The awards are part of $35.18 million distributed to 45 shipyards in 24 states and one U.S. territory. The program is intended to support shipyard modernization, productivity improvements and local employment opportunities. 

In Michigan, Champions Auto Ferry Inc. in Algonac received $53,500. The yard plans to use the funding for a hot tank to clean internal areas of diesel engine blocks and heads, as well as a lathe. 

Dean Marine and Excavating Inc. in Dearborn received $1 million to restore full operational capability to the shipyard’s existing 158-foot floating drydock. 

North Shore Marine Terminal & Logistics Inc. in Escanaba received $898,022 for a floating drydock control modernization project. The work includes replacing four main ballast intake valves, upgrading manual control valves throughout the ballast system and installing an automated valve actuation system with electric actuators, control logic and a remote human-machine interface. The project also includes electronic tank-level sensing. 

In Wisconsin, Fincantieri Marine Group LLC’s Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay received $1.273 million. The grant will fund a CNC profile cutter and a 100-ton rough-terrain crane. 

Shipbuilders of Wisconsin Inc., doing business as Burger Boat Company, in Manitowoc received $568,720 for a digital engineering ship infrastructure system centered on ShipConstructor software. 

The Burger Boat project also includes 10 high-performance engineering workstations, five mobile workstations for off-yard use by managers, 10 tablets for use during project walkthroughs with customers and shipyard personnel, and a laser scanning system for real-time build inspection and validation. 

Feature photo: Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding/photo courtesy of John Touscany