GeoLocation
Strategic Marine said chief executive Chan Eng Yew will step down for personal reasons, effective 1 October 2026. Jennica Chua will join the Singapore yard the same day as chief executive, bringing more than 30 years of financial and operational leadership across statutory board, listed and private companies.
Birdon said it secured an $18.3m contract from Sweden’s Defence Materiel Administration to deliver 15 Bridge Erection Boats, and it also won a 20-year deal to design, build, operate and maintain the new Daintree River Ferry in Australia. The company said production began on two prototype ASC-M landing craft for the US Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory, while build-out of 27 Waterways Commerce Cutters for the US Coast Guard is under way.
Birdon has won an $18.3 million contract from Sweden's Defence Materiel Administration, FMV, for 15 bridge erection boats. The deliveries are due in two batches, with six boats by 31 December 2026 and nine more by 31 December 2027. All production will be carried out at Birdon's US facilities.
Birdon has started its first apprenticeship cohort at its Bayou La Batre, Alabama shipyard, beginning with shipfitting apprentices. The programme is registered with the Alabama Office of Apprenticeship and supported by Central Gulf Industrial Alliance, with NCCER-aligned training and planned expansion into pipefitting and marine electrical trades.
Solent University has hired a lecturer specialising in sustainability for its yacht and superyacht design courses, as the Southampton school prepares a revised Master’s programme. Giles Barkley said the new version will place more emphasis on designing for a sustainable future. The course currently takes about six students a year.