No longer in service but I am an old icebreaker sailor. Reading some of the articles about icebreakers and building icebreakers. From what i have figured out about the US building an icebreaker, the “paper” involved weighs more than the ship. But if we buy from “overseas” what kind of supply issues would we have as far as maintenance, repair parts, supply issues to keep her sailing? This is a good read. And while I focus on icebreakers, these issues plague all ships yards are “attempting” to build. What say you?
How much of the design, machinery and other equipment do you think will actually be manufactured in the US?
Maybe even most of the special steel for the hull will probably be imported.(??)
It would probably be a lot cheaper, faster and better for the USCG to work out the basic specification and their special requirements, then select a few foreign yards to invite to submit their designs and bid for construction.
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I’m fairly sure they are producing EH36 grade shipbuilding steel in the United States.
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Several years ago, the company I worked for had to do a major overhaul on one of our machines. Many, many gears and sprockets had to be machined. I was talking to the contractor that made the new parts about “imports” and he said he used only US steel. He said he could have saved money and boosted his profits for the job by using imported steel but imported steel couldn’t be depended on to be up to the correct “standards”. But he could trust US steel to be exactly what it was rated. And of course, I am thinking about the “counterfeit” nuts and bolts that have flooded the US market over the years.
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IF the imported steel will come from a “trusted source”. Meaning “not oriental” for lack of a better term. 
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So Japan and South Korea is out than?
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Thanks for that.
Yes it appears that EH36 steel quality is made in the US:
I was of the impression that even more high spec steel was needed for heavy icebreakers, like specially grade Arctic D steel, but I bow to your expertise.
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When I wrote about buying steel to rebuild a machine, the engineer was talking about Japanese steel. Maybe they have gotten better over the years. And then, I’m wondering if procuring steel from an American source would turn into the usual government kerfuffle our government seems to do with everything else. Several years ago, I read an article about a department of our government needed some 1/4-20 bolts. Instead of sending the “junior office boy” down to the hardware store, they contracted a machine shop to MACHINE 1/4-20 bolts. I wondered who’s family member owned the machine shop. 
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As usual, out of your depth and scope of knowledge. A-36, EH-36, AH-36 are ABS Grade Marine Structural Steel practices (some normalized, some semi-killed, some killed) which have been extensively used.
A-36 is a mild steel practice, known for its weldability and ease of attachment without pre or post heat treatments. EH-36 is “Enhanced” or “Improved” Tensile Strength Steel which is less workable and weldable and often requires post heat stress relieving after welding. EH steels generally provide a lower thickness vs mild steel. AH-36 is a High Tensile Strength Steel which affords an even greater reduction in thickness, but requires extensive pre and post weld heat treatments to eliminate fractures.
I can’t help but wonder your point as you seemingly deprecate (and also figuratively defecate) on anything regarding the U.S…For your information, Kloeckner, Leeco, Alro, Sheppard, Chapel and others manufacture this quality steel in the US…
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How far back are you talking about?
The days when Japan was a place where they made cheap knock-off of western designed goods is loooong gone.
Even China is no longer in that league, although it appears that believing so is prevalent among certain people in the west (especially in the US maybe?)
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Well then he was mistaken.
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Well, why make things more complicated than they have to be?
You could certainly save weight with higher-strength steels, but if you can’t get the ones that are easy to work on — namely EH50(0) — why bother with some exotic boutique steel no-one wants to touch during the ship’s service?
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Just because they can produce high-quality goods and devices doesn’t mean they always do. I don’t know how it is where you live, but whenever I want to find something on Amazon I have to scroll through pages of suspiciously-cheap crap where despite a 4.5 star overall rating, all of the recent reviews are 1 star and say “broke in the first month” “broke in the first week” “broke the first time I used it” and so on. Just because they can land a rover on the moon and drive it around doesn’t mean they won’t also happily sell you crap that’ll burn your house down. And that’s without even getting into the subject of the massive counterfeit industry operating with the government’s tacit blessing. C’mon Bugge, you’re smarter than this.
On the subject of icebreakers, it was neat getting to see the Polar Star on blocks in the old Mare Island Naval Shipyard dry docks a few years ago when I lived in the area. Three big fat round propellers. I should see if I have photos somewhere…
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And you are basing your argument on this case, alone?
This was several years ago, so no doubt “overseas steel” foundries have had time to get their act together. But still, the US should be careful at who they buy steel from since some of the countries are not exactly friendly.
Felt like I needed to add this. This guy was first rate, top notch at his job. For you to just dismiss him as “he was wrong” was ridiculous. I doubt if you know him or his reputation for building a “better” product.
The world are changing. It is hard for us ol’ folks to keep up:
PS> Looks like US steel makers are keeping up on the high strength steel market.
I’m using this as just one example of the antiquated yet persistent mindset that anything the US produces is far superior to products of the vast industrial complexes of Asia. As antiquated one might say as referring to Asians as Orientals. Come, join us in the 21st century, where some of the most technologically advanced, well built, built to Class-standard ships come from outside of this country.
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Yes you can still get cheap crap from China, As long as there are willing buyers there will be wiling sellers. That is the capitalist way, isn’t it? Nobody force you to buy.
PS> That reminds me of this sign outside a famous antique shop in S’pore:
“We buy junk and sell antiques. Some fools buy, some fools sell.”
Source: What This Famous Antique Store Can Teach Us About Always Wanting New Things
I was thinking more in terms of modern technology, for shipping and other purposes.
It is probably too late to hold back China’s development into a high-tech economy.
Rather than trying to block their development by export ban, sanctions and threats, try fair competition. Take advantage of synergy for the benefit of both.
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Back to icebreakers (of sort)
From The Economist today:
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