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The Navy rolls out a new acquisition strategy designed to shrink shipbuilding timelines and a startup yard in Vancouver, Washington lands its first tug order. Plus Caterpillar enters the marine battery market with a production-ready hybrid and electric system targeting harbor tugs, ferries, and inland workboats.

This Week's Stories


New Playbook: Navy looks to future with PAE model, embrace of autonomy

The Navy has launched a new Portfolio Acquisition Executive strategy placing a single senior leader in charge of each program portfolio with direct contracting authority, aiming to move from compliance-based bureaucracy to outcome-focused execution and shrink the timeline from contract to delivery.

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New Pacific books first shipbuilding order: two tugs for American Marine

Startup shipbuilder New Pacific Industrial in Vancouver, Washington has landed its first new construction program, a pair of 122-foot oceangoing tugs designed by Glosten for American Marine Corp. of Honolulu, which is marking 50 years in business with its first-ever newbuilds.

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Caterpillar develops marine battery system for hybrid, electric vessels

Caterpillar Marine in Houston is developing a production marine battery system using lithium iron phosphate chemistry for hybrid and fully electric vessels, targeting harbor tugs, ferries, and inland workboats, with classification society approvals underway from ABS, DNV, Bureau Veritas, and Lloyd's.

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