Global Greater Green Bay
Fincantieri Marine Group By: Eric Dent, Director of Communication, Fincantieri Marine Group
F
incantieri Marine Group (FMG) has recently established itself as one of the most important maritime companies in the U.S. shipbuilding market, but its nautical ties are global and the most diverse in the industry. FMG is slated to move its Wisconsin-based support office to Marina Circle in Ashwaubenon later in October. From there, they will support the logistics and administration of the shipyards responsible for the design, construction, and maintenance efforts of some of the most important vessels in the U.S. maritime environment. Fincantieri’s three main U.S. shipyards are all within an hour of Green Bay; Fincantieri Marinette Marine (Marinette), Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding (Sturgeon Bay), and Fincantieri ACE Marine (Green Bay) form FMG’s ‘system of shipyards’ here in Northeastern Wisconsin. From these locations they
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build and repair vessels seen daily on the Great Lakes and throughout the world. Current projects at these shipyards are creating excitement throughout the maritime industry, as the Fincantieri team is building two additional LNG bunkering barges to add to the one which was built at Sturgeon Bay and delivered earlier this year. In addition to these high-demand LNG barges, the Bay Shipbuilding crew is also constructing a 639-ft. bulk carrier for Interlake Steamship, which will be the first built on the Great Lakes in more than 35 years. This vessel is scheduled to be delivered this year. On the other side of the Bay, Fincantieri Marinette Marine is finishing up construction of the 14th and final Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ship for the U.S. Navy, while starting construction on a completely new and larger class of ships, the Constellation-class frigate also for the U.S. Navy.
Construction on the first-in-class frigate is starting this summer, and the first delivery is expected in 2026. Marinette has also secured contracts for the next two frigates, and has contract options to build a total of ten ships over the next couple of decades. Green Bay-based ACE Marine has remained busy fabricating aluminum superstructures for the LCS. ACE is an aluminum welding center of excellence, and accounts for the vast majority of the U.S. Coast Guard’s medium-sized response boats seen in ports worldwide. These small but capable vessels keep U.S. interests safe, at home and abroad. Recently launched Navy warships are put through rigorous testing on Lake Michigan,