Shipbuilding Industry Should look Within for Solutions.

Executives from the U.S. shipbuilding industry often have complained that it's difficult for their shipyards to compete internationally because other nations' firms get more government support than American yards do.

During a recent forum of international shipbuilders in Washington, D.C., U.S. executives urged the Navy to step up its efforts to help U.S. yards become more competitive in the global market.

But rather than seek help from the Navy to make international sales, the shipbuilding industry should be "looking internally" for solutions to its problems, said Rear Adm. Don Newsome, director of the Navy International Programs Office, during a brief interview after he addressed the National Defense Industrial Association's International Committee.

Without being too specific about what shipyards should do to be more competitive, Newsome said that shipbuilders need to find ways to cut costs and need to figure out how to better respond to customer requirements. He urged the shipbuilding sector to take a page from the aerospace industry's playbook: "The U.S. aircraft industry doesn't have trouble competing internationally," he said.