The Impact of Declining Navy Budgets on United States Shipyards

Abstract

U.S. shipyards are an integral component of the nation's defense infrastructure. Shipyards provide shipbuilding capability and repair support for the U.S. Navy and the U.S.-flag fleet. During the 1980s, however, U.S. Navy shipbuilding, repair, and modernization programs achieved dominance over commercial vessel shipyard work. Commercial business at U.S. shipyards declined to a point where by 1991 Navy work accounted for ninety percent of the direct labor hours at the biggest five shipyards within the United States. With the end of the Cold War and the downsizing of the armed forces, U.S. shipyards now face years of declining Navy budgets. This thesis addresses the shipbuilding industry, the factors contributing to the decline in commercial shipbuilding orders, the growth of Navy shipbuilding work, and proposes avenues whereby U.S. shipyards can regain a competitive foothold in the international commercial shipbuilding market.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1992
Accession Number
ADA262089

Entities

People

  • Christopher A. Clayton

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aircraft Carriers
  • Boats
  • Commerce
  • Employment
  • Engineers
  • Government (Foreign)
  • Governments
  • Intergovernmental Organizations
  • International Organizations
  • International Trade
  • Manufacturing
  • Marine Transportation
  • National Security
  • Naval Warfare
  • Navy
  • Second World War
  • United States

Readers

  • Defense Acquisition Program Management
  • Military History / Militaries and War Studies
  • Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering.