Portal partners
Portal partners
Correction of the Constellation programme and changes in the management of Fincantieri Marinette Marine
The American shipyard Fincantieri Marinette Marine appointed former U.S. Naval Secretary Kenneth J. Braithwaite to chair the board of directors. The decision was taken at the time of the deep correction of the frigate Constellation programme and the change of direction of US Navy operations in the segment of smaller navigable warships.
In the article
New Chairman of the Board of Directors
Personnel changes in the management of the yard are opening a new stage in its operation, in line with an attempt to organize one of the most problematic ship programs of recent years. At the head of the board of directors of Fincantieri Marinette on December 19, Kenneth J. Braithwaite, 77th Secretary of the United States Navy, and former US Ambassador to Norway. His experience includes both air service United States Navyand a long-standing diplomatic career.
The nomination is intended to strengthen the decision-making base of the shipyard belonging to the Italian company Fincantieri, one of the largest players in the European shipbuilding industry, which has been consistently building its position on the American market for years. Marinette bet is a key element of this strategy today, combining European capital and know-how with the reality of US federal procurement. In this context, some commentators indicate that the appointment of the former Secretary of the Navy may also be a clear signal sent to decision-makers in Washington. As noted, among others, by a marine analyst operating a Virtual Bayonet account, this movement can be interpreted as an element of Fincantieri Marinette Marine's efforts to maintain and obtain further orders for the US Navy after the Constellation program has been restricted.
Constellation limitation
On November 25, 2025, the U.S. Navy announced its resignation from building four Constellation frigates even before their production began. Only the first two units are to be continued: the future USS Constellation (FFG-62) and USS Congress (FFG-63), built in Marinette shipyards. The decision is officially presented as part of a wider revision of the approach to the development of the water fleet, but its causes are much more mundane.
The programme's schedule has been seriously distorted and the transfer of a prototype vessel, acting as a leader for the entire type, has been postponed to 2029. The source of delays was not just organizational issues, but the increasing complexity of the project. In the course of the work of the frigate Constellation was successively retrofitted and modified in response to further requirements, leading to the expansion of ship installations, increased unit mass and the need to continuously update technical documentation.
As a result, the program gradually diverged from the original construction of a ship based on a proven design, entering the phase of a project developed in parallel with production. Such a model of action forced adjustments already during shipbuilding work, slowed down the pace of construction and increased the risk of further slips in implementation of the timetable.
In practice, the Constellation programme has become a textbook example of how ambition can dominate design common sense. The pursuit of maximum saturation of one vessel with new capabilities led to the expansion of the structure, the loss of control over the mass and the need to make changes already during construction. Polish Navy, instead of quickly receiving a new type of frigate, she found herself in a condition of permanent management of the project crisis.
The Government Accountability Office report of May 2024 confirmed problems that had been signaled in the ship's environment for a long time. The construction of the Constellation frigate began with an unclosed technical project, which naturally led to delays and complications in the implementation of the program. In the course of the work, it was necessary to introduce further design changes and technical adaptations, as soon as the construction of the units began.
The Constellation program thus illustrated that even in the case of the world's largest naval vessel construction in parallel with the design and extension of technical requirements generates significant scheduled and organisational risks.
The decision to limit the series and to depart from further development of the programme in its existing form can therefore be seen as a costly but necessary correction of the approach previously adopted. The U.S. Navy thus signals a shift towards predictable structures in construction, based on proven solutions and a real monitoring of ship entry dates.
Legend-based FF(X) program – new U.S. Navy direction
In place of the frigate program, the US Navy announced the launch of a new concept labelled FF(X). This does not mean simply converting Legend boats into battleships, but using a proven, serially built platform as a starting point for the development of new water combat units.
The basis of the considerations remains the construction of the National Security Cutter, originally developed for US Coast Guard by Huntington Ingalls Industries. This project, verified in many years of operation, is intended to be the foundation for the FF(X) units, which will be designed from the beginning with regard to naval requirements rather than as a direct adaptation of existing boats.
The new development path is intended to enable more rapid combat preparedness by reducing the technical risks arising from the development of the project. According to the declarations, the launch of the first hull is planned for 2028 as part of an initiative called "Golden Fleet". The Navy communications highlighted, in particular, the stabilisation of the timetable and greater predictability of the construction process, which remains in clear contrast to the experience gained from the Constellation programme.
Effects on shipyards and industry in the USA
Fincantieri emphasises that the agreement reached with the U.S. Navy will ensure the stability of employment and continuity of the three shipyards in Wisconsin. The Navy is to cover the economic impact of contractual decisions on cancelled units.
Currently, the company employs around 3,750 workers at shipyards in Marinette, Green Bay, Sturgeon Bay and Jacksonville. In recent years Fincantieri's investment in the American shipbuilding industry has exceeded $800 million.
Perspectives for next programmes
The representatives of the company announce to focus their activities on future orders covering landing units, icebreakers and special-duty ships. The role of the new Chairman of the Board of Directors is intended to be to support the shipyards in adapting its offer to the changing priorities of the US Navy and in restoring confidence in Fincantieri Marinette Marine's ability to implement ship programmes in time and time.
The decisions made in Marinette fall into a wider trend of revision of federal ship programs in the United States. In this context, the departure from further development of the Constellation programme and the return towards proven project-based solutions can be seen as an attempt to return to an approach in which risk control, stability of the timetable and the real feasibility of the programme are of paramount importance, rather than an overgrowth of ambition at the stage whole programme.
Related entries
An increasingly dangerous sea off the Irish coast. Emergency services under increasing pressure
The Irish coast has been facing extremely difficult weather conditions for months. Raw Atlantic, violent storms and rapidly changing weather translate into an increasing number of events at sea. Data for 2025 show clearly that the scale of intervention increased significantly by testing the capacity of the Irish Coast Guard.
In the article
More interventions than a year earlier
Last year, the Irish Emergency Service responded to a total of 2,793 sea events. This is a clear increase compared to 2024 when 2554 interventions were reported. A significant part of the action was carried out in conditions of strong wind, high wave and limited visibility, which required rapid decision-making and close coordination of many elements of the rescue system.
Ireland has one of the most demanding coastlines in Europe. The open Atlantic, numerous cliffs, and the island’s hinterland make it possible for even seemingly routine events to quickly turn into immediate life - threatening situations.
Marine aviation key to islands and remote areas
The structure of the Irish Coast Guard includes 44 units deployed throughout the country. In 2025, the formation was engaged nearly 1,200 times in activities carried out for coastal communities.
Marine aviation was an important part of the rescue system. Last year Irish Coast Guard helicopters were engaged 933 times, including in medical transports carried out from remote islands.
Emergency aviation played a special role. 933 helicopter missions were carried out, including numerous medical transports from islands located far from the mainland. For many isolated regions, this was the only real form of rapid access to aid.
During the year, rescue services provided assistance to over 1,900 people. For comparison, in 2024 medical support or rescue transport included 537 people. Data show a marked increase in the intensity of action in Irish waters.
RNLI still one of the pillars of the system
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution remains an integral part of the Irish rescue system. Her rescue boats participated in 798 rescue actions, analogous to 699 such actions a year earlier.
The cooperation of the State Coastal Service with the voluntary crews of RNLI has been one of the foundations of maritime safety for years, especially in areas with limited shore infrastructure.
Shares in immediate danger
Among the most demanding interventions were the autumn and winter rescue operations conducted on the open sea. In October, 12 members of the Spanish trawler crew were rescued, which began to uncontrollably take water off the southern coast of Ireland, west of Cork. In December, rescue services intervened on a French fishing unit drifting towards a rocky shore in the Dingle area.
Both events clearly showed how quickly the situation in the Atlantic could get out of control, even in the case of experienced crews.
Greater budget and new helicopters
The growing number of events forced an increase in financial expenditure on maritime security. For the current financial year, the Irish government has allocated around $190 million to the activities of the Irish Coast Guard and related maritime structures.
The aviation component has also been reinforced recently. Four new Leonardo AW189 helicopters entered service, which significantly improved rapid response capabilities and operational coverage throughout the coast.
The sea is increasingly difficult to predict
The data from 2025 leave no doubt. The Irish marine rescue system operates in an increasingly demanding environment. The changing climate, intense maritime traffic and the specificity of the Atlantic coast make the pressure on emergency services increase. Maintaining high preparedness becomes not only an organisational challenge, but one of the key elements of the country's security.
