JANUARY 2004 A new 275-ton- capacity crane is erected between Graving Docks 1 and 2 earlier this month. The crane, built by National Oilwell / Amclyde, more than quadruples the 66-ton lifting capacity of the one it replaces. Though the new crane looks complete, it must still undergo many weeks of final assembly work, followed by testing, certification, mainte- nance and employee training. The new crane’s expected in- service date is May 4. INSIDE Nautilus Launched 50 Years Ago, Beginning USS Seawolf Returns To Groton Nuclear-Submarine Era • 2 Can-A-Month Food Drive Under Way • 4 Waterfront For Maintenance Work Fourth Quarter Revenues Increase 23% • 5 The work on Veteran And Apprentice Carpenters Prep hortly after Graving Dock 2 is vacated by the departing Graving Dock For USS Seawolf SRA • 6 USS Connecticut (SSN-22), it will be reoccupied by USS Seawolf represents Green Belt, Lean Six Sigma Team Tackle Seawolf (SSN-21), arriving at Electric Boat in early Receipt Inspection Process • 7 S a major piece of February for a Selected Restricted Availability. Tech Lecture Program Packing ‘Em In • 8 The first of three primary jobs began in November when USS the overhaul and Augusta (SSN-710) docked at EB for an Interim Dry Docking Hawaii PCO Readies Ship, Crew • 9 (IDD). During the IDD, the company will perform life-cycle repair work Classifieds • 10 extension work, including maintenance, repairs and upgrades. Up Electric Boat will to 600 shipyard workers will be working on this job, which is Service Awards • 11 scheduled for a March completion. be engaged in EB Supports Submarine Force Library And Nearly 630 employees will be assigned to the Seawolf SRA Museum With $10,000 Donation • 12 continued on page 8 during 2004. Nautilus launched 50 years ago, beginning nuclear-submarine era On Jan. 21, 1954, more than 20,000 people cheered as First Lady Mamie Eisenhower christened the world’s first nuclear submarine, Nautilus (SSN-571). Attending the historic ceremony were 6,000 shipyard employees and another 6,000 family members as well as dignitaries from the U.S. Navy and the govern- ment. The event also attracted more than 300 members of the working press – three major radio networks, three major television networks, five newsreel serv- ices, three national photo services, 35 newspapers and the major news maga- zines of the day – Life, Time, Newsweek, Look and U.S. News & World Report. 2 I January 2004 I ELECTRIC BOAT NEWS Dan Barrett, Editor Dean R. Jacobowitz, Contributing Editor Bob Gallo, Gary Hall, Gary Slater, Photography Crystal Smith, Editorial Assistant Electric Boat News is Mamie Eisenhower christens the Nautilus. published monthly by the Public Affairs Department, 75 Eastern Point Road, Groton, CT 06340 Phone (860) 433-8202 Fax (860) 433-8054 Email [email protected] Millard Firebaugh, VP - Innovation and chief engineer, left, enjoys a light moment with EB retiree Henry Nardone and his wife, Boots, at an event held at the Submarine Force Library and Museum to mark the 50th anniversary of the launch of the Nautilus. Nardone, a naval officer who was the Nau- tilus project officer for the Supervisor of Shipbuilding at the time of the launch, was one of several retired EB and Navy personnel who attended the commemorative ceremony. ELECTRIC BOAT NEWS I January 2004 I 3 Committee Member Has Can-Do Spirit Can-A-Month com- mittee member Bill Stamp (452) ensures the collec- tion bin in Bldg. 197 is properly placed in preparation for the start of this year’s food drive for the Gemma E. Moran United Way/Labor Food Center. Can-A-Month Food Drive Is Under Way For roton’s Can-A-Month food drive to benefit the The collection bins2004 will be in the same locations as they were last year: Gemma E. Moran United Way/Labor Food Center ■ The lobbies of Buildings 45, 88, 197 and 221. began its second year this month, with organizers G ■ hoping to beat last year’s total donation of 10,245 pounds of Main, North Yard, South Yard and Contractors Gates. food. ■ Shaw’s Cove, Purchasing, and the sub base. “In December, we collected 1,183 pounds of food, bringing our year-end total to 10,245 pounds, which exceeded our The food center is looking for nonperishable items such as soup, peanut 10,000 pound goal for 2003,” said HR Chief Jack Shea, who butter, tuna, spaghetti sauce, pasta and macaroni and cheese. heads the employee committee responsible for conducting the The 2004 drive will take place on the third Wednesday of every month, drive. “Needless to say, this represented an extraordinary effort with collection bins remaining open during November and December to on the part of all employees who donated to this worthy cause, meet increased holiday demands. and I thank everyone for what they did to make this program a success.” The schedule for the year will be: The other committee members are: Charlie Ballato, Mark Barney, Ken DelaCruz, Deb Fortunato, Connie Johnson, Chris Feb. 18 July 21 November – all month Kindel, Susan Mack, Michael "Snuffy" Smith, Bill Stamp and March 17 Aug. 18 John Worobey. December – all April 21 Sept. 15 month May 19 Oct. 20 June 16 4 I January 2004 I ELECTRIC BOAT NEWS General Dynamics Fourth Quarter Revenues INCREASE 23 PERCENT ■ Excellent FALLS CHURCH, Va. Chabraja continued, “Our business avia- eneral Dynamics has reported tion group performed well in the fourth cash flow 2003 fourth quarter revenues of quarter, signing 34 new orders in the period G $4.8 billion, a 23 percent and continuing a trend of quarter-over-quar- ■ increase over 2002 fourth quarter revenues ter earnings improvement starting with the Solid of $3.9 billion. Net earnings in the 2003 second quarter of 2003. Pre-owned sales earnings fourth quarter were $279 million, or $1.40 activity was strong, leaving only one aircraft per share on a fully diluted basis, compared available for sale at the end of the year. with 2002 fourth quarter net earnings of Gulfstream continued to manage its costs ■ Record $157 million, or $0.78 per share fully effectively, maintained high productivity and diluted, after a charge for a discontinued strengthened its core business by bringing backlog operation. Earnings from continuing opera- new products to market. tions in the fourth quarter of 2002 were “In other areas, the Information Systems $269 million, or $1.33 per share fully and Technology and Combat Systems diluted. groups were bolstered by many new con- “ We finished 2003 on an Sales for the full year of 2003 were $16.6 tracts in the quarter,” Chabraja continued. exceptional note. Net cash billion, compared with $13.8 billion for “Highlights include a $2 billion contract 2002, an increase of 20 percent. Total net award to Combat Systems for development was almost $900 million in earnings for 2003 were $1.004 billion, or of manned ground vehicles for the U.S. $5.04 per share on a fully diluted basis, Army’s Future Combat Systems, or FCS; the quarter, further strength- compared with total net earnings of $917 several FCS-related awards to Information ening our very solid balance million, or $4.52 per share fully diluted, for Systems and Technology units; and an 2002. award for continued technical and engineer- sheet. We had revenue Net cash provided by operating activities ing support of the Joint C4ISR Battle Cen- growth of 23 percent over totaled $897 million in the quarter and $1.7 ter, which leads the transformation of joint- billion for the year. Free cash flow from force command, control, communications, the same period last year, operations, defined as net cash provided by computers, intelligence, surveillance, and and total backlog at the end operating activities less capital expenditures, reconnaissance (C4ISR) capabilities. In was $788 million in the quarter and $1.5 addition, Marine Systems received funding of 2003 totaled more than billion for the year. for two DDGs, and conversion of the first of $41 billion, an increase of Funded backlog at the end of 2003 was four submarines in the SSGN program com- $25.3 billion, and total backlog was $41 bil- menced. 42 percent from a year ago.” lion, compared with $24.3 billion and $38.7 “Looking ahead in 2004, we anticipate billion, respectively, at the end of the third continued solid performance from Combat quarter. Systems and Information Systems and Tech- – Nicholas D. Chabraja, “We finished 2003 on an exceptional nology and margin improvement in Marine General Dynamics note,” said Nicholas D. Chabraja, General Systems. We are also cautiously optimistic Dynamics chairman and CEO. “Net cash regarding improved performance at Gulf- chairman and CEO was almost $900 million in the quarter, fur- stream,” Chabraja said. “We anticipate rev- ther strengthening our very solid balance enue growing to over $19 billion, earnings sheet. We had revenue growth of 23 percent at the high end of the previous guidance over the same period last year, and total range of $5.40 to $5.55 per share, with free backlog at the end of 2003 totaled more cash flow from operations closely approxi- than $41 billion, an increase of 42 percent mating net income.” from a year ago.” ELECTRIC BOAT NEWS I January 2004 I 5 Veteran carpenter Giuseppe DeFranco, top left, keeps a watchful eye on apprentices Pete Willette, lower left, and Jayson Vaz as they work on a recent blocking job in Graving Dock 2. Veteran And Apprentice Carpenters Prep Graving Dock For USS Seawolf SRA reparing the graving docks for the “ We’ve done a few blocking jobs and more to come out and repeat this type arrival of a submarine is a tradi- of work.” down here with a few apprentices P tion for Electric Boat’s carpenter Beaudry and Kniss said putting the trades, and the carpenter apprentice program at times, but this group we have apprentices and senior carpenters to work is making sure the practice is carried on.