More jobs for the Gulf Coast as Rolls-Royce invests millions

A standing ovation marked the grand opening of a multi-million dollar facility on the Mississippi Gulf Coast to build propellers for the US Navy.

The Rolls-Royce facility, known as Center of Excellence 2 in Pascagoula, has the latest high-tech equipment to build propellers for nuclear submarines and other equipment for the military. Eighty members of the company’s “growing workforce” marched at Thursday’s groundbreaking ceremony, the Sun Herald reported.

“We are the only private company capable of manufacturing the largest propellers in the US Navy that weigh as much as a 737 (aircraft) and are machined to the exacting standards that are the equivalent of a fine Swiss watch” , said Tom Bell, president of Rolls-Royce Defense and president and chief executive officer of Rolls-Royce North America.

Bell said job opportunities are available and they are looking to hire. Information about jobs and learning opportunities is available on the company’s website.

“We have work to do,” Bell said – about three times the amount of work the facility had just a few years ago.

Rear Admiral Jonathan Rucker said that 10 years ago the navy was building about 8,000 tons of submarines a year. “We’re on track to build over 40,000 tons a year by 2026,” he said. “It’s the job that’s coming.”

Last year, Rolls-Royce entered into an agreement with Fincantieri Marinette Marine to design and manufacture up to 40 fixed-pitch propellers for the US Navy’s Constellation-class guided missile frigate (FFG-62) programme. Rear Admiral David Goggins said Rolls-Royce is one of 5,000 key suppliers across the country supplying material to build the Virginia-class submarines in Newport News, Virginia.

Earlier this year, Rolls-Royce partnered with Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College to create an apprenticeship program aimed at building a skilled workforce. Apprenticeships are offered in the foundry and for CNC machinists, said Mary Martha Henson, assistant director of the Jackson County Economic Development Foundation.

The program is registered with the US Department of Labor, said Rucker, who is also the program’s general manager for attack submarines.

“Today is just another example of businesses not just across the country, but around the world recognizing the quality of our workforce and the quality of life of their employees in Mississippi,” said Governor Tate Reeves.

He said the apprenticeship program is very important to southern Mississippi.

“It gives more kids here on the Gulf Coast the chance to understand the kind of jobs that are available to them,” he said. “If you talk to people about this company or any other company, the biggest challenge we have right now across the country is the workforce and recruiting people with the skills to fill these high quality jobs. .”

Stephen Moffett of Pascagoula was the first to sign up to become an apprentice. He found the program by searching an Internet jobs website, he said. Since spring, he has been going to school in the morning and reporting to work at Rolls-Royce in the afternoon.

“It’s an opportunity,” he said.

The apprenticeship pays for his tuition, he said, and he receives a paycheck for his work.

Construction of the 26,000-square-foot building began during the height of the coronavirus pandemic in August 2020, continued despite supply chain issues, and was completed on time, operations manager Dan Rediger said. Rolls-Royce North America Naval Ships.