U.S. Shipbuilding Industry: Selected Issues and Analyses

The U.S. shipbuilding and repairing industry is comprised of establishments that are primarily engaged in operating shipyards, which are fixed facilities with drydocks and fabrication equipment. Shipyard activities include ship construction, repair, conversion and alteration, as well as the production of prefabricated ship and barge sections and other specialized services. The industry also includes manufacturing and other facilities outside of the shipyard, which provide parts or services for shipbuilding activities within a shipyard, including routine maintenance and repair services from floating drydocks not connected with a shipyard. The purpose of this book is to measure the economic importance of the U.S. shipbuilding and repairing industry; identify key practices employed by leading commercial ship buyers and shipbuilders that ensure satisfactory cost, schedule, and ship performance; determine the extent to which Navy shipbuilding programs employ these practices; and evaluate how commercial and Navy business environments incentivize the use of best practices.