On This Day In History - Chapter 3

Since it's the 82nd anniversary of the D-Day invasion here's a true story about the Peninsula's connection to the invasion.

If you're familiar with Door and Kewaunee County's rich maritime history you probably already know that northeast Wisconsin ship builders supplied the war effort with anti-submarine warfare (ASW) ships, submarines and cargo vessels.

The very first Allied vessel that was sunk on the morning of D-Day was a submarine chaser, Patrol Craft-1261.

PC-1261 was laid down on November 20, 1942 by the Leathem D. Smith Shipbuilding Company in Sturgeon Bay, WI.  Launched on February 28, 1943 she was commissioned in May 1943 and sailed to Europe to participate in the Normandy landings.

4:30 AM, June 6th 1944 found PC-1261 and PC-1176 guiding the first waves of landing craft. As they approached within range of German shore gun batteries PC-1261 quickly became a primary target.  Several shells struck the water bracketing the ship.  

It was apparent to Navigation Officer Lieutenant Halsey Barrett that the situation was perilous. However, maneuvering out of fire would threaten the entire landing operation, so the order was given to hold position.  Moments later, the ship was rocked with an explosion as a 5-inch shell had landed amidships, tearing a hole straight through into the engine room, killing an estimated half the crew and crippling the vessel in an instant. 

“That’s it! Tell the Admiral we’re sinking…” was Captain Rency Sewell’s response. 

After several minutes attempting to rescue those they could from within the flooding compartments, the order was given to abandon ship with survivors picked up from the water by returning landing craft.  

The crew of PC-1176 had to watch in horror as their sister ship sank, unable to come to her aid. The remaining Sub chaser spent the next five hours guiding the combined forces to shore.  PC-1176 dodged enemy artillery while returning fire from her own 3-inch, 50 Caliber deck gun.  

Utah Beach would ultimately be secured with relatively little loss of life, thanks in no small part to the service of two small sub chasers built in Sturgeon Bay, WI.  

Learn more about the story here. 

On This Day In History

During World War II a class of small coastal and inter-island freighters were constructed  for the Army Transportation Corps.  This was a steel-hulled, diesel-powered ship, 177 feet in length and equipped with two hatches and central booms.  On April 16, 1944, Kewaunee Shipbuilding and Engineering Corporation launched a small coastal freighter at its yard in Kewaunee, Wisconsin. She was originally designated FP-344, but that was later changed to FS-344.  

click on images for a closer look

Photo above is fitting out of FP-344 at the Kewaunee Shipbuilding & Engineering Corp. Shipyard, Kewaunee, Wisconsin circa July 1944. 

Photo below is her sister ship FP-343 underway.

In 1966 FS-344 was transferred to the Navy and renamed USS PUEBLO.  Refitted at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard she was crammed with sophisticated electronic gear and converted to an Auxiliary General Environmental Research (AGER) vessel – a class recognized by few naval officers.  PUEBLO (AGER-2) was a signals intelligence collector – a spy ship.  Jointly operated by the National Security Agency and Naval Intelligence, she carried a crew of 83, 30 of whom were communication technicians.

PUEBLO’s first mission, off the coast of North Korea, was considered low risk. She was to monitor electronic transmissions and observe naval activity around North Korean ports. Orders required her to remain in international waters at least one mile beyond the 12-mile territorial limit. Thus far the North Koreans had not interfered with similar missions.

However, on January 23, 1968, North Korean patrol boats surrounded PUEBLO intent on capturing the lightly armed vessel.  With a top speed of 13 knots, she could not escape. Her captain could only stall for time as the crew worked furiously to destroy documents and equipment. Despite urgent requests, neither the Navy nor Air Force sent help. After about two hours, the North Koreans were able to board PUEBLO.  One crewman lay dying and several were injured.

The North Koreans took their prize to the port city of Wonsan. The crew was taken prisoner. They were beaten and tortured. 

President Johnson considered and rejected a military response. He was unwilling to sacrifice the crew. So their release was negotiated. 

The USS PUEBLO was never returned. It is currently on display at the Victorious War Museum in Pyongyang, North Korea. However, she remains a commissioned vessel in the U.S. Navy.  Commissioned May 13, 1967, PUEBLO is the second oldest in the fleet behind only the USS CONSTITUTION, commissioned October 1, 1797.

Kewaunee Shipbuilding stopped building boats when the war ended.  It did continue doing steel fabrication work.  The company changed its name to Kewaunee Engineering on January 1, 1947.  Oshkosh Truck acquired the business in1999.  What began as the Kewaunee Shipbuilding and Engineering Company is now Kewaunee Fabrications and operates as a subsidiary of Oshkosh Corporation.

Detailed story linked here. 

Shipbuilding Contract Cancelled

The US Navy has cancelled the majority of the Constellation-class frigate program; a decision announced by Navy Secretary John Phelan on November 25, 2025. 

The first two ships, the future USS Constellation and USS Congress, which are under construction at the Fincantieri Marinette Marine shipyard in Wisconsin, will be completed. The remaining four ships that were under contract have been canceled. 

The decision reflects a strategic shift towards accelerating fleet modernization with new ship classes that can be delivered faster, after the Constellation program faced significant delays, cost overruns, and design issues. 

Ship Of The Line

I have a thing for ships and shipping.  Living in a maritime community it comes naturally.  There are 34 Coast Guard Cities in the United States, including Sturgeon Bay; the only one in Wisconsin.  For more than 150 years Coast Guard members and their families have called this their home.  

Shipbuilding is a major industry here in northeast Wisconsin - both commercially and for the department of defense.  During WWII the yard in Sturgeon Bay was launching a Liberty Ship in less than five days every month.  In nearby Manitowoc the yard built and launched 10 Gato and 18 Balao Class submarines.  Fincantieri Bay Ship has begun fabrication and assembly of the the US Navy's latest guided missile frigate.  Yes, they're resurrecting the frigate.  Bottom line; our naval roots grow deep.

In his recent speech to assembled US military commanders in Quantico, VA the president advanced his desire to return battleships to the US Navy; describing them as heavily armored, gun-centric, ships that are aesthetically impressive.  Trump further stated that this notion was under serious consideration and with a nod to their massive 16 inch guns that bullets are a lot less expensive than missiles.  The president was critical of the appearance of modern warships sporting stealth technology calling them, ugly.  Naturally, none of this is new as a decade ago candidate Trump delivered an address on the USS Iowa where he suggested recommissioning the ship. 

What is unclear from the Quantico speech is this:  Does the president wish to reactivate old battleships or does he wish to build new ones?  Whichever path is taken presents unique challenges.  Expensive ones too.

There are four remaining WWII era Iowa-class battleships.  Retired decades ago they presently serve as museum ships.  To make them operational would take years and cost billions upon billions of dollars.  Their oil-fired, steam power plants are antiquated and today's sailors are not trained to operate them.  The fire control system is obsolete; besides, 16-inch shells are no longer manufactured.

Build from scratch?  Consider the cost; two or three guided missile frigates could be had for the cost of one battleship.  And as impressive as a 16 inch gun might be; guided missiles and aircraft can hit further, faster and with deadly accuracy.  Smaller ships require smaller crews and large ships of the line are big, fat, high-value targets vulnerable to hypersonic weapons.

Let's face it, president Trump is not a naval architect; and the Navy has a plan to expand the fleet in the decades to come to include both manned and unmanned ships.  Moreover, higher-tech guns and missile tubes stand a better chance of dominating a conflict at sea. 

My guess?  Trump goes off-script most all the time and battleships occupy a memory hole in his vast pothole-ridden brain to emerge in his stream of consciousness like whack-a-mole when triggered.  

They're not gonna happen. 

You can learn more about this subject here. 

Cobia Heads For Home

The Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company assembled and launched 28 submarines for the US Navy during the second World War.  They were nicknamed Freshwater Submarines as a consequence of being built on the Great Lakes.  They were ferried down the Mississippi river to New Orleans for final refitting and deployment to the Pacific Theater.  These included vessels like the Peto, Puffer and Rasher.  25 of these boats saw action sinking 132 Japanese ships.  4 were lost at sea.  

In early September Gato class WWII submarine USS Cobia (SS-245) arrived at the Fincantieri shipyard for dry docking to facilitate repairs, refitting and a makeover.

A couple of days ago she departed for her home port of Manitowoc where the boat serves as a museum ship and national monument.

Kevin O'Donnell synchronized in real time, drone video and the marine radio communications between tug captains, the dock workers, and the WWII submarine USS Cobia, as they gently nudge her from slip #1 at Bay Ship, tow her through town, and out the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal. 

 

The production value of this is really excellent.

 

And if you appreciate maritime history; worth a watch...

 

Cobia Comes To Town

It is not every day a submarine comes to Sturgeon Bay.

Towed the USS Cobia (SS-245), a World War II-era submarine and National Historic Landmark 55 nautical miles from Manitowoc to Sturgeon Bay.  Three decades have passed since her last check-up; she was towed by tugs Nickelena and Erika Kobasic of Basic Marine.   Basic Marine Incorporated is a sister company of North Shore Marine Terminal and Logistics Incorporated of Escanaba, Michigan. 

 

The Cobia will be in dry dock at Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin for a routine inspection and 4 to 6 week restoration process.

 

Stay-tuned for updates and more on the history of the Cobia... 

Destination Still Unknown

Recent travel to visit with family found us in Mobile Alabama for a week with an opportunity to become temporary Mobilians and soak-up the history, food and ambiance of this coastal city.  A boat ride of the delta estuary provided an opportunity to take-in the waterfront, port facilities and Austal Shipyard up-close and personal.  Including this:

The SS United States is one of the most iconic ocean liners in American history.  Designed during World War II and launched in the early 1950s, the ship represented American technological prowess and style. 

The genesis for this ship began in the 1930s with naval architect William Francis Gibbs.  He envisioned a fast, fireproof, and militarily convertible ocean liner that would showcase American maritime innovation. During World War II, seventy percent of all naval vessels were built to Gibbs and Cox designs. This included everything from Liberty ships, to destroyers, escort carriers and amphibious assault vessels. This contribution to the war effort strengthened his reputation and bolstered support for his ambitious passenger liner.

In 1950, the U.S. government—through the Maritime Commission—partnered with United States Lines to co-finance the construction of the ship with the understanding that it could be used as a troop carrier in wartime.  The government contributed $50 million and the United States Lines contributed $28 million; adjusted for inflation - $928 million in today's dollars.  Construction began at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Virginia. The ship featured extensive use of aluminum and fireproof materials making her both lightweight and safe. She was designed to carry almost 2,000 passengers in luxury and over 15,000 troops in an emergency.

The SS United States was launched on June 23, 1951, and entered service on July 3, 1952.  Her maiden voyage was a stunning success; shattering the transatlantic speed record crossing the Atlantic in 3 days, 10 hours, and 40 minutes—earning the coveted Blue Riband.  Her return voyage was even faster.

Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, she was considered the epitome of American luxury and efficiency at sea. She hosted presidents, celebrities, business magnates, and immigrants.  Notable passengers included Harry Truman, John F. Kennedy, Salvador Dalí, Marilyn Monroe, and Marlon Brando.  Her speed, safety, and understated elegance set her apart from rivals.

Original Place Setting

With the arrival of commercial jet travel in the late 1950s and early 1960s demand for transatlantic sea travel declined.  By the late 1960s, operating costs became unsustainable and the the SS United States was withdrawn from service in November 1969 after just 17 years in operation.

Following decommissioning the ship was laid up in Virginia and later moved to Norfolk.  Over time her furnishings and fittings were sold off.  Multiple attempts to repurpose or redevelop the vessel occurred over the next few decades, including proposals for use as a hotel, museum, or cruise ship.  None succeeded.

In 1996 she was towed to Pier 82 in Philadelphia where she would remain for nearly three decades. Although neglected her hull and superstructure remained intact thanks to her robust construction.

In 2011, the SS United States Conservancy, a nonprofit organization, purchased the ship to prevent her from being scrapped.  With the help of a $5.8 million donation from philanthropist H.F. "Gerry" Lenfest, the group maintained the ship while seeking a permanent home and redevelopment plan.

Over the next decade several high-profile plans came and went including a luxury hotel conversion and a floating museum complex. Despite public support and creative proposals no financially viable solution materialized.  By 2024, with mounting maintenance costs and no berth in Philadelphia, the Conservancy was forced to vacate. 

Earlier this year the SS United States was towed to Mobile, Alabama, for additional environmental remediation.  Okaloosa County, Florida, had purchased the ship with the intent of sinking her offshore as the world's largest artificial reef.  This plan envisioned a new life for the ship as a haven for marine life and divers.

Nevertheless, preservationists launched a legal and public relations campaign to stop the plan. The New York Coalition, including investors and historic preservationists, sought to bring the ship to New York Harbor as a floating museum, hotel, and event space.  Lawsuits were filed under the National Historic Preservation Act and appeals were made to political figures to intervene.

As of the publication of this post the ship's fate remains uncertain.  Environmental cleanup is ongoing with a scuttling date projected for late 2025 unless legal efforts succeed in halting the plan.

Whatever the outcome SS United States leaves a legacy of accomplishment. She is a symbol of American postwar confidence, innovation, and elegance.  She still holds the transatlantic speed record and remains a touchstone of maritime history through her design innovations, cultural impact and the passionate efforts of those determined to preserve her memory.

 

 

Fast Facts: 

• Length: 990 feet (301.8 m) - necessary to transit the Panama Canal 
• Beam (width): 101 feet (30.8 m)  
• Tonnage: ~53,330 gross tons  
• Top speed: Over 38 knots (44 mph / 70 km/h) – still the fastest ocean liner ever built  
• Passenger capacity: ~1,928 passengers  
• Crew: ~900  
• Propulsion: Steam turbines, 240,000 shaft horsepower  
• Material: Extensive use of aluminum to reduce weight  
• Nickname: "The Big U"

Warrior Ethos

Recent travel to visit with family found us in Mobile Alabama for a week with an opportunity to become temporary Mobilians and soak-up the history, food and ambiance of this coastal city.  A boat ride of the delta estuary provided an opportunity to take-in the waterfront, port facilities and Austal Shipyard up-close and personal; including these vessels in the shipyard for routine scheduled maintenance.

The USNS Medgar Evers (T-AKE-13) is a Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo and ammunition ship of the United States Navy.

USNS Medgar Evers

USNS ships, also known as United States Naval Ships, are owned by the U.S. Navy.  However, they are operated by the Military Sealift Command (MSC) with civilian crews. While these ships are civilian-manned, some may also have a small military complement for specific functions

Several US Navy vessels have been named after civil rights activists, and some of these names are currently under review for potential renaming. Ships like the USNS Harvey Milk, USNS John Lewis, USNS Thurgood Marshall, USNS Ruth Bader Ginsburg, USNS Medgar Evers and USNS Harriet Tubman are among those being considered for name changes. 

The John Lewis-class of oilers are designed to refuel and resupply other Navy ships at sea and are specifically named after prominent civil rights leaders.  The proposed name changes are part of efforts by the Trump Administration to expunge what they believe are prior diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within the military.  

USNS Harvey Milk (T-AO-206) is the second of the John Lewis-class of underway replenishment oilers, operated by the Military Sealift Command.

USNS Harvey Milk

The potential renaming of these ships has sparked controversy; some of these assets have been deployed for five to fifteen years with sailors and members of the public viewing this as a symbolic erasure of the contributions of these individuals to American history and civil rights. 

Moreover, renaming a ship can be fraught. In naval tradition this practice is widely considered bad luck.  This stems from the belief that a ship has an identity and spirit, which renaming can anger or confuse. This superstition is rooted in ancient Greek mythology, where Poseidon, the god of the sea, was thought to keep a record of all ship names in his "Ledger of the Deep". Changing a ship's name was seen as disrespecting the sea gods and risking their wrath and incurring possible misfortune at sea. 

In further back-and-forth developments Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth insisted just this past Wednesday that military veterans and active-duty troops urged the Trump administration to rename American military bases after Confederate traitors who took up arms against the government to defend the enslavement of Black people — a move the secretary claims is “important for morale.”

In his testimony to the Senate Armed Services committee, Hegseth defended the president’s decision to restore the names of several military bases in the South that were first named in honor of Confederate generals, despite Congress mandating their removal five years ago. 

Time will tell where this all ends-up.  Seems the MAGA movement itself has embraced its own version of Political Correctness and Woke.  

Drama, reality television theatrics and a waste of resources.  Jeesus; anybody else been to this rodeo before?

Still waiting for measurable improvement in your and my prosperity and general lot in life.  And maybe make the world a safer place.  Good thing I am a patient sort.....

Martime Trivia

Photo Credit: Great Lakes Marine Collection of the Milwaukee Public Library and Wisconsin Marine Historical Society

I have blogged about this tid-bit before.

On this day in history; April 16, 1944, Kewaunee Shipbuilding and Engineering Corporation launched a small coastal freighter at its yard in Kewaunee, Wisconsin. 

Built for the Army Transportation Corps, she was originally designated FP-344, but that was later changed to FS-344. In 1966 FS-344 was transferred to the Navy and renamed USS PUEBLO. 

At the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard she was crammed with sophisticated electronic gear and converted to an Auxiliary General Environmental Research (AGER) vessel – a class recognized by few naval officers. PUEBLO (AGER-2) was a signals intelligence collector – a spy ship. Jointly operated by the National Security Agency and Naval Intelligence, she carried a crew of 83, 30 of which were communication technicians.

Big Orange Taxi

The Staten Island Ferry, one of the last operating ferry systems in New York, transported people between Manhattan and its surrounding boroughs long before bridges were introduced. Since 1817 to be exact.

1895

Nowadays, the Staten Island Ferry provides almost 22 million people with ferry service annually: taking almost 70,000 passengers daily between St George on Staten Island and Whitehall Street in Manhattan. 

The ferry is the only non-vehicular mode of transport between Staten Island and Manhattan. The New York City Department of Transportation is responsible for the maintenance of the ten-vessel fleet along with numerous facilities including the St George and Whitehall terminals in Staten Island and Manhattan respectively, the City Island and Hart Island facilities, and the Battery Maritime Building including all floating dock equipment.

The Staten Island Ferry is run for one simple reason, to provide transportation for those who need it. However, the Staten Island Ferry offers so much more, including a scenic view of the New York Harbor and a no-hassle way to view the city, for free! 

During the 25-minute ride, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island are visible from on deck. The skyscrapers and bridges of lower Manhattan are there to see you off as you depart and welcome you back as you return. The weekday schedule of the Staten Island Ferry employs four boats that make a total of 117 trips a day - or about 40,404 trips year-round.

Between rush hours, the boats are refueled and maintained to ensure safe travel for all its passengers, terminals are routinely cleaned and maintained as well during the day shift. Weekends feature a similar schedule, employing three boats and only 96 trips daily compared to the frenzy of activity required during the workweek. In the post-9/11 world, passenger cars are no longer authorized to ride the ferry.

About twenty years ago I happened to be in Sturgeon Bay and was witness to a big, orange Staten Island Ferry cruising east in the direct of the ship canal.  Having completed its sea trials it was heading out for travel thru the seaway for delivery the the New York Department of Transportation.  I cannot recall which one it was but it was constructed and launched here in northeast Wisconsin.

We've been to new York many times of the years for business and travel.  Until this recent trip with the family I have never ridden the ferry.  About time to scratch that itch.

Since 1902, Fincantieri Marine Group has been designing and constructing some of the world's most advanced marine vessels ranging from small passenger ferries to large cargo ferries.  

Return Trip On The Spirit Of America

There are ten ferries in the current fleet and three were born and launched here: Guy V. Molinari, John J.Marchi and Spirit of America.  The keel of the Spirit was built with steel from the Trade Center Towers.  The vessel honors the spirit and unity of America following the attacks and the memory of all who were killed and the Civil Servants who perished trying to save them.

You can learn more here.

photo - Fincantieri Marine Group

 

 

Weight Lifter

Photo - Door County Sail and Power Squadron

 

Meet the Happy River.  She is one of four sister ships: Happy Rover, Happy Ranger and Sailer Jupiter. 

The Happy River is a heavy lift vessel and as a consequence can carry forest products, general cargo, containers, heavy manufactured items and other "mammoth" projects. It was built in 1997 by Merwede of the Netherlands and is operated by Mammoet Shipping. This ship is delivering custom LNG tanks from Spain.  

Photo - Door County Sail and Power Squadron

Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding is partnering with Crowley Maritime Corporation (Shell) on the largest LNG (liquefied natural gas) bunkering barge ever constructed in the United States. Inasmuch as the shipyard gantry crane hasn't the lift capacity; the Dutch vessel is going to shift these tanks into the barge for installation at Bay Ship in Sturgeon Bay.

 

You can learn more about this project here.

 

Sturgeon Bay shipbuilding rocks!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Big Wooden Boat Retires

The third USS Ardent (MCM-12) is an Avenger-class mine countermeasures ship in the United States Navy. The Ardent’s homeport is San Diego, California and is part of the US 3rd Fleet.

She was built by Peterson Shipbuilders, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Her keel laid down on October 22, 1990, launched on November 16, 1991 and subsequently commissioned February 18, 1994. To reduce her magnetic signature Ardent was constructed with a unique glass-reinforced, plastic-sheathed wooden hull.  The Avenger-class MCM ships built by Peterson revived wooden-hulled ship construction for the modern US Navy.  Her maiden voyage from Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin commenced on October 30, 1993 with a transit through the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway.

Following arrival at her homeport of Ingleside, Texas on December 15, 1993 - Ardent was forward deployed to the Persian Gulf in March 1996. She was transported to the Gulf via commercial heavy-lift vessel Sea Swift in order to prolong the engine life of the ship and reduce her transit time from 60 days (under her own power) to 30 days. The crew was flown from Ingleside to join the ship in late March. 

US Navy

Working from Manama, Bahrain she participated in anti-mine, anti-submarine and maritime security operations independently and in cooperation with multi-national partners. This eventually became her permanent homeport. 

November 3, 2013 Ardent departed Khalifa Bin Salman Port, Bahrain, after being loaded aboard commercial heavy-lift vessel M/V Eide Transporter to be returned to her new homeport of San Diego, California.  

While stationed in the gulf - Ardent’s mission was to clear the ocean bottom and water volume of anti-ship mines. A combination of stealth, endurance, and the latest mine countermeasures technology allowed Ardent to conduct sustained, full-spectrum, mine countermeasures operations in one of the world’s critical maritime regions. 

US Navy

Specific advantages and capabilities included the ship’s low magnetic signature diesel engines, a degaussing system and wooden hull, which reduce the ship’s vulnerability to magnetic-influence mines.  

A precise navigation system and high frequency sonar allowed Ardent to locate, plot, classify and report suspected mines with great accuracy.   

Three minesweeping systems (mechanical, acoustic, magnetic) were used to destroy mines.  Two rigid hulled inflatable boats are used to carry divers and mark suspected mines; and a remotely controlled mine neutralization system used to identify suspected mines and destroy them with explosive charges. 

A product of intense research and unique construction, Ardent played a vital role in the Middle East to maintain uninterrupted access to one of the world’s strategic waterways. 

Ardent is 224 feet in length, has a beam of 39 feet and displaces approximately 1,320 tons fully loaded. The ship is crewed by six officers and 76 enlisted personnel. 

Ardent held a decommissioning ceremony at Naval Base San Diego on August 17 and will be officially decommissioned on 27th of this month.  

US Navy

You can review the chronology of Ardent's active duty here.  

Thank you to the ship and crews of the Ardent for your service.  

- Factual content - Navy.mil

Door By Air

Yesterday morning we met-up with my cousin at Cherryland Airport  who flew over from Shawano.  We had a nice tour of the peninsula by air followed by Sunday brunch at Hot Tamales in Sturgeon Bay.

Our ride - Cirrus SR20 - piston-engine, four- or five-seat composite monoplane built by Cirrus Aircraft of Duluth, Minnesota

Approaching Death's Door

Washington Island Ferry

Cana Island - 1869 lighthouse remains in continuous use 

Ship Canal, Coast Guard Station (bottom), Range Lights, Sturgeon Bay (top)

Following the four lane to the farm 

House (left edge middle), the 'burned' acreage immediately adjacent, forested component extends thru the middle and ends at the corn field (middle-right).

Should have built a larger shed
 

Big pond (lower right) is surrounded by what we burned the first week of May.  North boundary is at the upper third of the photo

 Fincantieri S.p.A. is an Italian shipbuilding company based in Trieste, Italy. Already the largest shipbuilder in Europe,

Tracing its history back to 1918, and located in Sturgeon Bay, WI, Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding (FBS) is an industry leader in the construction and repair of large ships.