team. Overall, we will maintain our current workforce numbers and simply train and transition our employees to assist with the frigate program. We look forward to continuing our commercial new construction projects and maintaining our seasonal Winter Fleet repair work that benefits the vessels currently on U.S. and international waterways,” Todd Thayse added.
Maritime Business World