The Department of Defense's Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) today
announced the selection of 24 new projects for negotiation as a result of the
FY 1995 MARITECH competition. Combined, these 24 projects are expected to
receive a total of $18.7 million in government FY 1995 funding. The projects
were selected from a total of 64 proposals received, and include 18 major U.S.
shipbuilding companies.
The 24 projects include efforts in (1) advanced shipyard process and shipboard
product technology development, and (2) near-term ship design and construction
technology application projects. Advanced shipyard process and shipboard
product technology projects are in areas such as computer assisted
design/construction, advanced hull forms, ship navigation and control systems,
robotic welding, composite structures, and advanced propulsors. The near-term
ship design and construction technology application projects include such
vessel categories as high-speed ferries and roll-on/roll-off cargo,
multipurpose cargo, and liquefied natural gas carrier technology.
Now in its second year, the five-year MARITECH Program is a Federal effort to
develop and apply advanced technology to improve the competitiveness of the
U.S. shipbuilding industry and thereby preserve the capability for Navy ship
construction. MARITECH is matching industry investment with Federal funds on a
competitive basis to develop and implement technologies and advanced processes
for the competitive ship design, marketing, construction, and support.
MARITECH-developed technologies and processes for merchant marine requirements
will be applied to Navy combatants, resulting in improved ship performance and
more affordable ship acquisition for the U.S. military. The MARITECH-developed
technologies and processes now being implemented in the shipbuilding industry
will result in long-term effects that:
. preserve the shipbuilding industrial infrastructure for future mobilization
contingencies; e.g., shipways, skilled artisans, and marine supplier base;
. ensure affordable Navy ship construction using world-class, Navy-applicable
commercial shipbuilding processes and technologies; and
. facilitate the U.S. shipbuilding industry's reentrance into the burgeoning
international commercial market during a period of reduced Jones Act and Navy
construction.
MARITECH is managed by ARPA in consultation with the Maritime Administration
and the Navy's Office of Naval Research. Over the five-year program, the
anticipated total government funding is $220 million. Because all government
funding is at least matched by participants, the program's total impact will
amount to at least $440 million to improve the competitiveness of the U.S.
shipbuilding industry.
A full list of selected proposals and companies is attached.
Near-Term Ship Design and Construction Technology (BAA #95-02)
Advanced Shipyard Process and Shipboard Product Technology Developmenr (BAA #94-44) [not available]
