by Katrina Nickell, FOX 11 News

Tuesday, September 21st 2021

Progress being made on Fincantieri Marinette Marine's "Building 34." (WLUK/Katrina Nickell)

MARINETTE, Wis. (WLUK) -- Fincantieri Marinette Marine is making progress on the facility's largest building. Building 34, will be used to construct the Navy's new frigate-class ships.

Standing over 130 feet tall as one of the tallest buildings in Marinette and spreading across the length of more than two football fields, Building 34 is on its way to completion.

https://fox11online.com/news/local/fincantieri-marinette-marine-makes-progress-on-facility-to-build-new-navy-ships?video=f75d1d82f1604c6897ab40c34c3bd063&jwsource=cl

Fincantieri Marinette Marine is making progress on the facility's largest building. Building 34, will be used to construct the Navy's new frigate-class ships. (WLUK video)

"By May, this building will be done and we'll be able to start building ships in there," said CEO of Fincantieri Marinette, Mark Vandroff.

Building 34 will be the hub for building the Navy's newest ships. The shipyard was awarded the contract to build the first frigate in April 2020, the second in May 2021.

"Building 34 was to be the cornerstone of the construction process that will produce the most advanced frigate the world has ever seen," said Mike Galecki with us United States Navy CONSTELLATION Class Frigate program.

Building of the frigates will begin in spring 2022. With the first ship ready to turn over to the Navy in spring 2026. In the next two to three years, Marinette Marine is expected to hire 400-500 more trade workers. As well as one to 200 engineers and other professional areas to complete the frigates.

"Some of that will be over at our sister yard in Sturgeon Bay," said Vandroff. "Sturgeon Bay will build sections of the frigate and barge that over here."

In addition to Building 34, there currently other projects being worked on over at Marinette Marine.

"The next big one is the addition of the ship synchro lift, and we anticipate that will finish end of 2022 so some time in November-December time frame," said Vandroff.

Vandroff says the two projects will work hand-in-hand.

"We'll be able to build these frigates to a very high-level of completion and then lower them nice and gently into the Menominee River where we can start the in-water testing. It will just be a huge step forward in our ability to efficiently build the ships for customers," said Vandroff.

The Navy has already put in its request to Congress for funding of a third ship. That's being debated in part of the budget.