BOSTON, June 17, 2025 – U.S. Reps. Stephen F. Lynch (D-Mass.), Joe Courtney (D-Conn.) and Jared Golden (D-Maine) joined the IAM Union and Boston Ship Repair leadership to call for urgent investments to save the U.S. shipbuilding and repair industries.
Joined by IAM Union-represented workers at Boston Ship Repair, the coalition of elected officials, union leaders and shipyard management highlighted the national and economic security risk posed by a dwindling U.S. shipbuilding and repair industry. Currently, about 80 U.S.-flagged ships are engaged in international commerce compared to over 5,500 China-flagged vessels. China recently overtook the U.S. in Navy fleet size.
The group has backed U.S. Trade Representative penalties on Chinese ships and steps to incentivize the production and purchase of U.S.-built vessels. They are also championing the bipartisan SHIPS for America Act, which would rebuild the U.S. shipyard base and invest in recruitment and training of shipyard workers and mariners. The coalition is highlighting the need to efficiently utilize and grow domestic shipbuilding and repair capacity to increase the workforce at Boston Ship Repair and across the country.
“Revitalizing American shipbuilding is critical to our national and economic security. It’s a bipartisan goal in Washington, and we need to use all of our available shipyard capacity to get the job done if we’re going to deliver on it,” said Rep. Courtney. “We must provide American shipyards and shipbuilders, like Boston Ship Repair, with the demand they need to make investments in their future and the future of our domestic shipbuilding industry.”
“America needs strong shipyards. On the defense front, we are lagging in the production of American warships necessary to meet current and future force needs. We also lack the commercial vessels we need to compete in the global economy,” Rep. Golden said. “The reality is simple: If we aren’t giving work to the men and women who power America’s shipyards, they will find new jobs and we will fall further behind. Congress needs to keep up demand for warships to sustain the world’s greatest Navy and we need to pass the SHIPS Act to strengthen our shipyards, our commercial fleet and our supply chains. Our future demands it.”
“American national and economic security depends on urgent and long overdue investments in our shipbuilding and repair industry,” said IAM Union Eastern Territory General Vice President David Sullivan. “That’s why the IAM Union has led the way toward tougher trade rules on China, much-needed investments in U.S. shipyard workers, and a strong call for the efficient use of our existing shipyards, like Boston Ship Repair. We’re incredibly grateful for our champions in this fight, including Congressmen Lynch, Courtney and Golden.”
“We’ve invested in Boston Ship Repair because we believe in its potential—not just as a business, but as a critical national asset,” said Boston Ship Repair Owner Jon Cronin. “With a highly skilled union workforce, proven infrastructure, and the experience to deliver, BSR stands ready to be part of the solution to America’s shipyard capacity crisis. But we can’t do it alone. Without consistent work and federal investment, this vital facility—and the hundreds of jobs it sustains—are at risk. We’re calling on Congress and the Navy to recognize BSR not just as a shipyard, but as a strategic pillar of the defense industrial base. With immediate support, we can expand our capacity, modernize our infrastructure, and begin reducing the Navy’s repair backlog today—while preserving American maritime strength for generations to come.”
“Our IAM Union members at Boston Ship Repair are skilled, dedicated workers who are proud to support our maritime missions,” said IAM Union Local S25 President Andre Lavertue, a 30-year IAM Union member and crane operator at Boston Ship Repair. “But over the years, we’ve seen these jobs become less reliable and too often result in layoffs when work goes away. American shipyard workers are ready to reinvigorate this industry and win the future of global shipbuilding and repair.”
The IAM Union, which represents workers at Boston Ship Repair and shipbuilding and repair workers across the country, is leading the charge to restore U.S. shipbuilding by investing in American workers, as well as taking on predatory Chinese trade practices through a U.S. Trade Representative’s Office investigation and supporting the bipartisan SHIPS for America Act.
Boston Ship Repair has provided personalized services for domestic, international and government customers since 1995. It is one of the largest docks on the Eastern and Gulf Coasts and can handle vessels up to 1,000 feet with a 105 foot beam. Boston Ship Repair is committed to provide vessel maintenance, repair, overhaul and conversion services that are unsurpassed in the industry.
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