Tony Ardito named president of Birdon America
Birdon Group reports that Tony Ardito has become the new president of Birdon America, effective January 27, 2025. Ardito, who has held key leadership positions at BAE Systems and Austal USA, brings
Waterways Commerce Cutter
Birdon buys Metal Shark Bayou La Batre shipyard
Australia’s Birdon Group reports that its Birdon America Inc. subsidiary has acquired Metal Shark Boats’ 32-acre Bayou La Batre shipyard in Alabama. It says that the acquisition brings a fully developed shipyard
GAO denies bid protest of waterways commerce cutter award
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has rejected a bid protest filed by Steiner Construction Company, Inc., a small business of Bayou La Batre, Alabama, against the continued performance of a contract awarded
Birdon names Spencer Johnson ship design director
Former Austal USA chief naval architect Spencer Johnson has joined Birdon as its ship design director. In that role, he will lead Birdon’s engineering and integrated product teams as they work to
Master Boat Builders to build Waterways Commerce Cutter superstructures
Birdon America, Inc. has selected Master Boat Builders, Inc. of Coden, Alabama, to build the superstructure for the Coast Guard’s Waterways Commerce Cutter (WCC) Program. Birdon has a contract worth a potential
Coast Guard budget request funds key shipbuilding programs
Highlights of the Department of Homeland Security’s 2022 budget request for the U.S. Coast Guard include $170 million to fund Polar Security Cutter program management and provide for long lead time materials
USCG issues waterways commerce cutter RFP
The U.S. Coast Guard Acquisition Directorate reports that the Coast Guard waterways commerce cutter (WCC) program released a request for proposal (RFP) on April 30 for the design and construction of its
CRS issues update on Waterways Commerce Cutter
The Congressional Research Service (CRS) has released an updated “In Focus” brief on the U.S. Coast Guard’s Waterways Commerce Cutter (WCC) program, which envisages procuring up to 35 replacements for the Coast
USCG releases draft specs for Waterways Commerce Cutter variants
The U.S. Coast Guard is pressing ahead with its plan to replace the capabilities of 13 Inland Construction Tenders (WLIC) and 18 River Buoy Tenders (WLR) with a new class of Waterways