Shipbuilding

A potential agreement with the Fairhaven, Mass.-based Northeast Maritime Institute-College of Maritime Science could keep the Landing School open.

Faced with a “significant and sustained decline in enrollment,” the Landing School of Boatbuilding & Design, based in Arundel for close to 50 years, has announced it graduated its final class this spring.

“This ship’s construction will incorporate many improvement strategies recommended by our shipbuilders,” said BIW’s president.

A team from Portsmouth Naval Shipyard spent much of 2025 coordinating with the base. At the project’s peak, more than 400 shipyard personnel were deployed to Connecticut.

The agreement includes compounding wage growth of 28% over the four-year contract, up from the 23.8% the shipyard initially proposed.

“General Dynamics continues to make record profits off our labor…” said a labor representative. The shipyard said the proposed contract “includes historic annual wage increases…”

The event marked the first time an additive manufactured copper nickel flange has been welded at a public shipyard and one of its first applications for in-service submarine use.

“This free training program has proven itself to be extremely effective at giving people the foundational skills they need to take on challenging and rewarding careers in shipbuilding,” said BIW’s director of training.

The complex modernization project involves thousands of moving parts and months-long preparation.