Union Says Aker Shipyard Illegally Uses Foreign Parts

By Thomas Ginsberg, The Philadelphia Inquirer

May 19–The union representing Philadelphia shipyard workers has asked the U.S. Coast Guard to investigate whether Aker Philadelphia Shipyard Inc. is illegally using foreign-made components to build ships for use here.

Norway-based Aker, formerly Kvaerner, is building 10 tanker ships in Philadelphia known as Veteran Class MT-46 Product Tankers, intended for use between U.S. ports.

The AFL-CIO Metal Trades Department says federal laws including the Jones Act permit only U.S.-made ships to be used to haul commodities between U.S. ports.

Aker, in its own statement, denied it was violating U.S. laws and said it “is proud to be building, owning and chartering out ships in full compliance with the United States Coast Guard requirements for vessels to be operated in the Jones Act trade.”

Its statement did not respond specifically to charges about use of foreign parts.

There was no immediate comment from Coast Guard officials.

In the union statement, metal trades president Ron Ault said Aker has a “partnership” with South Korea’s Hyundai Mipo Dockyard to supply prefabricated components for the ships being built in Philadelphia.

“It isn’t like we can’t do this work,” Ault said.

Local union officials from the Philadelphia Metal Trades Council also accused Aker of having its foreign workers do some of the work in Philadelphia, rather than just training Philadelphia workers as promised under agreements with local and union officials.

Contact staff writer Thomas Ginsberg at 215-854-4177 or tginsberg@phillynews.com.

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