Japan and South Korea helping U.S. seeks to revive idled shipyards

  

U.S. seeks to revive idled shipyards with help of Japan, South Korea

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. used to have 13 public shipyards, churning out warships at a high pace. But with the end of the Cold War, many of them closed down. The world was entering an era of peace and there was no need to maintain such capacity, the thinking went.
 
China's rapid fleet expansion has changed the perspective. Supported by the world's largest shipbuilding industry, China is expected to expand its battle force of over 370 ships and submarines today to 400 by 2025 and 440 by 2030.
 
The current size of the U.S. Navy, at just under 300 ships and submarines, is already smaller than China's. The Navy leadership has called for a future fleet size of around 380, but the pace of construction pales in comparison.
 
To reverse the trend, the U.S. Navy is considering reviving some of the dormant shipyards. In doing so, it is reaching out to Japanese and South Korean shipbuilders for assistance in the form of capital, expertise and engineers. A recent trip to Asia by Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro has kicked off this mission.