Why Choose the Largest Independent Naval Architecture Firm in the United States?

As the largest independent naval architecture & marine engineering firm in the United States, we pride ourselves on our ability to tailor our processes to the specific needs of clients and shipyards.

Our combination of size, diverse skillset, and independence enables us to offer a wide variety of capabilities while maintaining the ability to work with a variety of shipyards domestically and internationally. This adaptability is what allows us to deliver the best value and solutions to our clients.

With over 90 years of industry experience, we have remained on the cutting edge of technological advancements in the maritime industry, and that experience allows us to provide a well thought out, comprehensive set of services to meet the needs of a variety of programs.

We Are Dedicated to Providing Comprehensive Naval Architecture Design Services

Naval ArchitectureOur engineers combine the use of in-house proprietary naval architecture tools and industry-leading software with an extensive technical library to provide accurate naval architecture assessments to our clients.

To ensure our clients’ satisfaction, our naval architecture services span the entire ship’s lifetime, from early-stage concept designs through detailed design, shipyard construction support, full lifecycle and sustainment support, ship alterations, service life extensions, and disposal.

Our efforts maximize producibility and affordability while mitigating risk for procurement, planning, construction, test, delivery, and acceptance.

Since our founding in 1929, our dedication to our clients’ success has allowed us to expand our presence, technological advancements, capabilities, and standards of success.

We Adapt to The Naval Architecture Needs of Our Clients

G&C designs are producible, capable, and competitive for construction in any shipyard. Our services include work products that are customized to the specific needs, standards, and capabilities of the shipyard facility and personnel performing the work.

Our large talent pool and staff’s diverse skill sets allow hands-on support for our clients by placing personnel on-site all over the world.

With offices along the East Coast of the United States, on the Gulf of Mexico, and in Australia, G&C prides itself on having available resources all over the world in order to better serve our customers.

Learn more about the largest independent naval architecture firm in the United States.

Why G&C is the Right Partner for Autonomous and Unmanned Ship Innovation

Finding the right partner can be challenging, no matter the task, but when you need to develop an unmanned ship, how do you know which partner is right for you?

As an independent design agent, Gibbs & Cox is an ideal partner for small, independent teams looking to increase autonomous and unmanned ship capability while reducing overhead and associated costs.

Our Approach to Hull, Mechanical & Electrical (HM&E) Autonomy Integration

Standard with our design, our ability to monitor, predict, and diagnose protentional performance deteriorations and failures in an HM&E system is critical to the success of a long-term unmanned ship deployment, which is essential to our clients’ success.

In order to achieve long durations without human intervention, we collaborate with industry and R&D leaders in HM&E system design, reliability, and Artificial Intelligence to develop unmanned ships that can meet these standards.

Below are several features that are key to the development of HM&E Autonomy Systems. G&C is an experienced provider of each service:

  • Robust HM&E system with redundant elements and interconnectivities
  • MOSA (Modular Open Systems Architecture) software implementation including reusable interfaces to both higher level autonomy elements and HM&E components
  • Programmable Logic Controller (PLC)-based machinery automation
  • Embedded sensors
  • Active learning

Developing Cutting-Edge Unmanned and Autonomous Vessel Designs our Customers Can Trust

From concept to sustainment, Gibbs & Cox combines decades of cutting-edge naval architecture with industry leading marine engineering original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to provide our clients with a product they can trust. We partner with innovative, cross-domain Artificial Intelligence (AI) solution providers and reputable shipyards to deliver the best value for our clients.

Our dedication to the advancement of autonomous and unmanned ships has led us to win several notable awards, including:

Learn More About Our Autonomous and Unmanned Ship Innovations

 

How Gibbs & Cox’s Marine Engineers and Naval Architects Have Impacted the Maritime Industry

Throughout Gibbs & Cox’s 90+ years of experience in the shipbuilding industry, we have recruited some of the most talented and experienced marine engineers and naval architects in the United States. G&C prioritizes hiring passionate and driven individuals to innovate and create high-quality products to advance the maritime industry. Leading the US in maritime innovation has led to the completion of approximately 300 vessel designs, 7,000 vessels built, including 24 classes of naval combatants, and several notable awards that have shaped the future of ship design.

Gibbs & Cox’s History of Quality Marine Engineering Services

Marine Engineering ServicesGibbs & Cox’s naval architects and marine engineers have a robust history of developing some of the most notable designs in the United States, a few of which include the SS United States, FFG-7 Oliver Hazard Perry Class Frigates, the DDG-51 Arleigh Burke Class Destroyer, the Littoral Combat Ship Freedom-Variant Class, and newest generation of US Navy Frigates, the FFG Constellation Class. We have remained committed to providing the highest quality design and engineering products and services to each and every customer and we continuously build upon our history.

G&C has supported the development of many different technological advancements such as integrated power systems and environmental treatment systems. The key to G&C’s successful development of functional systems is our use of a phased approach to the design process. This phased approach guarantees that the level of detail with each system design is slowly increased for every successive design product before detailed design commences.

The design process at Gibbs & Cox includes but is not limited to:

  • System tradeoff studies
  • Ship checks
  • Ship system analysis
  • Preparation of cost/time/schedule estimates

Providing Marine Engineering Services for the 21st Century

Our recent merger with Leidos will enhance our combined marine engineering offerings and accelerate an expansion of products and services to current and future customers. G&C will continue to prioritize hiring marine engineers and naval architects who are dedicated to developing the future of technological innovations in the maritime industry.

Learn more about Gibbs & Cox marine engineering services.

Leidos completes acquisition of Gibbs & Cox

(RESTON, Va.) May. 7, 2021 – Leidos Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: LDOS) (“Leidos”), a FORTUNE® 500 science and technology leader, today announced the completed acquisition of Gibbs & Cox, Inc. (“Gibbs & Cox”) for approximately $380 million in cash. The transaction was previously announced on Feb. 23, 2021. Gibbs & Cox will operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary and will be combined with Leidos’ maritime systems division.

Headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, Gibbs & Cox is the largest independent ship design firm focused on naval architecture and marine engineering. The company’s world class naval architects, designers, engineers and program managers develop innovative vessel designs and naval capabilities. The acquisition positions Leidos to provide a broad set of engineering solutions to the US Navy and to an expanding set of foreign Navies.

“We are delighted to welcome the Gibbs & Cox team to the Leidos family,” said Leidos Chairman and CEO Roger Krone. “Gibbs & Cox is widely regarded for developing the most talented and experienced naval designers in the world. We look forward to this new era of innovation while combining the best of both companies.”

“We are excited to join Leidos, whose employee culture and history of innovation strongly mirror our own legendary 91-year history”, said Gibbs & Cox President and Chief Executive Chris Deegan. “Gibbs & Cox will remain the nation’s largest independent provider of maritime services. The combination of our world-class naval architecture, design and engineering services with Leidos’ speed, security and scale will significantly enhance our combined offerings in the fast growing maritime undersea, autonomous and cyber security segments. We look forward to mapping a new Gibbs & Cox with Leidos for the next 90 years.”

Advisors

Citigroup Global Markets Inc. served as exclusive financial advisor and Holland & Knight LLP served as legal advisor to Leidos. Houlihan Lokey served as exclusive financial advisor and Greenburg Traurig, LLP served as legal advisor to Gibbs & Cox in connection with this transaction.

About Leidos

Leidos is a Fortune 500® information technology, engineering, and science solutions and services leader working to solve the world’s toughest challenges in the defense, intelligence, civil, and health markets. The company’s 39,000 employees support vital missions for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Reston, Va., Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $12.30 billion for the fiscal year ended January 1, 2021. For more information, visit www.leidos.com.

About Gibbs & Cox

Gibbs & Cox, Inc. is an independent engineering and design firm specializing in naval architecture, marine engineering, management support, and engineering consulting. The firm is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia with offices throughout the United States and Australia.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

The forward-looking statements contained in this release involve risks and uncertainties that may affect Leidos’ operations, markets, products, services, prices and other factors as discussed in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Without limiting the foregoing, forward-looking statements often use words such as “believe,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “expect,” “estimate,” “intend,” “seek,” “project”, “target,” “goal,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “can,” “continue” and other words of similar meaning in connection with a discussion of the transaction or future operating or financial performance or events. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, economic, competitive, legal, governmental and technological factors. Accordingly, there is no assurance that the expectations of Leidos will be realized. This release also contains statements about the proposed acquisition of Gibbs & Cox that are based on assumptions currently believed to be valid but involve significant risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Leidos’ control, which could cause Leidos’ actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements with respect to the transaction, including risks relating to the completion of the transaction on anticipated terms and timing, including regulatory approvals, anticipated tax treatment, ability to retain key personnel, the dependency of the transaction on market conditions and the impact of a change in market conditions on the value to be received in the transaction, unforeseen liabilities, future capital expenditures, uncertainty as to the expected financial condition and economic performance of the company following the closing, including future revenues, expenses, earnings, indebtedness, losses, prospects, business strategies for the management, expansion and growth of the company following the closing, Leidos’ ability to integrate the businesses successfully and to achieve anticipated synergies, and the risk that disruptions from the transaction will harm Leidos’ business. While the list of factors presented here is considered representative, no such list should be considered to be a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties. Unlisted factors may present significant additional obstacles to the realization of forward-looking statements. Consequences of material differences in results as compared with those anticipated in the forward-looking statements could include, among other things, business disruption, operational problems, financial loss, legal liability to third parties and similar risks, any of which could have a material adverse effect on Leidos’ consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. For a discussion identifying additional important factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements, see Leidos’ filings with the SEC, including “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Risk Factors” in Leidos’ annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 1, 2021 and in its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q which are available at leidos.com and at the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov. The forward-looking statements contained in this release are made only as of the date of this release. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Leidos assumes no obligation to provide revisions or updates to any forward-looking statements should circumstances change, except as otherwise required by securities and other applicable laws

Gibbs & Cox awarded $20M Contract from Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division

Arlington, VA, April 22, 2021 – Gibbs & Cox, Inc. is pleased to announce the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division (NSWCPD) awarded the company a $20M prime contract.

“This builds on our long-standing relationship with NSWC Philadelphia and we are very proud to have been selected for this award,” said Jonathan Applequist, Vice President for Maritime Services Group.

The contract will have a 5-year operating period with a work scope including maintenance functions for the Materials, Structures, Environmental and Protection Divisions. Work will be split between New York and Philadelphia with an anticipated completion date of April 2026.

Additional Information About Gibbs & Cox

Gibbs & Cox, Inc. is the largest independent naval architecture and marine engineering firm in the United States. Since our founding in 1929, 24 classes of combatants and nearly 7,000 vessels have been built to G&C designs. We proudly support military and commercial clients in the U.S. and internationally with all phases of marine design, construction, and lifecycle management. Our passion is solving our customers’ 21st century maritime challenges with quality and integrity.

How Gibbs & Cox Develops Innovative Marine Autonomy Solutions

G&C is a leading ship designer and integrator of autonomous systems for government and commercial clients. Our understanding of marine autonomy goes further than the implementation of navigation and control. Our experience developing autonomous vessels for our range of clients starts with a deep understanding of autonomy, the associated challenges, and our willingness to team with the best in the industry.

Developing the Future of Marine Autonomy

Marine Autonomy

Our initial implementation of marine autonomy dates back to 1955, when the U.S. Navy commenced the production of the project SEA LEGS. We developed an automated system that actively controlled two submerged hydrofoils in order to influence the pitch and roll attitude of the vessel in flight. This first application of actively controlled foils provided ride quality and safety that was superior to other vessels with fixed hydrofoil.

To this day, we remain on the cutting edge of technology and development of the Navy’s next generation of unmanned vessels. From concept to sustainment, we combine decades of naval architecture experience with the world’s most reliable marine engineering original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to deliver revolutionary technology to our clients.

Our dedication to advancing our unmanned and autonomous capabilities has led to us winning several notable awards, including:

Solving Complex Marine Autonomy Challenges

Marine autonomy often becomes more complex when an unmanned surface vessel (USV) is expected to perform more than a transit mission between points. Mission complexity is a key distinction between military and commercial applications. An autonomous vessel designed for military application is expected to perform self-navigation and control functions, but with the added requirements of performing complex mission evolutions in hostile environments. Gibbs & Cox is dedicated to solving these challenges for our clients and both investigating and advancing the exciting potential of marine autonomy.

Some of the technical challenges which Gibbs & Cox is proactively solving in the marine autonomy field are:

  • Maneuverability (particularly for large vehicles)
  • Endurance (range and persistence)
  • Reliability (redundancy, self-maintenance and self-repair of systems and equipment)
  • Communications (high speed, reliable and secure)
  • Cooperative employment of multiple USVs working together autonomously

Ethical and legal challenges in advancing USV technology include:

  • Safety of the USV and the vessels or objects it encounters
  • Security of the USV (physical and cyber)
  • Autonomous employment of weapon systems (offensive and defensive)

Give us a call to learn about how our expertise in marine autonomy can benefit you.